[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3857-S3885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6652. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Risch) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of the bill, add the following:
DIVISION F--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027
SEC. 8001. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This division may be cited as the
``Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2027''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of content for this
division is as follows:
DIVISION F--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027
Sec. 8001. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 8002. Definitions.
TITLE I--WORKFORCE MATTERS
Sec. 8101. Mid-career training float.
Sec. 8102. Rebidding for personnel at closed posts.
Sec. 8103. Report on Pacific Islands embassy staffing incentives.
Sec. 8104. Enduring foreign language proficiency incentive pay.
Sec. 8105. Support for regional medical officer psychiatrists.
Sec. 8106. Workforce exit interviews.
Sec. 8107. Integration of Marine Security Guard Detachments at United
States diplomatic posts.
Sec. 8108. Additions to reporting requirements for deaths at post.
Sec. 8109. Policy on negotiation of bilateral work agreements.
Sec. 8110. Coverage of return costs.
Sec. 8111. Requirement for Uyghur language training.
Sec. 8112. Extension of post-employment restrictions on Senate-
confirmed officials at the Department of State.
Sec. 8113. Reducing foreign language training related delays in Foreign
Service assignments.
Sec. 8114. Ensuring full staffing of the countering Russian Influence
Fund.
Sec. 8115. Facilitating moves for domestic employees teleworking
overseas.
Sec. 8116. Strengthening the Department's capacity for economic and
technology competition.
TITLE II--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS
Sec. 8201. Streamlining move procedures.
Sec. 8202. Streamlining Arctic Ambassador responsibilities.
Sec. 8203. Adversary alignment.
Sec. 8204. Strategy on Department plan to reopen diplomatic facilities
in Syria.
Sec. 8205. Amendment to reflect the Bureau of Medical Services.
TITLE III--INFORMATION SECURITY AND CYBER DIPLOMACY
Sec. 8301. Internal report on smart cable analytics.
Sec. 8302. Generative artificial intelligence enabled language
translation.
TITLE IV--PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
Sec. 8401. Mega-decade sports diplomacy.
Sec. 8402. Strengthening United States response to adversarial
propaganda.
TITLE V--DIPLOMATIC SECURITY AND CONSULAR AFFAIRS
Sec. 8501. Report on Consular Affairs officers joining United States
missions to Pacific Island countries.
Sec. 8502. Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 2022
implementation report.
Sec. 8503. Counterintelligence unit at all critical counterintelligence
threat posts.
Sec. 8504. Authorization of certain public libraries to collect and
retain fees for the acceptance and execution of passport
applications.
[[Page S3858]]
Sec. 8505. Review of tour lengths for Foreign Service officers at
critical Human Intelligence threat posts.
Sec. 8506. Modernization of consular forms.
Sec. 8507. Expansion of limited consular appointment authority.
Sec. 8508. Report on indefinite suspensions for members of the Civil
Service.
Sec. 8509. Artificial intelligence use for online presence review.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 8601. Au pair regulation.
Sec. 8602. Requirement for think tanks to disclose foreign funding.
Sec. 8603. Marking and branding.
Sec. 8604. Permitting for international bridges and land ports of
entry.
Sec. 8605. Arms Export Control Act increase for direct commercial
contracts authority.
Sec. 8606. Sunsetting the 180-day COVID obligation and expenditure
reports.
Sec. 8607. Congressional delegations.
Sec. 8608. Modification of the special rule for countries downgraded
from and reinstated to the tier 2 watch list in the
Trafficking in Persons report.
Sec. 8609. United States support to United Nations peacekeeping
duplicative reporting.
Sec. 8610. Restrictions on stinger missile transfers to Bahrain.
Sec. 8611. Change to the missile sanctions laws statutory references.
Sec. 8612. Congressional notifications under the Arms Export Control
Act.
Sec. 8613. Report on critical language expertise.
Sec. 8614. Use of artificial intelligence to meet congressional
reporting requirements.
Sec. 8615. Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts.
Sec. 8616. Office of the Inspector General for Foreign Assistance.
Sec. 8617. Strategy on maritime economic resilience.
Sec. 8618. Modernization of international agreements related to
critical undersea infrastructure.
Sec. 8619. Embassy evacuation and notification planning.
