[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4532-H4536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GEORGIA SUPPORT ACT

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 923) to support the independence, sovereignty, and 
territorial integrity of Georgia, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 923

       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. Report on United States democracy and governance assistance 
              to Georgia.
Sec. 103. United States cybersecurity cooperation with Georgia.
Sec. 104. Enhanced assistance to combat Russian disinformation and 
              propaganda.

                     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.

             TITLE III--DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS

Sec. 301. Determination of budgetary effects.

     SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to--
       (1) support continued development of democratic values in 
     the Republic of Georgia, including free and fair elections, 
     an independent and accountable judiciary, public sector 
     transparency and accountability, the rule of law, and 
     anticorruption efforts;
       (2) support Georgia's sovereignty, independence, and 
     territorial integrity within its internationally recognized 
     borders;
       (3) support Georgia's capacity to protect its sovereignty 
     and territorial integrity from further Russian aggression or 
     encroachment on Georgian territory in light of Russia's full-
     scale invasion of Ukraine;
       (4) 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;
       (5) support Georgia's Euro-Atlantic and European 
     integration;
       (6) 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;
       (7) 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, Davit Basharuli, and others in the Georgian 
     regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia; and
       (8) 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.

[[Page H4533]]

  


                     TITLE I--ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS

     SEC. 101. UNITED STATES-GEORGIA SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) In fiscal year 2021, 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) and in 2021 announced the Georgia 
     Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative (GDDEI) to 
     enable further modernization of the Georgian Ministry of 
     Defense and the Georgian Defense Forces.
       (2) Georgia has been a longstanding NATO-aspirant country.
       (3) Georgia has contributed substantially to 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 the Republic of 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 Republic 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 120 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 the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report 
     reviewing United States security assistance to the Republic 
     of Georgia.
       (2) Components.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following:
       (A) An assessment of needed security assistance to improve 
     Georgia's capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial 
     integrity from further invasion of Georgian territory by 
     Russian forces, including an assessment of need for anti-
     armor, anti-air, and anti-tank weapons, as well as 
     intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
       (B) A detailed review of all United States security 
     assistance to Georgia from fiscal year 2008 to the date of 
     the submission of such report.
       (C) An assessment of threats to Georgian independence, 
     sovereignty, and territorial integrity, including an 
     assessment of changes to the force posture or intent of 
     Russian forces occupying Georgian territory.
       (D) An assessment of Georgia's capabilities to defend 
     itself, including a five-year strategy to enhance Georgia's 
     deterrence, resilience, and self-defense capabilities that 
     incorporates plans to address the capability gaps subject to 
     the assessment described in subparagraph (A).
       (3) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 
     annex.

     SEC. 102. REPORT ON UNITED STATES DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE 
                   ASSISTANCE TO GEORGIA.

       (a) 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 Federal 
     departments and agencies as appropriate, 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 democracy and governance assistance to the 
     Republic of Georgia.
       (b) Components.--The report required by subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       (1) A description of goals for United States democracy and 
     governance assistance to Georgia and its democratic 
     institutions, including how such assistance is supporting 
     Georgia's stated goals for European integration.
       (2) An assessment of the impact of United States democracy 
     and governance assistance to Georgia since fiscal year 2008, 
     including challenges to achieving the goals described in 
     paragraph (1).
       (3) An assessment of Georgia's progress relating to freedom 
     of the press and support for independent media, including 
     steps to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on 
     independent media and on LGBTQ rights activists on July 5, 
     2021, in Tbilisi.
       (4) An assessment of Georgia's progress on strengthening 
     its democratic institutions, including through electoral and 
     judicial reforms necessary to build public confidence.
       (5) A description of barriers and challenges to United 
     States investment in the Georgian economy, as well as an 
     assessment of how support from the United States 
     International Development Finance Corporation in Georgia 
     could help create a better developed and more transparent 
     investment climate.
       (c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 
     annex.

     SEC. 103. 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 the 
     Repubic of 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.--
       (1) In general.--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 the Republic of Georgia.
       (2) Matters to be included.--The report required by 
     paragraph (1) shall include information relating to the 
     following:
       (A) 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.
       (B) The potential for new areas of collaboration and mutual 
     assistance between the United States and Georgia to address 
     shared cyber challenges, including cybercrime, critical 
     infrastructure protection, and resilience against automated, 
     distributed threats.
       (C) NATO's efforts to help Georgia develop technical 
     capabilities to counter cyber threats.

