[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 93 (Monday, June 2, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3178-S3180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2284. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by her to the bill S. 1582, to provide for the regulation of payment
stablecoins, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:
At the end of the bill, add the following:
TITLE II--SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY IN THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA
SEC. 21. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Mobilizing and Enhancing
Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience,
and Independence Act''.
SEC. 22. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(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) Georgia.--The term ``Georgia'' means the Republic of
Georgia.
(3) NATO.--The term ``NATO'' means the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of State.
SEC. 23. 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 Government of Georgia 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. 24. 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--
(A) is made clear under Article 78 of the Constitution of
Georgia; and
(B) 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
[[Page S3179]]
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 26, 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. 25. REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS.
(a) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(5) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives; and
(6) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives.
(b) Report on Russian Intelligence Assets in Georgia.--Not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary, 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.
(c) 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 subparagraph (A) 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 under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, with a classified annex.
SEC. 26. 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 result, means that a person has
actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the
circumstance, or the result.
(6) United 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; and
(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 the 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,
[[Page S3180]]
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, with respect to a foreign person described in
subsection (b) or (c), are the following:
(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.--
(i) In general.--The foreign person shall be subject to
revocation of any visa or other entry documentation
regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is
or was issued.
(ii) Effective date.--Each 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 such section.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this title, or in any
amendment made by this title, 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 set forth in section 28.
(i) Exceptions.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(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.
(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 clause (i).
(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. 27. 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 expand, as appropriate, military
cooperation 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 if
the Government of Georgia takes steps, after the submission
of the certification described in subsection (c), to realign
itself with its Euro-Atlantic agenda, including by making
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 by the
President to Congress that Georgia has shown significant and
sustained progress towards reinvigorating its democracy and
advancing its Euro-Atlantic integration.
SEC. 28. SUNSET.
This title 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.
______