[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 196 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10140-H10141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GEORGIA SUPPORT ACT
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the
Committee on Ways and Means be discharged from further consideration of
the bill (H.R. 6219) to support the independence, sovereignty, and
territorial integrity of Georgia, and for other purposes, and ask for
its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6219
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Georgia
Support Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. United States policy.
TITLE I--ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS
Sec. 101. United States-Georgia security assistance.
Sec. 102. United States cybersecurity cooperation with Georgia.
Sec. 103. Enhanced assistance to combat Russian disinformation and
propaganda.
Sec. 104. Sense of Congress on free trade agreement with Georgia.
TITLE II--SANCTIONS PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions on persons complicit in or
responsible for serious human rights abuses, including
right to life in Georgian regions of Abkhazia and
Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia occupied by Russia.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to--
(1) support Georgia's sovereignty, independence, and
territorial integrity within its internationally recognized
borders;
(2) support the right of the people of Georgia to freely
determine their future and make independent and sovereign
choices on foreign and security policy, including regarding
their country's relationship with other nations and
international organizations, without interference,
intimidation, or coercion by other countries;
(3) support Georgia's Euro-Atlantic and European
integration;
(4) not recognize territorial changes effected by force,
including the illegal invasions and occupations of Georgian
regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia by
the Russian Federation;
(5) condemn ongoing detentions, kidnappings, and other
human rights violations committed in the Georgian regions of
Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly
occupied by the Russian Federation, including the recent
killings of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga
Otkhozoria, and Davit Basharuli;
(6) support peaceful conflict resolution in Georgia,
including by urging the Russian Federation to fully implement
the European Union-mediated ceasefire agreement of August 12,
2008, and supporting the establishment of international
security mechanisms in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and
Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia and the safe and dignified
return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees,
all of which are important for lasting peace and security on
the ground; and
(7) support continued development of democratic values in
Georgia, including public sector transparency and
accountability, as well as anticorruption efforts.
TITLE I--ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS
SEC. 101. UNITED STATES-GEORGIA SECURITY ASSISTANCE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) In fiscal year 2018, the United States provided Georgia
with $2,200,000 in assistance under chapter 5 of part II of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.;
relating to international military education and training)
and $35,000,000 in assistance under section 23 of the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763; relating to the Foreign
Military Financing Program).
(2) Georgia has been a longstanding NATO-aspirant country.
(3) Georgia has contributed substantially to the Euro-
Atlantic peace and security through participation in the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Resolute
Support Missions in Afghanistan as one of the largest troop
contributors.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
United States assistance to Georgia under chapter 5 of part
II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and section 23 of
the Arms Export Control Act should be increased.
(c) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the
United States, in consultation with the Government of
Georgia, to enhance Georgia's deterrence, resilience, and
self-defense, including through appropriate assistance to
improve the capabilities of Georgia's armed forces.
(d) Review of Security Assistance to Georgia.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the heads of other appropriate United
States departments and agencies, shall submit to Congress a
report reviewing United States security assistance to the
Government of Georgia.
(2) Components.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) A detailed review of all United States security
assistance programs to the Government of Georgia from fiscal
year 2008 to the present.
(B) An assessment of threats to Georgian independence,
sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
(C) An assessment of Georgia's capabilities to defend
itself, including a five-year strategy to enhance the
country's deterrence, resilience, and self-defense
capabilities.
(3) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
SEC. 102. UNITED STATES CYBERSECURITY COOPERATION WITH
GEORGIA.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of State should take the following actions,
commensurate with United States interests, to assist Georgia
to improve its cybersecurity:
(1) Provide Georgia such support as may be necessary to
secure government computer networks from malicious cyber
intrusions, particularly such networks that defend the
critical infrastructure of Georgia.
(2) Provide Georgia support in reducing reliance on Russian
information and communications technology.
(3) Assist Georgia to build its capacity, expand
cybersecurity information sharing, and cooperate on
international cyberspace efforts.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate a report on United States cybersecurity cooperation
with Georgia. Such report shall also include information
relating to the following:
(1) United States efforts to strengthen Georgia's ability
to prevent, mitigate, and respond to cyber incidents,
including through training, education, technical assistance,
capacity building, and cybersecurity risk management
strategies.