Sec. 8620. Young African Leaders Initiative.
TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS
Subtitle A--SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026
Sec. 8700. Short titles.
Chapter 1--Sanctions With Respect to the Russian Federation
Sec. 8701. Definitions.
subchapter a--sanctions with respect to russian shadow fleet
PART I--Imposition of Sanctions
Sec. 8702. Imposition of sanctions with respect to vessels suspected of
participation in or support of the Russian shadow fleet.
Sec. 8702A. Imposition of sanctions with respect to foreign persons
that support Russian illicit shipping with vessels
subject to United States sanctions.
Sec. 8702B. Imposition of sanctions with respect to port terminals
accepting oil from Russian shadow fleet vessels.
PART II--Disclosures, Publications, and Reports
Sec. 8703. Alignment of designation authorities with European Union and
United Kingdom regarding Russian shadow fleet.
Sec. 8703A. Support of efforts of the Joint Expeditionary Force.
PART III--Flag State Requirements and Strategy
Sec. 8704. Minimum standards for operating as a flag state registry and
assessment of efforts to prevent the circumvention of
sanctions and other crimes.
Sec. 8704A. Strategy for countries that do not make sufficient efforts
to comply with minimum standards for operating as a flag
state.
PART IV--Other Matters
Sec. 8705. International efforts to identify vessels transporting
Russian-origin oil.
subchapter b--sanctions with respect to russian-origin energy products
Sec. 8706. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons with certain
interests in Russian energy projects.
Sec. 8706A. Strategy to counter role of the People's Republic of China
in evasion of sanctions with respect to Russian-origin
petroleum products.
subchapter c--sanctions with respect to russian defense industrial base
Sec. 8707. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons that sell,
lease, or provide goods or services relating to the
defense industrial base of the Russian Federation.
subchapter d--modifications of protecting europe's energy security act
of 2019
Sec. 8708. Modifications of Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act of
2019.
subchapter e--general provisions
Sec. 8709. Sanctions described.
Sec. 8709A. Exceptions; waivers.
Sec. 8709B. Implementation.
Sec. 8709C. Termination of sanctions authorities.
Chapter 2--Other Matters
Sec. 8710. Determination with respect to Russian military actions in
support of Russian shadow fleet.
Sec. 8710A. Resources for sanctions implementation at the Department of
State.
Sec. 8710B. Modification of limitation on military cooperation between
the United States and the Russian Federation.
Sec. 8710C. Emergency appropriations for the Countering Russian
Influence Fund.
Sec. 8710D. Report on presidential drawdown authority and Ukraine
Security Assistance Initiative.
Sec. 8710E. Support for Ukraine arms sales.
Subtitle B--Deterring Aggression Against Taiwan
Sec. 8711. Short title.
Sec. 8712. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 8713. Definitions.
Sec. 8714. Task force.
Sec. 8715. Report.
Sec. 8716. Rule of construction.
Subtitle C--PEACE in Sudan
Sec. 8721. Short titles.
Sec. 8722. Statement of policy.
Sec. 8723. Definitions.
Sec. 8724. Report on activities of certain foreign governments and
groups in Sudan.
Sec. 8725. Report on atrocities and gross violations of
internationally-recognized human rights in Sudan.
Sec. 8726. Strategy.
Sec. 8727. Assessment of eligibility of armed actors in Sudan for
designation as specially designated global terrorists.
Sec. 8728. Sanctions.
Sec. 8729. Special Envoy for Sudan.
Sec. 8730. Assistance to the Government of Sudan by international
financial institutions.
Sec. 8731. Sudan Business Risk Advisory.
Sec. 8732. United States engagement at the United Nations with respect
to Sudan.
Sec. 8733. Foreign assistance to Sudan.
Sec. 8734. Annual report on financial assets held by armed actors in
Sudan.
Sec. 8735. Termination.
Sec. 8736. Rule of construction.
Sec. 8737. Sunset.
Subtitle D--Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization
Sec. 8741. Short title.
Sec. 8742. Findings.
Sec. 8743. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 8744. Statement of policy.
Sec. 8745. Definitions.
Sec. 8746. Strategy to counter scam compounds and hold transnational
criminal organizations and human traffickers accountable.
Sec. 8747. Establishing a Task Force to implement the Strategy.
