[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 74 (Monday, May 5, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1823-H1828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1530
MOBILIZING AND ENHANCING GEORGIA'S OPTIONS FOR BUILDING ACCOUNTABILITY,
RESILIENCE, AND INDEPENDENCE ACT
Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill
[[Page H1824]]
(H.R. 36) to counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, the
Iranian Regime, and the Russian Federation in the nation of Georgia.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 36
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 ``Mobilizing and Enhancing
Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience,
and Independence Act'' or the ``MEGOBARI Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) NATO.--The term ``NATO'' means the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of State.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the progress made by the people of Georgia in forging
an innovative and productive society since the country's
independence from the Soviet Union should be applauded;
(2) the consolidation of democracy in Georgia is critical
for regional stability and United States national interests;
(3) Georgia has seen significant democratic backsliding in
recent years, as evidenced by numerous independent
assessments and measures;
(4) the current Georgian government is increasingly hostile
towards independent domestic civil society and its chief
Euro-Atlantic partners while increasingly embracing enhanced
ties with the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of
China, and other anti-Western authoritarian regimes;
(5) the United States has an interest in protecting and
securing democracy in Georgia; and
(6) the Secretary should suspend the United States-Georgia
Strategic Partnership Commission, established through the
United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership on
January 9, 2009, until after the Government of Georgia takes
measures--
(A) to represent the democratic wishes of the citizens of
Georgia; and
(B) to uphold its constitutional obligation to advance the
country towards membership in the European Union and NATO.
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to support the constitutionally stated aspirations of
Georgia to become a member of the European Union and NATO,
which is made clear under Article 78 of the Constitution of
Georgia and is supported by the overwhelming majority of the
citizens of Georgia;
(2) to continue supporting the capacity of the Government
of Georgia to protect its sovereignty and territorial
integrity from further Russian aggression or encroachment
within its internationally recognized borders;
(3) to call on all political parties and elected Members of
the Parliament of Georgia to continue working on addressing
the reform plan outlined by the European Commission to resume
Georgia's recently granted candidate status through an
inclusive and transparent consultation process that involves
opposition parties and civil society organizations, which the
people of Georgia have freely elected to pursue;
(4) to reevaluate its relationship with the Government of
Georgia and review all forms of foreign and security
assistance made available to the Government if it takes the
required steps--
(A) to reorient itself toward its European Union accession
agenda; and
(B) to advance policy or legislation reflecting the express
wishes of the Georgian people;
(5) to emphasize the importance of contributing to
international efforts--
(A) to combat Russian aggression, including through
sanctions on trade with Russia and the implementation and
enforcement of worldwide sanctions on Russia; and
(B) to reduce, rather than increase, trade ties between
Georgia and Russia;
(6) to continue supporting the ongoing development of
democratic values in Georgia, including free and fair
elections, freedom of association, an independent and
accountable judiciary, an independent media, public-sector
transparency and accountability, the rule of law, countering
malign influence, and anti-corruption efforts and to impose
swift consequences on individuals who are directly
responsible for leading or have directly and knowingly
engaged in leading actions of policies that significantly
undermine those standards;
(7) to continue to support the Georgian people and civil
society organizations that reflect the aspirations of the
Georgian people for democracy and a future with the people of
Europe;
(8) to continue supporting the right of the Georgian people
to freely engage in peaceful protest, determine their future,
and make independent and sovereign choices on foreign and
security policy, including regarding Georgia's relationship
with other countries and international organizations, without
interference, intimidation, or coercion by other countries or
those acting on their behalf;
(9) to call on all political parties, elected Members of
the Parliament of Georgia, and officers of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Georgia to respect the freedoms of
peaceful assembly, association, and expression, including for
the press, and the rule of law, and encourage a vibrant and
inclusive civil society;
(10) to call on the Government of Georgia to release all
persons detained or imprisoned on politically motivated
grounds and drop any pending charges against them;
(11) to call on the Government of Georgia to thoroughly
investigate all allegations emerging from the recent national
elections, which took place on October 2024, make a
determination whether the elections should be judged as
illegitimate and hold those responsible for interference in
the elections; and
(12) to continue impressing upon the Government of Georgia
that the United States is committed to sustaining and
deepening bilateral relations and supporting Georgia's Euro-
Atlantic aspirations.