(2) The potential for new areas of collaboration and mutual
assistance between the United States and Georgia in
addressing shared cyber challenges, including cybercrime,
critical infrastructure protection, and resilience against
automated, distributed threats.
(3) NATO's efforts to help Georgia develop technical
capabilities to counter cyber threats.
SEC. 103. ENHANCED ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT RUSSIAN
DISINFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the
United States to enhance the capabilities of Georgia to
combat Russian disinformation and propaganda campaigns
intended to undermine the sovereignty and democratic
institutions of the country, while promoting the freedom of
the press.
[[Page H10141]]
(b) Required Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the heads of other appropriate United
States departments and agencies, shall submit to Congress a
report outlining a strategy to implement the policy described
in subsection (a).
(2) Components.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) A detailed assessment of Russian disinformation and
propaganda efforts across all media platforms targeting
Georgia.
(B) An assessment of the Government of Georgia's
capabilities to deter and combat such Russian efforts and to
support the freedom of the press.
(C) A detailed strategy coordinated across all relevant
United States departments and agencies to enhance the
Government of Georgia's capabilities to deter and combat such
Russian efforts.
(3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
SEC. 104. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH
GEORGIA.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States Trade
Representative should make progress toward negotiations with
the Government of Georgia to enter a bilateral free trade
agreement with Georgia.
TITLE II--SANCTIONS PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON PERSONS COMPLICIT IN OR
RESPONSIBLE FOR SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES,
INCLUDING RIGHT TO LIFE IN GEORGIAN REGIONS OF
ABKHAZIA AND TSKHINVALI REGION/SOUTH OSSETIA
OCCUPIED BY RUSSIA.
(a) In General.--The President shall impose with respect to
a foreign person the sanctions described in subsection (b) if
the President determines, based on credible information, that
such foreign person, on or after the date of enactment of
this Act--
(1) is responsible for, complicit in, or responsible for
ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing the commission
of serious human rights abuses in Georgian regions of
Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly
occupied by the Russian Federation;
(2) is materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing
significant financial, material, or technological support
for, or goods or services to, a foreign person described in
paragraph (1); or
(3) is owned or controlled by a foreign person, or is
acting on behalf of a foreign person described in paragraph
(1).
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) Asset blocking.--The exercise of all powers granted to
the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block
and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests
in property of a person determined by the President to be a
person described in subsection (a) if such property and
interests in property are in the United States, come within
the United States, or are or come within the possession or
control of a United States person, including by taking any of
the actions described in paragraph (1) of section 203(a) of
such Act (50 U.S.C. 1702(a)) with respect to regions of
Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly
occupied by the Russian Federation.
(2) Exclusion from the united states and revocation of visa
or other documentation.--
(A) In general.--In the case of an alien determined by the
President to be a person described in subsection (a), denial
of a visa to, and exclusion from the United States of, such
alien, and revocation in accordance with section 221(i) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), of
any visa or other documentation of such alien.
(B) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters
agreement and law enforcement objectives.--Sanctions under
subparagraph (A) shall not apply to an individual if
admitting the individual into the United States would further
important law enforcement objectives or is necessary to
permit the United States to comply with the Agreement
regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at
Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November
21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States,
or other applicable international obligations of the United
States.
(c) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of
sanctions under subsection (b) with respect to a person if
the President determines that such a waiver is important to
the national interests of the United States.
(d) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all
authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and
205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out subsection (b)(1).
(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of
subsection (b)(1) or any regulation, license, or order issued
to carry out such subsection shall be subject to the
penalties specified in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206
of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C.
1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful
act described in subsection (a) of such section.
(e) Report Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act and at least once every 180 days
thereafter for a period not to exceed two years, the
President, in consultation with the Secretary of the
Treasury, shall transmit to Congress a detailed report with
respect to persons that have been determined to have engaged
in activities described in subsection (a).
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the
table.
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