Sec. 8748. Strengthening tools to dismantle scam compounds and hold
transnational criminal organizations accountable.
Sec. 8749. Redress to victims of international scam compound
operations.
Sec. 8750. Satellite imagery access to monitor human rights abuses
related to scam compounds to discover the presence of
human trafficking.
Sec. 8750A. Sunset.
Subtitle E--Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026
Sec. 8751. Short title.
Sec. 8752. Definitions.
PART I-- International Coordination and Engagement on Critical Undersea
Infrastructure
Sec. 8753. Findings.
Sec. 8754. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 8755. Enhancing United States Government engagement with relevant
international bodies to safeguard United States
interests.
Sec. 8756. Imposition of sanctions with respect to critical undersea
infrastructure sabotage.
Sec. 8757. Report on activities by the People's Republic of China and
the Russian Federation.
Sec. 8758. Engaging foreign partners to strengthen the security of
critical undersea infrastructure.
PART II--Department of State Critical Undersea Infrastructure Expertise
Sec. 8761. Expanding critical undersea infrastructure-related expertise
at the Department of State.
PART III--International Cooperation on Subsea Communications
Infrastructure Protection From Sabotage
Sec. 8762. Improving United States Government coordination on
protecting subsea communications infrastructure.
Sec. 8763. Strengthening information sharing between United States
Government and private sector stakeholders on subsea
communications infrastructure.
[[Page S3859]]
PART IV--Limitations and Rule of Construction
Sec. 8764. Rule of construction.
Subtitle F--Countering China's Control of the Caucasus Act
Sec. 8771. Short title.
Sec. 8772. Reports and briefings.
Subtitle G--Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act
Sec. 8776. Annual report.
Subtitle H--Reporting on Syria
Sec. 8781. Report on the impact of United States assistance.
Sec. 8782. Strategy on ISIS-related detainee and displacement camps in
Syria.
Sec. 8783. Strategy for engagement with Syrian authorities and for
evaluating security at the United States mission.
Sec. 8784. Strategy to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS in Syria.
Sec. 8785. Defined term.
Subtitle I--Additional Authorities
Sec. 8791. Repeals of Syria sanctions statutes.
Sec. 8792. Establishment of Ukraine Lessons Learned Task Force.
Subtitle J--Exception Relating to Importation of Goods
Sec. 8795. Exception relating to importation of goods.
SEC. 8002. DEFINITIONS.
In this division:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of State.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of State.
TITLE I--WORKFORCE MATTERS
SEC. 8101. MID-CAREER TRAINING FLOAT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and
submit to the appropriate congressional committees, the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a strategy
to establish and maintain a ``training float'' by January 1,
2027, to authorize between 8 and 10 percent of the members of
the Civil Service and the Foreign Service to participate in
long-term training at any time.
(b) Elements.--The strategy developed pursuant to
subsection (a) shall include--
(1) a proposal to ensure personnel in the training float
remain dedicated to training or professional development
activities;
(2) recommendations to maintain, and an assessment of the
feasibility of maintaining, a minimum of 8 percent of
personnel in the float at all times; and
(3) any additional resources and authorities needed to
maintain the training float described in this section.
(c) Monitoring.--Beginning not later than 120 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
ensure personnel in any training float established pursuant
to this section remain dedicated to training or professional
development activities.
SEC. 8102. REBIDDING FOR PERSONNEL AT CLOSED POSTS.
(a) Defined Term.--In this section and in section 8103, the
term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(b) In General.--If the Department closes, consolidates, or
downsizes any element of the Department, including any
bureau, office, or diplomatic or consular post, any Foreign
Service officers employed by such element shall be allowed to
rebid for comparable positions within the Foreign Service.
(c) Notification.--Not later than 30 days after the
closure, consolidation, or downsizing of any element of the
Department, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate
congressional committees of the personnel impact of such
action, including--
(1) the number of personnel at the affected post,
disaggregated Foreign Service officers, eligible family
members, and local embassy staff;
(2) the number of Foreign Service officers who chose to
rebid for new positions and the posts at which such Foreign
Service officers are currently stationed; and
(3) the status of all other affected personnel.