SEC. 5. REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS.
(a) Report on Russian Intelligence Assets in Georgia.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and
the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a classified report, prepared
consistent with the protection of sources and methods,
examining the penetration of Russian intelligence elements
and their assets in Georgia, that includes an annex examining
Chinese influence and the potential intersection of Russian-
Chinese cooperation in Georgia.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the
Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and the
Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
(b) 5-Year United States Strategy for Bilateral Relations
With Georgia.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, in coordination with the heads of other relevant
Federal departments and agencies, shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a detailed strategy
that--
(A) outlines specific objectives for enhancing bilateral
ties which reflect the current domestic political environment
in Georgia;
(B) includes a determination of the tools, resources, and
funding that should be available to achieve the objectives
outlined pursuant to paragraph (1) and an assessment whether
Georgia should remain the second-highest recipient of United
States funding in the Europe and Eurasia region;
(C) includes a determination of the extent to which the
United States should continue to invest in its partnership
with Georgia;
(D) includes a plan for how the United States can continue
to support civil society and independent media organizations
in Georgia; and
(E) includes a determination whether the Government of
Georgia remains committed to expanding trade ties with the
United States and Europe and whether the United States
Government should continue to invest in Georgian projects.
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, with a classified annex.
SEC. 6. SANCTIONS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'',
``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given such
terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1101).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of
the Senate;
(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means any
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(4) Immediate family members.--The term ``immediate family
members'' has the meaning given the term ``immediate
relatives'' in section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(b)(2)(A)(i)).
(5) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to
conduct, a circumstance, or a
[[Page H1825]]
result, means that a person has actual knowledge, or should
have known, of the conduct, the circumstance, or the result.
(6) Unites states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted
for permanent residence to the United States;
(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 within the United States.
(b) Inadmissibility of Officials of Government of Georgia
and Certain Other Individuals Involved in Blocking Euro-
Atlantic Integration.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall determine
whether each of the following foreign persons has knowingly
engaged in significant acts of corruption, or acts of
violence or intimidation in relation to the blocking of Euro-
Atlantic integration in Georgia:
(A) Any individual who, on or after January 1, 2014, has
served as a member of the Parliament of the Government of
Georgia or as a current or former senior official of a
Georgian political party.
(B) Any individual who is serving as an official in a
leadership position working on behalf of the Government of
Georgia, including law enforcement, intelligence, judicial,
or local or municipal government.
(C) An immediate family member of an official described in
subparagraph (A) or a person described in subparagraph (B)
who benefitted from the conduct of such official or person.
(2) Sanctions.--The President shall impose the sanctions
described in subsection (d)(2) with respect to each foreign
person with respect to which the President has made an
affirmative decision under paragraph (1).
(3) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the
appropriate committees of Congress with respect to--
(A) any foreign person with respect to which the President
has made an affirmative determination under paragraph (1);
and
(B) the specific facts that justify each such affirmative
determination.
(4) Waiver.--The President may waive imposition of
sanctions under this subsection on a case-by-case basis if
the President determines and reports to the appropriate
committees of Congress that--
(A) such waiver would serve national security interests; or
(B) the circumstances which caused the individual to be
ineligible have sufficiently changed.
(c) Imposition of Sanctions With Respect to Undermining
Peace, Security, Stability, Sovereignty or Territorial
Integrity of Georgia.--
(1) In general.--The President may impose the sanctions
described in subsection (d)(1) and shall impose the sanctions
described in subsection (d)(2) with respect to each foreign
person the President determines, on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act--
(A) is responsible for, complicit in, or has directly or
indirectly engaged in or attempted to engage in, actions or
policies, including ordering, controlling, or otherwise
directing acts that are intended to undermine the peace,
security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of
Georgia;
(B) is or has been a leader or official of an entity that
has, or whose members have, engaged in any activity described
in subparagraph (A); or
(C) is an immediate family member of a person subject to
sanctions for conduct described in subparagraph (A) or (B)
and benefitted from the conduct of such person.
