[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H8164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IMPOSING CERTAIN SANCTIONS IN THE EVENT OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IN A 
UNITED STATES ELECTION--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
                         (H. DOC. NO. 115-152)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message 
from the President of the United States; which was read and, together 
with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, Committee on the Judiciary, Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence, and Committee on House Administration, and ordered to be 
printed:
To the Congress of the United States:
  Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et 
seq.), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 
U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I 
hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order declaring a 
national emergency to deal with the threat of foreign interference in 
United States elections and authorizing the United States Government to 
impose a range of appropriate and meaningful sanctions against foreign 
individuals and entities determined to have engaged in election 
interference.
  Foreign powers have historically sought to exploit America's free and 
open political system. In recent years, the proliferation of digital 
devices and internet-based communications has created significant 
vulnerabilities and magnified the scope and intensity of the threat of 
foreign interference. To deal with this threat, I have directed the 
Director of National Intelligence to conduct regular assessments of any 
information indicating that foreign election interference has taken 
place. I have also directed the Attorney General and Secretary of 
Homeland Security to conduct evaluations of the effects of any such 
interference that targeted election infrastructure or campaign-related 
infrastructure, and to provide updates and recommendations on 
appropriate measures to take in response.
  In the event foreign election interference is determined to have 
occurred, the Executive Order provides for the imposition of sanctions 
on foreign persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, to have engaged in, 
sponsored, concealed, or otherwise been complicit in the interference, 
as well as other related persons. The Executive Order further directs 
the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to develop 
additional recommended sanctions measures, appropriately calibrated to 
account for the severity of the interference and any collateral effects 
on United States and allied financial stability and economic and 
security interests, targeting companies in significant economic sectors 
in a country whose government is determined to have engaged in or 
sponsored election interference.
  I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.
                                                     Donald J. Trump.  
The White House, September 12, 2018.

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