SEC. 8103. REPORT ON PACIFIC ISLANDS EMBASSY STAFFING
INCENTIVES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Deputy
Secretary of State for Management and Resources shall--
(1) submit a report to the appropriate committees of
Congress that describes plans for addressing staffing needs
at United States embassies in Pacific Island countries; and
(2) provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of
Congress that includes--
(A) a discussion of the contents of the report submitted
pursuant to paragraph (1); and
(B) nonfinancial incentives offered to Foreign Service
officers serving at United States embassies in Pacific Island
countries, including mission-specific training.
(b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a)(1)
shall include--
(1) steps to implement the findings included in the Foreign
Service officer allowances report required under section 5302
of the Department of State Authorization Act of 2021
(division E of Public Law 117-81) to provide incentives for
Foreign Service officers to serve in Pacific Island
countries, including--
(A) hardship and danger pay;
(B) the opportunity to provide one-grade stretches before
stretch season and allow bidding on Pacific Island country
posts on the early assignment cycle;
(C) eligibility to receive student loan repayments;
(D) incentive pay to extend tours at Pacific Island country
posts;
(E) additional recreation entitlements;
(F) priority consideration for onward assignments;
(G) opportunities to serve repeated tours in the same
region to develop expertise while aiding career advancement;
and
(H) consideration of United States embassies in Pacific
Island countries for Special Incentive Post designation
eligibility;
(2) the status of the virtual schooling pilot program
undertaken by the Office of Overseas Schools and other
programs designed to support the dependents and spouses of
diplomats stationed at Pacific Island country posts;
(3) current administrative requirements, including
reporting requirements, required for embassies in Pacific
Island countries and proposals for how to lower the
administrative burden on small embassies; and
(4) any additional measures and financial and nonfinancial
incentives to encourage Foreign Service officers to seek
assignments to, and remain at, hardship posts in countries
where addressing growing and malign foreign government
influence is especially critical to United States interests,
especially at new posts in remote locations, such as the
United States embassies in the Kingdom of Tonga, the Solomon
Islands, and the Republic of Vanuatu.
SEC. 8104. ENDURING FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY INCENTIVE
PAY.
(a) Enduring Foreign Language Proficiency Incentive Pay.--
(1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2027, the
Secretary shall establish an additional pay structure for
members of the Foreign Service designed to incentivize
enduring foreign language proficiency.
(2) Objective.--The objective of the additional incentive
pay established pursuant to paragraph (1) is to promote the
retention of language skills among members of the Foreign
Service, even when the current posts they fill are not
language designated or otherwise do not require regular use
of the critical languages in question.
(3) Elements.--The Secretary may consider the following
elements when devising the new incentive pay structure:
(A) Concurrent receipt.--A member of the Foreign Service
who is already receiving another form of language incentive
pay for a certain language is not eligible to concurrently
receive enduring language proficiency incentive pay under
this section.
(B) Certification.--Enduring proficiency in a designated
critical language shall be subject to annual certification by
the Secretary.
(C) Multiple languages.--Individuals who continue to meet
proficiency requirements in multiple languages may be
eligible to receive enduring language incentive pay for each
of such languages.
(D) Language categories.--The Secretary may design the
enduring incentive pay on a scale that provides a range of
payments reflecting the difficulty of the language skills in
question, encompassing world languages, difficult world
languages, hard languages and super hard languages.
(b) Reports.--
(1) Initial report and briefing.--The Secretary shall
provide an initial report and briefing to the appropriate
congressional committees, the Committee on Appropriations of
the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives that describes the structure and planned
implementation for the new incentive pay structure authorized
under this section.
(2) Annual reports.--The Secretary shall submit an annual
report to the appropriate congressional committees, the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives that--
(A) describes the use of the new incentive pay structure
authorized under this section by members of the Foreign
Service;
(B) identifies the number of recipients of the language
proficiency incentive payment authorized under this section
and the specific languages for which such incentive pay is
being offered; and
(C) contains any other information the Secretary considers
relevant.
SEC. 8105. SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER
PSYCHIATRISTS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the Sense of Congress that--
(1) regional medical officer psychiatrists play an integral
role in ensuring the readiness of Department personnel
stationed abroad; and
[[Page S3860]]
(2) trained clinical social workers can be an asset to the
Department by supporting the sparse number of regional
medical officer psychiatrists stationed at United States
diplomatic posts worldwide.