     SEC. 104. 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 the Republic of 
     Georgia to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda 
     campaigns intended to undermine the sovereignty and 
     democratic institutions of Georgia, while promoting the 
     freedom of the press.
       (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 the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
     and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 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 the 
     Republic of Georgia.
       (B) An assessment 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 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.

                     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 on a foreign 
     person the sanctions described in subsection (b) if the 
     President determines that such foreign person, on or after 
     the date of the 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 the 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)).

[[Page H4534]]

       (2) Inadmissibility of certain individuals.--
       (A) Ineligibility for visas and admission to the united 
     states.--A person determined by the President to be a person 
     described in subsection (a) is--
       (i) inadmissible to the United States;
       (ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to 
     enter the United States; and
       (iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into 
     the United States or to receive any other benefit under the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
       (B) Current visas revoked.--A person determined by the 
     President to be a person described in subsection (a) is 
     subject to the following:
       (i) Revocation of any visa or other entry documentation 
     regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is 
     or was issued.
       (ii) A revocation under clause (i) shall--

       (I) take effect immediately; and
       (II) automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry 
     documentation that is in the foreign person's possession.

       (C) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
     agreement and law enforcement objectives.--Sanctions under 
     subparagraph (A) shall not apply to an individual if 
     admitting such 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).
       (f) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.--
       (1) In general.--The authorities and requirements to impose 
     sanctions under this title shall not include the authority or 
     requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
       (2) Good defined.--In this subsection, the term ``good'' 
     means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, 
     supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test 
     equipment and excluding technical data.

             TITLE III--DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS

     SEC. 301. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Meuser) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 923, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the author of the Georgia Support Act 
and as co-chair of the Congressional Georgia Caucus to express my 
support for this legislation, which we introduced with my Republican 
colleague and Georgia Caucus co-chair, Mr. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation has twice passed the House with broad 
bipartisan support. This bipartisan effort enhances the U.S.-Georgia 
relationship on several fronts by bolstering security assistance, 
promoting democratic governance reforms, enhancing cooperation to fight 
Russian disinformation, and strengthening economic ties.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate, as Russia continues its tragic and 
horrific invasion of sovereign Ukrainian territory, that we reflect on 
2008 and the invasion by Russia and continued occupation of sovereign 
Georgian territory in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
  To this day, Russian troops committing abhorrent violations of human 
rights, international humanitarian law, and war crimes in sovereign 
Ukrainian territory are the same troops that have fomented unrest, 
aided separatist movements, and committed clear and evident violations 
of human rights for the past 14 years in the Russian-occupied parts of 
Georgia.
  This bill directs the United States Government to enforce targeted 
sanctions on malign actors committing these violations in Russian-
occupied territory.
  The Georgia Support Act also requires the administration to examine 
how best we can utilize the $35 million or more of United States aid 
that we provide Georgia in security assistance every year and 
reinforces U.S. policy to never recognize Russian sovereignty over 
Georgia territory.
  As the number one per capita contributor of forces in Afghanistan, 
Georgia has demonstrated its dedication to security cooperation with 
the West. The United States must continue to reciprocate by helping 
Georgia develop the capacity to defend itself against further incursion 
of Russian forces.
  Mr. Speaker, attacks on Georgian sovereignty have not been simply 
through the occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as bad as that 
is. This bill directs the administration to enhance cooperation with 
our Georgian partners to help them defend themselves from the various 
cyberattacks and disinformation and propaganda campaigns Russia has 
launched with the goal of undermining the sovereignty and democratic 
institutions of the Country of Georgia.
  Mr. Speaker, I traveled to Tbilisi numerous times, both with the NATO 
Parliamentary Assembly, of which I am President, and with the House 
Democracy Partnership to meet with government officials, civil society, 
and the Georgian people.
  I am pleased that this iteration of the Georgia Support Act seeks to 
buttress Georgian democratic institutions through U.S. democracy and 
governance programs that promote Georgian judicial independence, 
electoral reforms, freedom of the press, and accountability for attacks 
on independent media and Tbilisi Pride activists in 2021.
  This legislation provides an opportunity for the United States to 
express its robust, bipartisan support for Georgia's sovereignty, 
continued democratic and economic development, and security against 
renewed Russian aggression.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Georgia Support Act, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                   Washington, DC, April 21, 2022.
     Hon. Gregory Meeks,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Meeks: This letter is to advise you that the 
     Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to 
     review the provisions in H.R. 923, the ``Georgia Support 
     Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate 
     your consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary 
     Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill 
     for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that 
     consideration is willing to forgo action on H.R. 923, with 
     the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future 
     jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject 
     matters.
       In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar 
     legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the 
     right to request an appropriate number of conferees to 
     address any concerns with these or similar provisions that 
     may arise in conference.
       Please place this letter into the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank 
     you for the cooperative spirit in which you have