(2) Brief and written notification.--Not later than 10 days
after imposing sanctions on a foreign person or persons
pursuant to this subsection, the President shall brief and
provide written notification to the appropriate committees of
Congress regarding the imposition of such sanctions, which
shall describe--
(A) the foreign person or persons subject to the imposition
of such sanctions;
(B) the activity justifying the imposition of such
sanctions; and
(C) the specific sanctions imposed on such foreign person
or persons.
(3) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of
sanctions under this subsection with respect to a foreign
person for renewable periods not to exceed 180 days if, not
later than 15 days before the date on which such waiver is to
take effect, the President submits to the appropriate
committees of Congress a written determination and
justification that the waiver is in the national security
interests of the United States.
(d) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are the following with respect to a foreign person
described in subsection (b) or (c), as applicable:
(1) Blocking of property.--Notwithstanding the requirements
under section 202 of the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701), the President shall exercise all
authorities granted under the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent
necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in 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) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--A foreign person that is
an alien shall be--
(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.--The foreign person shall be
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 take effect
immediately and automatically cancel any other valid visa or
entry documentation that is in the foreign person's
possession.
(e) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) 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 section.
(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of
subsection (d)(2)(A) or any regulation, license, or order
issued under that subsection shall be subject to the
penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206
of the International 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 that section.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this Act, or any
amendment made by this Act, may be construed to limit the
authority of the President to designate or sanction persons
pursuant to an applicable Executive order or otherwise
pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
(f) Rulemaking.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall prescribe such
regulations as are necessary for the implementation of this
section.
(2) Notification to congress.--Not later than 10 days
before prescribing regulations pursuant to paragraph (1), the
President shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress
of the proposed regulations and the provisions of this
section that the regulations are implementing.
(g) Sanctions With Respect to Broader Corruption in
Georgia.--
(1) Determination.--The President shall determine whether
there are foreign persons who, on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act, have engaged in significant corruption
in Georgia or acts that are intended to undermine the peace,
security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of
Georgia for the purposes of potential imposition of sanctions
pursuant to powers granted to the President under the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701
et seq.).
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit a
report to the appropriate committees of Congress that--
(i) identifies all foreign persons the President has
determined, pursuant to this subsection, have engaged in
significant corruption in Georgia or committed acts that are
intended to undermine the peace, security, stability,
sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Georgia;
(ii) the dates on which sanctions were imposed; and
(iii) the reasons for imposing such sanctions.
(B) Form.--The report required under subparagraph (A) shall
be provided in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
(h) Termination of Sanctions.--Any sanctions imposed on a
foreign person pursuant to this section shall terminate on
the earlier of--
(1) the date on which the President certifies to the
appropriate committees of Congress that the foreign person is
no longer engaging in the activities that led to the
imposition of such sanction; or
(2) the sunset date described in section 7.
(i) Exceptions.--
(1) Definitions.--In this section:
(A) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural
commodity'' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of
the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
(B) Good.--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.
(C) Medical device.--The term ``medical device'' has the
meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(D) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the meaning given
the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(2) Exceptions.--
(A) Exception relating to intelligence activities.--
Sanctions under this section shall not apply to--
(i) any activity subject to the reporting requirements
under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
3091 et seq.); or
(ii) any authorized intelligence activities of the United
States.
[[Page H1826]]
(B) Exception to comply with international obligations.--
Sanctions under this section shall not apply with respect to
a foreign person if admitting or paroling the person into the
United States 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.
(C) Humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions under this section
shall not apply to--
(i) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the
provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine,
medical devices, or humanitarian assistance, or for
humanitarian purposes; or
(ii) transactions that are necessary for, or related to,
the activities described in paragraph (1).