(b) Hiring Quotas.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
following 4 years, the Secretary shall hire not fewer than 20
trained social workers to support the work of regional
medical officer psychiatrists at United States diplomatic
posts worldwide.
(c) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
following 4 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees that--
(1) identifies the number of trained social workers hired
by the Department during the previous calendar year;
(2) identifies the total number of trained social workers
employed by the Department as of the date on which such
report is submitted; and
(3) lists each United States diplomatic post at which
trained social workers are currently stationed, including the
number of trained social workers stationed at each post.
SEC. 8106. WORKFORCE EXIT INTERVIEWS.
Section 5402 of the Department of State Authorization Act
of 2021 (division E of Public Law 117-81; 22 U.S.C. 2736) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``provide an opportunity
for an exit interview to'' and inserting ``conduct exit
interviews with''; and
(2) by inserting at the end the following:
``(e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of the Department of State Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2027, and annually thereafter for the following
10 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees that--
``(1) describes the Department's process for conducting
exit interviews with Foreign Service officers;
``(2) identifies any changes the Department has made to the
exit interview process during the previous calendar year; and
``(3) describes any trends in the responses the Department
has received from exit interviews conducted with Foreign
Service officers during the previous calendar year.''.
SEC. 8107. INTEGRATION OF MARINE SECURITY GUARD DETACHMENTS
AT UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC POSTS.
(a) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees that--
(1) assesses the level of integration of Marine Security
Guard Detachments into communities of personnel under Chief
of Mission authority at United States diplomatic posts
abroad;
(2) describes the steps the Secretary and Chiefs of Mission
are taking to better integrate Marine Security Guard
Detachments into communities of personnel under Chief of
Mission authority at United States diplomatic posts abroad;
(3) describes the steps the Secretary and Chiefs of Mission
are taking to support mental health and improve the quality
of life of Marine Security Guard Detachments at United States
diplomatic posts abroad; and
(4) identifies any barriers the Secretary perceives as
inhibiting--
(A) greater integration of Marine Security Guard
Detachments into communities of personnel under Chief of
Mission authority at United States diplomatic posts abroad;
and
(B) improvements to the quality of life of Marine Security
Guard Detachments at United States diplomatic posts abroad.
SEC. 8108. ADDITIONS TO REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR DEATHS AT
POST.
Section 57 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of
1956 (22 U.S.C. 2729(a)(3)) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(d) Congressional Notification.--Not later than 30 days
after any overseas death from nonnatural causes of any United
States citizen under Chief of Mission authority or of any
family member of a United States citizen under Chief of
Mission authority, the Secretary shall submit written
notification, which may include a classified annex, to the
congressional committees with jurisdiction over such matters
that includes--
``(1) the date of such person's death;
``(2) the location where such death occurred, including the
municipality, state or province, and country;
``(3) the cause of such death, including--
``(A) information on the circumstances of such death; and
``(B) if the death resulted from an act of terrorism or
suicide, a statement disclosing such information; and
``(4) such other information as the Secretary shall
consider appropriate.''.
SEC. 8109. POLICY ON NEGOTIATION OF BILATERAL WORK
AGREEMENTS.
(a) In General.--In each country in which the Department
maintains a United States embassy or consulate, the Secretary
shall seek to negotiate and establish a bilateral work
agreement with the host government that covers eligible
family members of United States direct hire personnel
employed by the Department.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
following 5 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees that includes--
(1) a list of every country in which there is an active
bilateral work agreement negotiated between the Department
and the host government; and
(2) the status of the Department's efforts to negotiate
bilateral work agreements in all other countries not included
in the list described in paragraph (1), including--
(A) the primary obstacle the Department faces in each
country to securing such a bilateral work agreement; and
(B) how the Department is working to overcome such
obstacle.
SEC. 8110. COVERAGE OF RETURN COSTS.
The Department, to the maximum extent practicable, shall
pay for costs incurred by members of the Foreign Service that
directly result from duties required as part of their return
to the United States at the time of their retirement from the
Foreign Service.
SEC. 8111. REQUIREMENT FOR UYGHUR LANGUAGE TRAINING.