[[Page H4535]]

     worked regarding this matter and others between our 
     committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jerrold Nadler,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, April 21, 2022.
     Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
     Committee on the Judiciary,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     923, Georgia Support Act, as amended. I appreciate your 
     willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House 
     Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 923 
     to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that 
     the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does 
     not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters 
     contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I 
     also acknowledge that your Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves 
     forward, and will support the appointment of Committee on the 
     Judiciary conferees during any House-Senate conference 
     convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Gregory W. Meeks,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, April 22, 2022.
     Hon. Richard Neal,
     Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Neal: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     923, Georgia Support Act, as amended. I appreciate your 
     willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means under House 
     Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 923 
     to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that 
     the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does 
     not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters 
     contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I 
     also acknowledge that your Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves 
     forward, and will support the appointment of Committee on 
     Ways and Means conferees during any House-Senate conference 
     convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Gregory W. Meeks,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                   Washington, DC, April 25, 2022.
     Hon. Gregory Meeks,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Meeks: In recognition of the desire to 
     expedite consideration of H.R. 923, Georgia Support Act, the 
     Committee on Ways and Means agrees to waive formal 
     consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within 
     the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means.
       The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the 
     mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction 
     over the subject matter contained in this or similar 
     legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues 
     within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the 
     right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of 
     conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or 
     similar legislation.
       Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter 
     confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of 
     our exchange of letter on this matter be included in the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 923.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Richard E. Neal,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support as well of H.R. 923, the Georgia 
Support Act.
  Since Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, Putin has illegally occupied 20 
percent of Georgia's territory, embroiling Georgia in an existential 
battle for its sovereignty.
  The ongoing, flagrant invasion of Ukraine proves that Putin will stop 
at nothing to accomplish his heinous goals. Our allies in Georgia need 
strong U.S. support now more than ever. It must be made abundantly 
clear to Putin that the American people stand with Georgia and will not 
tolerate a further incursion into Georgia's territory.
  This bill will reaffirm U.S. support for Georgia's independence, 
sovereignty, and territorial integrity by authorizing a review of 
security assistance to Georgia to determine key capability gaps, as 
well as looking at U.S.-Georgia cybersecurity cooperation and 
assistance to combat Russian disinformation.

                              {time}  1345

  Russian meddling in Georgia's political processes and active 
disinformation campaigns continue to threaten Georgia's democratic 
trajectory.
  But critically, the bill also addresses the need for Georgia to 
maintain its focus on democracy and governance development in order to 
stay on its Euro-Atlantic path.
  Finally, this bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on 
individuals responsible for human rights abuses in Georgia's occupied 
territories, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
  By erecting and constantly moving the border further into Georgia's 
territory, restricting freedom of movement and conducting arbitrary 
detentions, killings, and kidnappings, Putin has jeopardized the lives 
of all Georgians on both sides of the boundary line with his occupied 
territories.
  Passing this bill is a timely opportunity to show support for an ally 
that has been on the front line of Putin's belligerence for well over a 
decade.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow Putin to believe he can turn to Georgia 
next after his despicable invasion of Ukraine. Georgia, a longstanding 
U.S. partner in a tough neighborhood, has for too long been on the 
front line of Putin's unchecked aggression.
  This bill passed in the House the last two Congresses by an 
overwhelming bipartisan majority, and I urge my colleagues to support 
our Georgian allies yet again.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I thank my friend for his support. And I think it is very important 
that there be a clarion statement from this Congress, not only about 
Ukraine, but about other nations that are threatened by Russian 
aggression; Georgia and Moldova are two of the most prominent.
  It is critical that the Congress speak with one voice to those 
nations, to those peoples, and to Vladimir Putin and Russia, should he 
have further designs on either of those two countries.
  So I think this is an important piece of legislation. I urge its 
passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I, for many, many decades, have 
had a strong and very deep commitment to the people of the Republic of 
Georgia. As a matter of fact, after Russia invaded South Ossetia and 
Abkhazia in 2008, I traveled to Tbilisi, and spent a week there, with a 
people at war.
  As it turned out, there were three young people from my district who 
were stuck behind enemy lines. One being held up in and very fearful in 
Abkhazia, and two who were in South Ossetia. And when I went, several 
Members of Congress gave me names of people that were also behind the 
South Ossetia and Abkhazia Russia-dominated lines. It was very tense, 
with Chechens walking around with guns, drunk and committing 
atrocities. We were all concerned.
  Within a week or so, we got all of the children out. We worked with 
the OSCE mission there, we worked with the International Committee of 
the Red Cross, and with the French, who had the chair in office that 
year for the European Union. That ambassador actually traveled to the 
place where the two children in South Ossetia were, put them in his 
car, and brought them to safety.
  So, Georgia and the importance of our strong friendship with the 
Georgian people,

