[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H1195-H1198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       UPHOLDING THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT THROUGH SANCTIONS ACT

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4723) to provide for the imposition of sanctions with 
respect to foreign persons undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement or 
threatening the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4723

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Upholding the Dayton Peace 
     Agreement Through Sanctions Act''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States--
       (1) to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty, 
     territorial integrity, multi-ethnic character and the 
     prosperity of the Republika Srpska entity, the Federation of 
     Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, and the Brcko District within 
     one Bosnia and Herzegovina;
       (2) to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress towards 
     Euro-Atlantic integration;
       (3) to encourage officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina to 
     resume institutional participation at all levels of 
     government to advance functionality and common-sense reforms 
     for greater prosperity;
       (4) to call on Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement the 
     rulings of the European Court of Human Rights;
       (5) to support the robust use of targeted sanctions against 
     persons who undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement, as well as 
     the democratic institutions and Constitution of Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina, to support peace and stability in that country;
       (6) to urge the European Union to join the United States 
     and United Kingdom in sanctioning Milorad Dodik, a member of 
     the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for his actions 
     that undermine the stability and territorial integrity of 
     Bosnia and Herzegovina;
       (7) to expose and condemn the Government of Russia for its 
     role in fueling instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 
     undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement, the role of the 
     Office of the High Representative, and the European Union 
     Force in BiH's Operation Althea;
       (8) to work with other regional states, including Serbia 
     and Croatia, to support the territorial integrity and 
     stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and
       (9) to encourage the United States to use its voice and 
     vote at the United Nations, the Peace Implementation Council 
     and its Steering Board, and other relevant international 
     bodies to support the Office of the High Representative.

     SEC. 3. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN 
                   PERSONS UNDERMINING THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT 
                   OR THREATENING THE SECURITY OF BOSNIA AND 
                   HERZEGOVINA.

       (a) Imposition of Sanctions.--
       (1) List required.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, 
     the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a list of foreign persons that are determined--
       (A) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have 
     directly or indirectly engaged in, any action or policy that 
     threatens the peace, security, stability, or territorial 
     integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including actions that 
     seek to undermine the authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina's 
     state-level institutions, such as forming illegal parallel 
     institutions or actions that threaten the Office of the High 
     Representative;
       (B) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have 
     directly or indirectly engaged in, any action or policy that 
     undermines democratic processes or institutions in Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina;
       (C) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have 
     directly or indirectly engaged in, or to have attempted, a 
     violation of, or an act that has obstructed or threatened the 
     implementation of, the Dayton Peace Agreement or the 
     Conclusions of the Peace Implementation Conference Council 
     held in London in December 1995, including the decisions or 
     conclusions of the Office of the High Representative, the 
     Peace Implementation Council, or its Steering Board;
       (D) to be a member, official, or senior leader of an 
     illegal parallel institution or any other institution that 
     engages in activities described in subparagraph (A), (B) or 
     (C), as determined by the Secretary of State;
       (E) to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have 
     directly or indirectly engaged in, or attempted to engage in, 
     corruption related to Bosnia and Herzegovina, including 
     corruption by, on behalf of, or otherwise related to the 
     government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or a current or former 
     government official at any level of government in Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina, such as the misappropriation of public assets, 
     expropriation of private assets for personal gain or 
     political purposes, corruption related to government 
     contracts or the extraction of natural resources or bribery;
       (F) to be an adult family member of any foreign person 
     described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E), unless 
     the President determines that the adult family member--
       (i) has condemned the activity or activities of the foreign 
     person described in any such subparagraph; and
       (ii) has taken tangible steps to oppose the activity or 
     activities;
       (G) to have knowingly facilitated a significant transaction 
     or transactions for or on behalf of a foreign person 
     described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E);

[[Page H1196]]