(a) Uyghur Language Training and Staffing.--The Secretary
may take such steps as may be necessary to ensure--
(1) Uyghur language training is available to Foreign
Service officers; and
(2) efforts are made to ensure that at least 1 Uyghur-
speaking member of the Service (as defined in section 103 of
the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3903)) is assigned
to--
(A) at least 1 United States diplomatic or consular post in
the People's Republic of China; and
(B) at least 1 United States diplomatic post in Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, or Turkey.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Foreign Service Institute shall
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees
that outlines all of the steps that have been taken to
implement subsection (a).
SEC. 8112. EXTENSION OF POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS ON
SENATE-CONFIRMED OFFICIALS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
STATE.
(a) Extension.--Section 1(m)(7) of the State Department
Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)(7)) is
amended by striking ``5 years after the date of the enactment
of the Department of State Authorization Act of 2022'' and
inserting ``5 years after the date of the enactment of the
Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027''.
(b) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees that describes the
implementation of the restrictions described in section 1(m)
of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22
U.S.C. 2651a(m)), including--
(1) a description of the actions of the Department since
the date of enactment of the Department of State
Authorization Act of 2022 (division I of Public Law 117-263)
to provide applicable officials with the notice of
restrictions required under section 1(m)(5) of the State
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C.
2651a(m)(5));
(2) a description of any guidance provided to the
applicable officials before they left government service;
(3) a description of efforts by the Department to monitor
and ensure compliance with the requirements under section
1(m) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956
(22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)); and
(4) a list of any known or discovered violations of the
restrictions set forth in section 1(m) of such Act and any
steps taken in response to such violations.
(c) Countries of Concern.--Section 1(m)(1)(A) of the State
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C.
2651a(m)(1)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (iv), by adding ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (v), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
period; and
(3) by striking clause (vi).
SEC. 8113. REDUCING FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING RELATED DELAYS
IN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure--
(1) Foreign Service officers with critical language skills
are prioritized for posts that require hard and super hard
language skills; and
(2) such officers are not excluded from bidding due to
language requirements for officers with lesser language
skills.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees that describes--
(1) any barriers that exist within the Foreign Service
assignment process and foreign language training requirements
within the Foreign Service that delay Foreign Service
officers who do not require additional foreign language
training from being selected for assignments that generally
include a language training requirement; and
(2) steps the Secretary is taking to eliminate delays in
the timely deployment of Foreign Service officers who do not
require additional foreign language training to their next
assignment.
SEC. 8114. ENSURING FULL STAFFING OF THE COUNTERING RUSSIAN
INFLUENCE FUND.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 45 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a
report to
[[Page S3861]]
the appropriate congressional committees that--
(1) identifies the number of full-time staff dedicated to
the Countering Russian Influence Fund Unit established under
section 5160 of the Department of State Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2026 (division E of Public Law 119-60; 22 U.S.C.
9543 note), including a staffing plan for the upcoming
calendar year;
(2) describes the priorities identified for the unit,
consistent with section 254 of the Countering Russian
Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017 (title II of
subtitle B of Public Law 115-44);
(3) describes the unit's efforts to counter Russian
influence and hybrid activities, including sabotage,
information operations, weaponized migration, strategic
corruption, and other activities described in paragraph (2),
in the Europe and Eurasia regions; and
(4) describes monitoring and evaluation tools and metrics
to ensure that the unit's objectives are being met.
(b) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
SEC. 8115. FACILITATING MOVES FOR DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES
TELEWORKING OVERSEAS.
The Secretary shall prescribe regulations authorizing the
Department to pay the costs associated with moving domestic
employees teleworking overseas who are spouses of Department
employees, and their personal belongings, directly from the
Department employee's overseas post to the Department
employee's next overseas post.
SEC. 8116. STRENGTHENING THE DEPARTMENT'S CAPACITY FOR
ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGY COMPETITION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' 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) Critical and emerging technologies.--The term
``critical and emerging technologies'' means technologies
selected by the Secretary, in consultation with other Federal
agencies, from the critical and emerging technologies list
published by the National Science and Technology Council at
the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(b) In General.--The Secretary shall require the National
Foreign Affairs Training Center to provide Foreign Service
officers with a course covering Department cyber, digital,
and critical and emerging technologies policies.
