[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 122 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 583--COMMENDING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR ITS 
 INVESTIGATION INTO THE INTERFERENCE BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE 
  2016 UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AND MAINTAINING THAT THE 
      RUSSIAN FEDERATION MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS ACTIONS

  Mr. FLAKE (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 583

       Whereas, on July 13, 2018, an investigation of the 
     Department of Justice resulted in the indictment of 12 
     officials of the Government of the Russian Federation for 
     interfering with the 2016 United States presidential 
     election;
       Whereas, on July 13, 2018, when speaking about the digital 
     infrastructure of the United States being under attack from 
     foreign actors, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats 
     stated, ``In regards to state actions, Russia has been the 
     most aggressive foreign actor. No question. And they continue 
     their efforts to undermine our democracy.''; and
       Whereas, on July 16, 2018, in a joint press conference in 
     Helsinki, Finland, the President of the Russian Federation, 
     Vladimir Putin, denied that the Russian Federation interfered 
     in the 2016 United States presidential election: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the Department of Justice for its thorough 
     investigation into the interference in the 2016 United States 
     presidential election, which resulted in the indictment of 12 
     intelligence officers of the Government of the Russian 
     Federation;
       (2) agrees with the assessment of the United States 
     intelligence community that the Russian Federation interfered 
     with the 2016 United States presidential election, and 
     rejects the Russian Federation's denial of such involvement;
       (3) reaffirms its position that the Russian Federation must 
     be held accountable for interfering in the 2016 United States 
     presidential election;
       (4) calls upon relevant committees of the Senate to 
     exercise congressional oversight, including prompt hearings 
     and the release of relevant notes and information, to better 
     understand the impact of the recent summit in Helsinki, 
     Finland, on the foreign policy and national security of the 
     United States; and
       (5) calls for the immediate and full implementation of 
     mandatory sanctions provided for in the Countering America's 
     Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (Public Law 115-44; 131 
     Stat. 886), which passed the Senate 98-2, to deter and punish 
     election interference by the Russian Federation.

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