       (H) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or 
     purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, 
     a foreign person described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), 
     (D), or (E); or
       (I) to have knowingly materially assisted, sponsored, or 
     provided financial, material, or technological support for, 
     or goods or services to or in support of, a foreign person 
     described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E).
       (2) Imposition of sanctions.--Upon the submission of each 
     list required by paragraph (1), the President shall impose 
     the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to 
     each foreign person identified on the list.
       (b) Additional Measure Relating to Facilitation of 
     Transactions.--The Secretary of the Treasury may, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of State, prohibit or impose 
     strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United 
     States of a correspondent account or payable-through account 
     by a foreign financial institution that the President 
     determines has, on or after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, knowingly conducted or facilitated a significant 
     transaction or transactions on behalf of a foreign person on 
     the list required by subsection (a)(1).
       (c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
     subsection are the following:
       (1) Property blocking.--Notwithstanding the requirements of 
     section 202 of the International Emergency Economic Powers 
     Act (50 U.S.C. 1701), the President may exercise of all 
     powers granted to the President by that Act to the extent 
     necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all 
     property and interests in property of the foreign person 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.
       (2) Aliens inadmissible for visas, admission, or parole.--
       (A) In general.--An alien on the list required by 
     subsection (a)(1) is--
       (i) inadmissible to the United States;
       (ii) ineligible for a visa or travel to 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.--
       (i) In general.--The visa or other documentation issued to 
     an alien on the list required by subsection (a)(1) shall be 
     revoked, regardless of when such visa or other documentation 
     is or was issued.
       (ii) Effect of revocation.--A visa or other entry 
     documentation revoked under clause (i) shall, in accordance 
     with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1201(i)), no longer be valid for travel to the United 
     States.
       (d) Exceptions.--
       (1) Exception for intelligence, law enforcement, and 
     national security activities.--Sanctions under this section 
     shall not apply to any authorized intelligence, law 
     enforcement, or national security activities of the United 
     States.
       (2) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters 
     agreement.--Sanctions under subsection (c)(2) shall not apply 
     with respect to the admission of an alien to the United 
     States if the admission of the alien 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, the 
     Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 
     1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967, or other 
     applicable international obligations.
       (3) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian 
     assistance.--Sanctions under this section may not be imposed 
     with respect to transactions or the facilitation of 
     transactions for--
       (A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, 
     or medical devices;
       (B) the provision of humanitarian assistance;
       (C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian 
     assistance or for humanitarian purposes; and
       (D) transporting goods or services that are necessary to 
     carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance or 
     humanitarian purposes.
       (4) Exception relating to the importation of goods.--
       (A) In general.--The authorities and requirements under 
     this section shall not include the authority or a requirement 
     to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
       (B) Good defined.--In this section, the term ``good'' means 
     any article, natural or manmade substance, material, supply, 
     or manufactured product, including inspection and test 
     equipment, and excluding technical data.
       (e) Waiver.--The President may, on a case-by-case basis and 
     for periods not to exceed 180 days each, waive the 
     application of sanctions or restrictions imposed with respect 
     to a foreign person under this section if the President 
     certifies to the appropriate congressional committees not 
     later than 15 days before such waiver is to take effect that 
     the waiver is vital to the national security interests of the 
     United States.
       (f) Regulations.--
       (1) In general.--The President shall, not later than 180 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act, prescribe 
     regulations as necessary for the implementation of this Act.
       (2) Notification to congress.--Not later than 10 days 
     before the prescription of regulations under paragraph (1), 
     the President shall notify the appropriate congressional 
     committees regarding the proposed regulations and the 
     provisions of this Act that the regulations are implementing.
       (g) Implementation.--The President may exercise all 
     authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the 
     International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 
     and 1704) to carry out this Act.
       (h) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections 
     (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency 
     Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person 
     that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 
     causes a violation of regulations prescribed to carry out 
     this Act to the same extent that such penalties apply to a 
     person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection 
     (a) of such section 206.
       (i) Termination of Sanctions.--The President may terminate 
     the application of sanctions under this section with respect 
     to a foreign person if the President determines and reports 
     to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 
     days before the termination of the sanctions that--
       (1) credible information exists that the foreign person did 
     not engage in the activity for which sanctions were imposed;
       (2) the foreign person has been prosecuted and sentenced 
     appropriately for the activity for which sanctions were 
     imposed; or
       (3) the foreign person has credibly demonstrated a 
     significant change in behavior, has paid an appropriate 
     consequence for the activity for which sanctions were 
     imposed, and has credibly committed to not engage in an 
     activity described in subsection (a)(1) in the future.