(c) Annual Training Report.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually for the
following 5 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to
appropriate congressional committees describing the
development of the course required under subsection (b),
including--
(1) a list of topics covered by the course;
(2) the number of course attendees during the previous
calendar year;
(3) where such attendees were subsequently posted or
assigned; and
(4) any additional resources required to maintain the
course.
(d) Technology Pathway Report.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress
assessing the feasibility and advisability of establishing a
dedicated technology pathway for Foreign Service officers.
(e) Report on Restrictive Economic Measures.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter for
the following 4 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees describing its tools
for undertaking restrictive economic measures.
(2) Elements.--Each report required under paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) list tools for which--
(i) the Department serves as the lead agency; or
(ii) for which the Department participates in an
interagency process and can propose targets or measures,
including sanctions, export controls, and investment review
mechanisms;
(B) describe the role of the Department in developing,
considering, and implementing such measures, including--
(i) the source of the authority; and
(ii) the lead bureau and office for each authority; and
(C) describe the Department's capacity to assess such
measures consistent with United States foreign policy
objectives.
(3) Form of report.--Each report required under paragraph
(2) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include
a classified annex.
TITLE II--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS
SEC. 8201. STREAMLINING MOVE PROCEDURES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure United States
diplomatic posts receive support from Department headquarters
when conducting a permanent move from one facility to another
facility, including by establishing--
(1) a Department move handbook containing best practices,
lessons learned from previous post moves, and a repository of
templates and resources that is updated not less frequently
than every 5 years; and
(2) a feedback loop between move coordinators and the
Department headquarters to ensure lessons learned are
recorded at the completion of every post move.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees detailing steps the
Department has taken to meet the requirements described in
subsection (a).
SEC. 8202. STREAMLINING ARCTIC AMBASSADOR RESPONSIBILITIES.
Section 5143 of the Department of State Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2026 (division E of Public Law 119-60; 22
U.S.C. 2651a note) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d);
(2) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), and
(i) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h), respectively;
and
(3) in subsection (d)(3), as redesignated, by inserting ``,
in coordination with the senior officials of the Bureau of
European and Eurasian Affairs, the Bureau of Western
Hemisphere Affairs, and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific
Affairs,'' after ``Affairs''.
SEC. 8203. ADVERSARY ALIGNMENT.
The Secretary shall convene an annual meeting of relevant
Department officials covering Iran, the Russian Federation,
the People's Republic of China, and the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea to discuss how these adversarial countries
are--
(1) cooperating;
(2) coordinating on shared priorities;
(3) providing military, economic, intelligence, and
diplomatic support to the other countries;
(4) facilitating sanctions evasion, transshipment of
controlled goods, and illicit financial activity; and
(5) sharing lessons-learned about ongoing conflicts in
which they are involved.
SEC. 8204. STRATEGY ON DEPARTMENT PLAN TO REOPEN DIPLOMATIC
FACILITIES IN SYRIA.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit a strategy to the
appropriate congressional committees, the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives that--
(1) indicates when the Department intends to reinstate a
diplomatic presence in Syria;
(2) includes an analysis of the timeline required for the
Department to reopen its diplomatic facilities within Syria,
including a cost estimate for reopening such facilities;
(3) describes the necessary diplomatic security measures
needed to maintain full-time diplomatic operations in Syria;
and
(4) includes recommendations for steps the Department could
take to improve its ability to establish and maintain full-
time diplomatic operations in Syria.
SEC. 8205. AMENDMENT TO REFLECT THE BUREAU OF MEDICAL
SERVICES.
Section 1(p) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act
of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(p)) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Office of''
and inserting ``Bureau of''; and
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Office of Medical
Services,'' and inserting ``Bureau of Medical Services''.
TITLE III--INFORMATION SECURITY AND CYBER DIPLOMACY
SEC. 8301. INTERNAL REPORT ON SMART CABLE ANALYTICS.
During the 2-year period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall compile and
publish, within the Department, a semiannual report on SMART
cable analytics that includes, for every cable transmitted
from the Department headquarters in Washington, D.C.--
(1) the date on which the cable was transmitted;
(2) a brief title that reflects the topic of the cable;
(3) the official, bureau, or office within the Department
from which the cable originated;
(4) the number of Department employees who received the
cable; and
(5) the number of Department employees who opened the
cable.