(j) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.--The
requirement to block and prohibit all transactions in all
property and interests in property under this section shall
not include the authority or a requirement to impose
sanctions on the importation of goods.
SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WITH RESPECT TO GEORGIA.
(a) In General.--Upon submission to Congress of the
certification described in subsection (c)--
(1) the Secretary of State, in consultation with other
heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies,
should seek to further enhance people-to-people contacts and
academic exchanges between the United States and Georgia; and
(2) the President, in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense, should maintain, and as appropriate, expand military
co-operation with Georgia, including by providing further
security and defense equipment ideally suited for territorial
defense against Russian aggression and related training,
maintenance, and operations support elements.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that,
after the submission of the certification described in
subsection (c) should the Georgian government take steps to
re-align itself with its Euro-Atlantic agenda, including
significant changes to the foreign influence law, the
President should take steps to improve the bilateral
relationship between the United States and Georgia, including
actions to bolster Georgia's ability to deter threats from
Russia and other malign actors.
(c) Certification Described.--The certification described
in this subsection is a certification submitted to Congress
by the President that Georgia has shown significant and
sustained progress towards reinvigorating its democracy and
advancing its Euro-Atlantic integration.
SEC. 8. SUNSET.
This Act shall cease to have any force or effect beginning
on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. MAST. Madam 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
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, the Republic of Georgia was once a prime contender for
NATO and an ally of the United States, especially following Russia's
2008 invasion. The United States benefited from military and
intelligence cooperation, and the Georgian people are well known for
their pro-American sentiment.
Unfortunately, our bilateral relationship with Georgia has been
eroded by the ruling Georgian Dream party's moves that mimic Russia's
authoritarian tactics, as well as their rapprochement with China and
Iran.
The opportunities provided by a pro-Western, democratic Georgia are
manifest. Georgia's strategic location on the Black Sea makes it a
pivotal nation for trade through the Middle Corridor to Central Asia
and can be a counterbalance to Iranian and Russian influence in the
region.
I support this bipartisan bill introduced by Mr. Wilson because it
takes an America-first approach to the Republic of Georgia. This bill
will impose sanctions on regime officials for their roles in
undermining Georgia's sovereignty and pro-Western trajectory, as well
as review our bilateral relationship, including assistance programs,
and require a report that spotlights Russian intelligence actions in
Georgia.
However, this bill also provides Georgia with an alternative. Once
the President certifies that Georgia has returned to its pro-Western
trajectory, it promises enhanced people-to-people ties, military
cooperation, and encourages an improved bilateral relationship.
The United States should reward partners for good behavior. This bill
is not an attack on the Georgian people. It seeks to support them by
punishing rogue officials who are taking them further away from the
United States.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs favorably marked up a version
of this bill during the last Congress, where it passed with a strong
majority, and I expect it will receive similar support today.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this pragmatic
approach to foreign policy and support this measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 36, a bipartisan bill
designed to make sure that the United States remains committed to
Georgia's Euro-Atlantic and democratic aspirations.
I thank my friend, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson),
for his tireless efforts on this topic, in addition to his fervent work
to support Ukraine.
For years following the fall of Communism and particularly after the
Rose Revolution in 2003, the people of Georgia have worked to
successfully build their democracy and their economy, all while
fostering aspirations to join the EU and NATO.
The United States, along with European partners, have played an
integral role in ensuring that the path of integration was open to
Georgia and that its people had the means to implement the necessary
reforms. Georgia's story has been one of success.
Georgia, strategically located on the Black Sea, is no stranger to
larger geopolitical forces. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 during the
Beijing Olympics and proceeded to occupy 20 percent of its territory.
Despite the persistent threat from Russia, Georgians continued to forge
forward with democratic reforms and even made significant contributions
to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as this legislation notes.
However, we know too well from the experience in other parts of
Europe and at home that democratic progress is fragile and requires
constant attention.
In February 2023, the Georgian Government introduced a foreign agents
bill in its parliament that it claimed was aimed at transparency.