     SEC. 4. CODIFICATION OF SANCTIONS RELATING TO THE WESTERN 
                   BALKANS.

       (a) In General.--Each sanction imposed through Executive 
     orders described in subsection (b), including each sanction 
     imposed with respect to a person under such an Executive 
     order, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, shall 
     remain in effect, except as provided in subsection (c).
       (b) Executive Orders Specified.--The Executive orders 
     specified in this subsection are--
       (1) Executive Order 13219 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to 
     blocking property of persons who threaten international 
     stabilization efforts in the Western Balkans), as in effect 
     on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (2) Executive Order 14033 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to 
     blocking property and suspending entry into the United States 
     of certain persons contributing to the destabilizing 
     situation in the Western Balkans), as in effect on such date 
     of enactment.
       (c) Termination of Sanctions.--The President may terminate 
     the application of a sanction described in subsection (a) 
     with respect to a person if the President certifies to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that--
       (1) such person--
       (A) is not engaging in the activity that was the basis for 
     such sanctions; or
       (B) has taken significant verifiable steps toward stopping 
     such activity; and
       (2) the President has received reliable assurances that 
     such person will not knowingly engage in activity subject to 
     such sanctions in the future.
       (d) Sanctions Relating to the Importation of Goods 
     Unchanged.--This section may not be construed to create any 
     new authorities or requirements related to sanctions on the 
     importation of goods.

     SEC. 5. CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION IN IMPOSING 
                   SANCTIONS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after receiving a 
     request from the chairman and ranking member of one of the 
     appropriate congressional committees with respect to whether 
     a person or foreign person, as the case may be, meets the 
     criteria of a person described in section 3(a)(1) or a person 
     described in Executive Order 13219 or Executive Order 14033 
     as provided for in section 4(b), or any Executive order 
     issued pursuant to this Act or under the Balkans regulatory 
     regime, the President shall--
       (1) determine if the person or foreign person, as the case 
     may be, meets such criteria; and
       (2) submit a classified or unclassified report to such 
     chairman and ranking member with respect to such 
     determination that includes a statement of whether or not the 
     President imposed or intends to impose sanctions with respect 
     to such person or foreign person.
       (b) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on the date that 
     is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Admitted; alien.--The terms ``admitted'' and ``alien'' 
     have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
       (3) Correspondent account; payable-through account.--The 
     terms ``correspondent account'' and ``payable-through

[[Page H1197]]

     account'' have the meanings given those terms in section 
     5318A of title 31, United States Code.
       (4) Dayton peace agreement.--The term ``Dayton Peace 
     Agreement'', also known as the ``Dayton Accords'', means the 
     General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and 
     Herzegovina, initialed by the parties in Dayton, Ohio, on 
     November 21, 1995, and signed in Paris on December 14, 1995.
       (5) Foreign financial institution.--The term ``foreign 
     financial institution'' has the meaning of that term as 
     determined by the Secretary of the Treasury by regulation.
       (6) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means a 
     person that is not a United States person.
       (7) Illegal parallel institution.--The term ``illegal 
     parallel institution'' means an agency, structure, or 
     instrumentality at the Republika Srpska entity level that 
     disrupts the authority of the state-level institutions of 
     Bosnia and Herzegovina and undermines its constitutional 
     order.
       (8) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to 
     conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has 
     actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the 
     circumstance, or the result.
       (9) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or 
     entity.
       (10) United states person.--The term ``United States 
     person'' means--
       (A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted 
     to the United States for permanent residence;
       (B) an entity organized under the laws of the United States 
     or any jurisdiction within the United States, including a 
     foreign branch of such an entity; or
       (C) any person in the United States.

     SEC. 7. SUNSET.

