[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3967-H3968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COUNTERING CHINA'S CONTROL OF THE CAUCASUS ACT
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 7668) to require a report on Russian and Chinese intelligence
assets in Georgia, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7668
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 ``Countering China's Control
of the Caucasus Act''.
SEC. 2. REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS.
(a) Report on Russian and Chinese Intelligence Assets in
Georgia.--
(1) Defined term.--In this section, the term ``relevant
congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(E) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(F) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives;
(G) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(H) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) 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 a classified report,
as appropriate, to the relevant congressional committees that
meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (3).
(3) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (2)
shall--
(A) be prepared consistent with the protection of sources
and methods;
(B) examine the penetration of Russian and Chinese
intelligence elements and their assets in Georgia; and
(C) examine the potential intersection of Russian and
Chinese influence and cooperation in Georgia.
(b) 5-Year United States Strategy for Bilateral Relations
With Georgia.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the relevant 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 of
whether Georgia should remain a top 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; and
(D) includes a determination of 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Mast) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. MAST. 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 H.R. 7668.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7668, the Countering China's
Control of the Caucasus Act, introduced by my colleague to my right
here from South Carolina, Mr. Joe Wilson.
Now, over the last few years, there have been serious questions
raised about the status of democracy and the prevalence of malign
influence from U.S. adversaries in the Republic of Georgia.
To this day, Russia occupies 20 percent of Georgia's sovereign
territory following its 2008 invasion. Despite efforts to militarily
resist Russia, concerns remain over Russia's longstanding influence in
Georgia.
Equally concerning is the influence of the People's Republic of China
within the country. In the last few years, this led to a Chinese
consortium being selected over a U.S. company for developing a massive
seaport project. Competition is good, but when it comes to critical
infrastructure like this, our partners should take into consideration
the risks posed by the PRC.
This bill would require an assessment of Russian and Chinese
intelligence activities and influence within the Republic of Georgia
and identify any areas of cooperation between Russia and China within
Georgia.
The bill would also require a strategy for the future relationship
between the United States and Georgia and help us assess if Georgia is
serious about a path of improved relations.
Mr. Speaker, I again thank my colleague, Mr. Wilson of South
Carolina, for introducing this effort, and I urge my colleagues to
advance this bill today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7668, a bipartisan bill
designed to make sure the United States is clear-eyed about the threats
from Russia and the PRC in Georgia as well as whether Georgia remains
committed to a relationship with the United States and Europe centered
around shared values and interests.
In this spirit, I thank my good friend Representative Wilson for his
tireless work in support of the Georgian people and for bringing
forward this legislation which builds on his work on the MEGOBARI Act.
In recent years, the current Georgian Dream Government, as well as
foreign malign influence from Russia and China in Georgia, have
threatened Georgia's hard-fought democratic gains, corrupted some of
its State institutions, and caused a rift in the U.S.-Georgia relations
and between the Georgian Government and its people.
This legislation, along with the MEGOBARI Act, that this body passed
with overwhelming bipartisan support last year is a response to this
deterioration. The goal is to let the Georgian people know that we
stand by them in their quest for democracy, respect for their rights,
and deeper integration in the Euro-Atlantic community.
[[Page H3968]]
This legislation ensures we are clear-eyed about what that continued
support from the U.S. to Georgia will require and provides a framework
for appropriate cooperation with the Georgian Government going forward.
I am pleased with the bipartisan work on this bill and look forward
to its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), who I suspect will tell us
something about war criminal Putin.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Brian
Mast for being so perceptive.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7668, the Countering
China's Control of the Caucasus Act, to reassert, as the speaker
expressed earlier, to support freedom and prosperity in the South
Caucasus region of Asia.
President Donald Trump has presented a historic opportunity to expand
economic prosperity in Central Asia, benefiting the region and America.
Georgia has been a courageous, longtime ally of the United States with
a population that overwhelmingly supports a strong relationship with
the West.
Congressman Bera is correct that the House has already passed the
MEGOBARI Act which provides for the strengthening relationship with the
people of Georgia 349-42 and to support the people of Georgia.
The illegitimate Georgian Dream regime is in the process of selling
out the country to the Chinese Communist Party and, indeed the chairman
is correct, war criminal Putin and Iran, against the wishes of the
Georgian people and the interests of the United States.
The election was rigged in Georgia. With this, they have peddled the
vilest anti-American propaganda and constantly insult President Trump,
accusing him of acting as an agent of the ``deep state.''
In fact, we also note that the legitimate President, Salome
Zourabichvili, has been a valued guest for the inauguration of
President Donald Trump, and almost daily, there are demonstrations in
Tbilisi where people carry giant posters of President Donald Trump,
expressing their love and affection for President Trump and the United
States.
The puppet Georgian Dream Prime Minister just last week accused our
Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, of lying. The behavior of this rogue
regime threatens all that President Trump has accomplished in the South
Caucasus, and it must change.
The sea route to the Middle Corridor must run through Georgia and the
Communist Chinese Party is set, as the chairman has identified, to own
and control the strategic deep seaport in the region, the Anaklia Port
on the Black Sea.
Congratulations to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in neighboring
Armenia on his astounding election victory yesterday. Unlike Georgian
Dream, Pashinyan is working with the United States and with President
Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan to remove Russian influence from the region
and normalize relations with the very valued and appreciated NATO ally,
Turkiye.
This is a once in a 3,000 year opportunity for stability, peace, and
prosperity in the region. I am grateful for President Trump
orchestrating the peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The
Georgian Dream nightmare regime with fair and free elections must
abandon its anti-American course, release political prisoners, end
politically motivated prosecutions, ensure a fair election environment,
revoke draconian laws that are suffocating U.S. businesses, and seek to
end the repression of free speech.
The Countering China's Control of the Caucasus Act ensures that
Chinese and Russian covert operations in the country are brought to
light and that the United States strongly considers whether Georgia
should remain a top recipient of aid while it attacks America in its
propaganda on an almost daily basis.
Georgian troops have fought bravely with Americans in Afghanistan and
Iraq, along with our chairman. We know that Georgia has been a close
partner and ally of the United States.
We must reestablish the strong relationship that has been between the
United States and Georgia. It will not be able to normalize unless we
have fair and free elections.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the utmost attention to this
issue, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BERA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7668 does not seek to malign the Georgian
government but, rather, demonstrate to the people of Georgia the United
States remains committed to its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Mr. Speaker, I again thank my good friend Representative Wilson for
his steadfast support of the Georgian people and hope my colleagues
will join me in supporting this bill. I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, it is time for the United States and Georgia to move
forward. Doing so requires clarity on what is happening in their
country behind the scenes and a responsible strategy for future
engagement.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, to better
inform U.S. policy toward the Republic of Georgia.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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. 7668, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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