[[Page H4536]]

and their heroic resistance to Russia, has always been close to my 
heart.
  And also, I note that past is prologue.
  The same justifications Putin used for invading Crimea--that they 
were going in to liberate Russians--was the exact same pretext used in 
Georgia. What a lie and deception that was and is. Putin simply seeks 
to reconstitute the Soviet empire under himself.
  So I'm very supportive of the intent behind the legislation.
  I had offered an amendment at markup, which was voted down on 
strictly partisan lines, which I believe would have made this 
legislation more precise and also improved its chance for passage in 
the Senate.
  Simply put, I had offered an amendment that would have replaced the 
vague and imprecise ``serious human rights abuses'' language with the 
phrase ``Gross violations of internationally-recognized human rights,'' 
which has a long-standing, defined meeting in U.S. law, as codified in 
the Foreign Assistance Act, 22 U.S.C. 2304(d)(1).
  To wit, ``gross violations of internationally recognized human 
rights'' includes ``torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or 
punishment, prolonged detention without charges and trial, causing the 
disappearance of persons by the abduction and clandestine detention of 
those persons, and other flagrant denial of the right to life, liberty 
or the security of the person.''
  The reason this is relevant is because recently, our colleagues 
across the aisle sought to import the imprecise ``serious human rights 
abuses'' language into the Global Magnitsky Act, and again had rejected 
offers to negotiate compromise language that would have tied such 
abuses to specific treaties the United States had ratified, such as the 
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention 
Against Torture.
  As a result, that held up passage of the Global Magnitsky Act, which 
otherwise had broad bipartisan support in the Senate, and caused a 
stalemate until the parties agreed to revert to the previous, 
precisely-defined ``gross violations of internationally-recognized 
human rights'' language.
  Similarly, this Georgia bill otherwise enjoys broad bipartisan 
support, but for the vague and imprecise formulation, which now will 
likely have to be fixed in the Senate.
  I also note that I had tried to find a solution which could have kept 
the ``serious human rights abuses'' language, but would have tied it to 
abuses that were specified elsewhere in the legislation so as to avoid 
vagueness, namely ``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 [] recent killings' and similar violations of human rights.''
  My colleagues across the aisle, I anticipate will again say that we 
have used ``serious human rights abuses'' in other country- and region-
specific legislation. Leaving aside the fact that that was before the 
recent attempted Global Magnitsky partisan end run, I would also point 
out that ``serious human rights abuses'' were tied to specific abuses 
specified in the legislation at issue.
  Thus in past legislation we called out ``serious abuse or violation 
of human rights against persons associated with the protests in 
Nicaragua that began on April 18, 2018,'' or ``serious human rights 
abuses connected with forced labor'' in Xinjiang.
  That was all that we were asking for here--either adopt a precise 
statutory definition, ``gross violations of internationally-recognized 
human rights,'' or tie ``serious human rights abuses'' to what is 
specified in the legislation.
  But instead, we got a party line vote and a raw exercise of power, 
marring what should have been a unified statement of support of the 
Republic of Georgia and opposition to the butcher Vladimir Putin.
  I have been in Congress for over 40 years. I have been in the 
minority, and I have been in the majority. On bills like this, we used 
to try to find unity.
  I am sad to say that the raw exercise of political power that we have 
seen with regard to both the Global Magnitsky bill and this Georgia 
Support Act, and the unwillingness to seek compromise in the face of 
legitimate concerns that an ideologically-driven administration could 
use vague language to pursue an agenda that is not shared by over half 
the country, has disappointed me.
  I am not going to oppose this bill, given the larger context of 
support for the oppressed people of Georgia. Majorities come, and 
majorities go. I wish that my colleagues across the aisle had been 
willing to compromise and find common ground, but they did not.
  With passage, it is on to the Senate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 923, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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