       This Act and the authorities provided by this Act shall 
     terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1995, the Dayton Accords brought an end to more than 
3 horrific years of war and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 
ushered in a new era of peace.
  Today, this peace is being threatened. Self-serving, corrupt 
politicians like Milorad Dodik are engaged in a sustained attack on 
Bosnia's unity, sovereignty, and multiethnic character.
  As Dodik and his cronies know well, a prosperous and western-facing 
Bosnia and Herzegovina threatens their personal power and ill-gotten 
wealth. They are willing to tear the country apart to maintain control 
over their illicit patronage networks, aided and abetted by the 
destructive Putin regime, which fears Bosnia's integration with the 
west.
  Dodik, who has been under U.S. sanctions for more than 2 years, 
continues to threaten secession in public interviews and through 
reckless and inflammatory policies.
  According to Treasury, he: ``Has used his official BiH position and a 
network of personal ties and companies to accumulate personal wealth 
through graft, bribery, and other forms of corruption.''
  These actions have drastic consequences. The 2024 Annual Threat 
Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community concluded that the 
Western Balkans will face an increased risk of localized interethnic 
violence during 2024.
  At a time when the United States faces conflicts and crises around 
the world, we cannot afford to see the Western Balkans descend into 
chaos.
  The Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the Bosnian war may be flawed, 
but it is holding Bosnia together during this period of rising ethnic 
tension, corruption, and Russian aggression. However, because of the 
reckless actions of a few cynical elite, Bosnia's stability and 
sovereignty are at risk.
  As a guarantor of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the United States must 
use its economic toolkit to deter corruption, obstructionism, and 
secessionism in Bosnia and promote its accession to Euro-Atlantic 
institutions.
  My bill, the Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions 
Act, does just this. Through this bill, we will impose and codify 
sanctions against bad actors like Milorad Dodik, who continue their 
agenda of secessionism, corruption, and destabilization.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. Speaker, sanctions work. In a hearing before the Europe 
Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Gabriel Escobar shared with us that officials in Bosnia's 
Dodik-controlled Serb entity begged the U.S. to please, please, no more 
sanctions.
  However, much more leverage needs to be brought to bear against 
Dodik's inner circle, their Russian backers, and the corrupt 
politicians who recklessly use their country's dysfunction to grow 
their power and their wealth. My bill would hold these criminals and 
politicians accountable and deter others who would seek to undermine 
peace and stability in the region.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Turner, Representative Kean, and 
Representative Wild for introducing this bill with me. I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                 Washington, DC, February 8, 2024.
     Hon. Michael McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Committee on Financial Services regarding H.R. 4723, the 
     Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act. I 
     agree that the Committee shall be discharged from further 
     consideration of the bill so that it may proceed 
     expeditiously to the House Floor. The Committee takes this 
     action with the mutual understanding that, by foregoing 
     consideration of H.R. 4723 at this time, we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation, and that the Committee will be 
     appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar 
     legislation as it moves forward. The Committee also reserves 
     the right to see appointment of an appropriate number of 
     conferees to any conference with the Senate involving this or 
     similar legislation, and we request your support for any such 
     request.
       Finally, as you mentioned in your letter, I ask that a copy 
     of our exchange of letters on this bill be included in your 
     Committee's report to accompany the legislation, as well as 
     in the Congressional Record during floor consideration 
     thereof.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Patrick McHenry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, March 11, 2024.
     Hon. Patrick McHenry,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McHenry: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from 
     further consideration of H.R. 4723, the Upholding the Dayton 
     Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act, so that the measure 
     may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of 
     your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would 
     support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate 
     conference on this legislation.
       I will seek to place our letters on this bill into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate 
     your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward 
     to continuing to work together as this measure moves through 
     the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                   Washington, DC, March 11, 2024.
     Hon. Michael McCaul,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman McCaul: I write regarding H.R. 4723, the 
     Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act. 
     Provisions of this bill fall within the Judiciary Committee's 
     Rule X jurisdiction, and I appreciate that you consulted with 
     us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee agrees that 
     it shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill 
     so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
       The Committee takes this action with the understanding that 
     forgoing further consideration of this measure does not in 
     any way

