[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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