However, the bill was set to impose burdensome restrictions on civil
society organizations and independent media, stigmatizing them as
foreign agents.
Following warnings from the United States and partners in Europe, as
well as waves of protests, the government withdrew the bill, only to
reintroduce it in April 2024. This time, despite massive protests, a
Presidential veto, additional rebukes from the United States Congress,
the Biden administration, and the EU, the Georgian Parliament pushed
this legislation through.
Then, in another illustration of democratic backsliding,
parliamentary elections were held in the fall of 2024 that were neither
free, nor fair, and tainted by numerous and serious electoral
violations.
This legislation is a response to the deteriorating democratic
situation in Georgia. It will let the Georgian people know that we
stand by them in their quest for democracy, respect for their rights,
and deeper integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. This also
provides a framework for appropriate cooperation with the Georgian
Government going forward.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased with the bipartisan work of this bill,
look forward to its passage, and hope that it has the desired effect to
show the people of Georgia that Congress is watching, the United States
cares, and that we want to ensure their future in Europe and NATO.
Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), the sponsor of this legislation.
[[Page H1827]]
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Brian
Mast for yielding and thank him for his leadership on behalf of the
American people.
Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the bipartisan endorsement of this
legislation. It is bipartisan with Republican and Democratic support
and bicameral with Senate and House support of the MEGOBARI bill, which
promotes the brave people of the Republic of Georgia.
For more than 155 days, the freedom-loving people of Georgia have
peacefully taken to the streets in defense of the future and soul of
their nation. They drape themselves in the flags of the United States
and carry posters of our President, Donald Trump, as an indication of
their love and affection for freedom and democracy.
Their will is clear: They will not allow the illegal regime of
corrupt Bidzina Ivanishvili to drive their country into ruin and be
dependent on the failed Soviet Union.
Georgia is a Black Sea nation that has always prized its hard-won
freedom. Sadly, the will of the people is being subverted by the
illegitimate Georgian Dream regime, an American-hating Mafia cabal that
seeks to sell the country to U.S. adversaries, including the Chinese
Communist Party, practically giving away a port on the Black Sea that
should be for the people of Georgia.
They are also subservient to the regime in Tehran, who we know
launched attacks against Israel just yesterday; and war criminal Putin,
who seeks to indeed make the people of Georgia subservient.
The Georgian people are among the bravest and most pro-American in
the world. I have had the opportunity, with three of my sons serving
with Georgian troops across the world in Afghanistan and Iraq, to see
how brave and capable the troops of Georgia are. Georgian troops have
fought alongside American troops in the global war on terrorism and had
no limits on the assignments that they would undertake bravely and
competently.
In 2020, I was grateful to lead the Republican Study Committee
national security report under then-chairman and now Speaker Mike
Johnson calling for sanctions on Ivanishvili. Republicans saw the
threat then posed by this thug and his cronies.
Georgian Dream has moved swiftly to criminalize the association with
America since the election of October 2026. It rejected bids by
American companies for construction of their strategic deep-sea port to
the Chinese Communist Party. Every major building contract, over $100
million in U.S. dollars, has been awarded to the Chinese Communist
Party or affiliated companies or state-owned companies of the Chinese
Communist Party.
This blocks America from the Middle Corridor and cuts off land access
to critical minerals in Central Asia, which, additionally, want to be
friends of America and friends of Western civilization. The regime
peddles in daily anti-American propaganda accusing top officials of the
United States Government, including President Trump and the very
appreciated Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Jim Risch, of
corruption and acting as tools of the deep state.
In fact, just last week, there was a statement by government
officials that Donald Trump was a tool of the deep state.
As the Trump administration State Department's spokesman, Tammy
Bruce, said:
``Regarding continuing anti-democratic actions taken by the Georgian
Dream government--as Vice President Vance said in Munich, you cannot
win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in
jail, nor can you win one by disregarding your basic electorate on
questions like who gets to be a part of our shared society.''
This bill provides for sanctions against Georgian Dream thugs for
their illegal actions, and it also provides for stronger bilateral ties
after confirmation of Georgia's return to adherence to its
constitution.