[[Page H1198]]

     alter the Committee's jurisdiction or waive any future 
     jurisdictional claim over these provisions or their subject 
     matter. We also reserve the right to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees in the event of a conference 
     with the Senate involving this measure or similar 
     legislation.
       I ask that you please include this letter in your 
     committee's report to accompany this legislation or insert 
     this letter in the Congressional Record during consideration 
     of H.R. 4723 on the House floor. I appreciate the cooperative 
     manner in which our committees have worked on this matter, 
     and I look forward to working collaboratively in the future 
     on matters of shared jurisdiction. Thank you for your 
     attention to this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Jim Jordan,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, March 11, 2024.
     Hon. Jim Jordan,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Jordan: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from 
     further consideration of H.R. 4723, the Upholding the Dayton 
     Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act, so that the measure 
     may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of 
     your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would 
     support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate 
     conference on this legislation.
       I will seek to place our letters on this bill into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate 
     your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward 
     to continuing to work together as this measure moves through 
     the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                Michael T. McCaul,
                                                         Chairman.

  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As the lead Democrat on H.R. 4723, I rise in strong support of this 
bill.
  The United States, working alongside Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia, 
crafted a tenuous diplomatic settlement to end the fighting and keep 
the peace in Balkans in the wake of the devastating wars of the 1990s. 
The resulting framework has been frustratingly imperfect, but it has 
provided a path forward for Bosnia and, indeed, for the entire region.
  This legislation calls attention to the difficulties facing Bosnia as 
it seeks to join the EU. It calls for critically needed reforms to 
ensure that all Bosnians can have a voice in their government, and it 
addresses the forces that threaten the region's fragile peace.
  Neither progress nor peace in the region are inevitable. These trends 
require an enduring commitment to fostering them. The bill reaffirms 
that U.S. commitment, along with our partners in Europe, to actively 
maintain peace.
  The sanctions imposed under this bill provide a necessary 
disincentive to ensure that the Dayton Agreements hold strong and do 
not unravel under political pressure. The sanctions section include 
waiver language and appropriate exceptions for intelligence activities, 
humanitarian aid, and to comply with our international agreements.
  Despite clear challenges, Bosnia has made strides on meeting the EU 
membership criteria for integration. It is in the interest of the 
United States to help ensure that Bosnia meets its compliance with EU 
rules and standards, so that its accession to the bloc can happen as 
soon as viable.
  I want to take a moment to recognize and thank my colleague, 
Representative Wagner, for leading this effort, as well as for her 
longstanding work to support peace and progress in this region.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, this bill turns our attention to a region 
where U.S. presence and diplomacy go a long way.
  The European Union also realizes that progress in Bosnia and the 
surrounding region is not inevitable. In that light, I welcome the EU's 
decision to open membership negotiations.
  Transatlantic cooperation between the U.S. and the EU is essential to 
not only keeping the peace in the western Balkans, but also ensuring a 
democratic and prosperous future.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting H.R. 
4723, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
close.
  Mr. Speaker, as the vice chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee 
and as Representative of the largest Bosnian community outside of 
Bosnia and Herzegovina, I know what the consequences will be if we fail 
to stand strong against destructive politicians who seek to undo years 
of peace.
  If we let the Dayton Accords--a symbol of American leadership and 
commitment--collapse, then we risk seeing violence return to Bosnia. 
Adversaries like Russia and China would welcome these upheavals and 
solidify a stronger economic and security foothold.
  I remind my colleagues that Congress has acted on this once before. 
Last Congress, I introduced a similar version of this bill which passed 
the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support.
  This time, the stakes are much higher. With our adversaries 
emboldened like never before, Congress must act and confront these 
potent threats to peace and stability.
  Will we turn a blind eye to corrupt autocrats like Milorad Dodik, or 
will we uphold the peace secured by the Dayton Accords many years ago?
  To me, the choice is obvious.
  Time is running out to send a strong deterrent message to bad actors 
intent on destabilizing the country.
  Let's pass this bill again and get it to the President's desk so that 
the United States has the tools that it needs to break the 
ethnonationalist and Russian hold on Bosnia's future.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4723, 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.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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