Madam Speaker, I urge support for this legislation for the mutual
benefit of the people of Georgia and the people of the United States.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).
Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, Georgia has long been a great friend to the United
States. I went to Georgia for their election when they elected the
Georgian Dream ticket about 12 years ago, but the Georgian Dream party
has turned into the Georgian nightmare.
In America, Dr. King had a dream, and that dream still lives. Yet,
the dream in Georgia, the country, is no longer alive and is pulling
that country closer to our adversaries.
The illegitimate Georgian Dream party led by Ivanishvili rigged the
October 2024 election, and they truly did rig it in that situation. It
has been facing mass protests ever since. Every Sunday, there are mass
protests in Georgia protesting deprivation of freedoms and liberties.
The Georgian Dream has orchestrated crackdowns on citizens, including
banning the freedom of speech and assembly in Georgia, using violence
against protesters, and abusing the court process to wrongfully
imprison and charge protesters.
The Georgian people have protested for over 150 consecutive days and
are still protesting today, especially on Sundays. They are calling for
free and fair elections and the release of political prisoners.
The United States has long supported freedom in Georgia and now is no
different. The MEGOBARI Act is an expression of that support.
As ranking member of the Helsinki Commission, I am proud to be the
lead Democrat on the MEGOBARI bill along with my friend, Representative
Joe Wilson.
This Act will evaluate all Georgian Dream officials for sanctions. If
they are found to have undermined Georgian democracy or engaged in
corruption, they will be sanctioned.
It also creates a report on Russian intelligence assets in Georgia
and Russia-China cooperation undermining Georgian sovereignty. What is
going on is basically a revolution where Ivanishvili, who runs
the party and has investments in Russia, is trying to bring them closer
to Russia and Putin.
Lastly, the bill envisions a stronger U.S.-Georgia relationship once
Georgia returns to its traditional Euro-Atlantic path mandated in its
own constitution and demanded by its people.
Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Joe Wilson and the other co-
leads of this important legislation, Congressman Veasey and Congressman
Hudson, and I urge its passage.
Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Davidson).
Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I generally support everything that the chairman
supports. This is a wrongheaded bill. Our colleagues need to say ``no''
to this. The American people did not send us here to expand America's
security blanket to more parts of the world.
We don't have to get involved in every conflict we are invited to,
and we certainly don't need to seek out extra ones. We can wish the
people of Georgia well without expanding our commitment to be Europe's
defense force with a blank check to defend every country. Admittedly,
Georgia can't really defend themselves well against Russia. They are
not even spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense in the current
state. That is a minimum for admission into NATO.
My colleagues couldn't blame them for thinking that it doesn't really
matter because even the biggest countries, like Germany, haven't
historically hit that threshold either, but their economy isn't that
big. Even if they were spending more, it wouldn't matter.
Madam Speaker, this is the wrong approach to national security, and
it also further dilutes the effectiveness of our sanctions regime. I
think it is a terrible idea. I think my constituents are wondering: Why
we are doing this instead of the things that we campaigned on? I hope
we get focused on an America-first foreign policy. This isn't it.
Madam Speaker, I oppose it, and I urge everyone else to, as well.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield myself the balance of my time for the purposes of closing.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 36 works to show the people of Georgia that the
[[Page H1828]]
United States remains committed to its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and
provides a framework for appropriate cooperation with the Georgian
Government in light of worrying democratic backsliding in the country.
I thank my colleagues again for their steadfast support and
leadership on this issue in support of Georgia's ambitions to join NATO
and the EU, and I hope my colleagues will join me and support this
bill.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I firmly believe that every country in the world
should choose the United States of America as their first partner and
our allies over dictatorships like Russia and China. It is essential
that these countries walk the walk.
American largesse will not be taken advantage of by those who accuse
the United States of being part of a global war party or the global
deep state.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure and stand
with the people of Georgia and an America-first foreign policy, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1545
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 36.
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. MAST. Madam 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.
____________________