SEC. 8302. GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ENABLED
LANGUAGE TRANSLATION.
(a) Program for Language Translation Capabilities.--Section
1(n) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956
(22 U.S.C. 2651a(n)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) Program for language translation capabilities.--
``(A) Establishment.--The Chief Information Officer, in
coordination with the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence
Officer, shall establish a program for the utilization of
multi-modal generative artificial intelligence language
translation capabilities within the Department of State.
``(B) Matters to be included.--The program required under
subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) include an automated, human-in-the-loop review and
verification process option and a machine-only process
option, which allows users to choose which process to utilize
in adherence with Department policies;
``(ii) include real-time training and fine-tuning of
translation models for use within different geographic
regions and Department mission areas;
[[Page S3862]]
``(iii) be available on unclassified and classified
information technology networks;
``(iv) be capable of generating original content in non-
English languages; and
``(v) be available at all United States and overseas
missions of the Department.
``(C) Department policies.--The Chief Information Officer
shall ensure the deployment and use of artificial
intelligence tools for language translation capabilities as
part of this program adhere to Department policies, including
the conditions whenever it is appropriate to use machine-only
processes or automated human-in-the-loop review and
verification processes.
``(D) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Automated, human-in-the-loop review and verification
process.--The term `automated, human-in-the-loop review and
verification process' means an automated process within an
artificial intelligence language translation system that
requires human linguists to review and verify translations
performed by an artificial intelligence model for accuracy
prior to returning translated materials to a user.
``(ii) Machine-only process.--The term `machine-only
process' means an artificial intelligence language
translation capability that delivers a translation to a user
without review by a human linguist.
``(iii) Multimodal.--The term `multi-modal' means multiple
modes or formats of content to be translated, including
audio, text, video, and text contained within images.''.
(b) Briefing; Report.--The Chief Information Officer of the
Department shall--
(1) not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, provide a briefing to the appropriate
congressional committees regarding the status the program
established under section 1(n)(5) of the State Department
Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended by subsection (a);
and
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, submit a report to the appropriate congressional
committees regarding the implementation of artificial
intelligence applications within the Department to improve
Department efficiency and mission operations, including
specific discussion of the program referred to in paragraph
(1).
TITLE IV--PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
SEC. 8401. MEGA-DECADE SPORTS DIPLOMACY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``American
decade of sports'' and ``mega-decade of sports'' mean the
major international sporting competitions hosted in the
United States between 2024 and 2034, including--
(1) the 2024 Copa America;
(2) the 2025 Club World Cup;
(3) the 2026 FIFA World Cup;
(4) the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics;
(5) the 2031 Men's and 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup; and
(6) the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
(b) Mega-decade Sports Diplomacy Strategy.--
(1) Submission of initial strategy.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives a 5-year sports diplomacy strategy to
strategically leverage the major sporting events being hosted
in the United States to enhance United States soft power,
diplomatic relationships, and global leadership.
(2) Submission of subsequent strategy.--Not later than 5
years after the date on which the initial strategy is
submitted pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees, the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a
subsequent 5-year strategy that is similar to the strategy
required under paragraph (1), but also includes evaluations
of lessons learned from international sporting events held in
the United States during the previous 5-year period.
(3) Elements.--The strategies required under paragraphs (1)
and (2) shall include--
(A) a description of the Department's diplomatic objectives
and metrics of success related to the mega-decade of sports;
(B) a plan to partner with local host cities, diaspora
communities, creatives, athletes, the sports industry,
private sector entities, human rights organizations, and
civil society stakeholders surrounding the competitions for
the purpose of showcasing United States national strengths
and forging new diplomatic connections;
(C) a Department coordination plan for leveraging sporting
events to advance various diplomatic lines of effort,
including by--
(i) integrating sports diplomacy into regional bureaus'
bilateral engagements and efforts to pursue new areas of
cooperation with foreign partners;
(ii) integrating sports into public diplomacy to reach new
foreign audiences that might not otherwise engage with United
States embassies abroad; and
(iii) leveraging sports diplomacy to advance commercial
diplomacy;
(D) a description of the financial and personnel support
needed to implement the 5-year sports diplomacy strategy; and
(E) any plans to deploy domestic public diplomacy
resources, such as the Cultural Unit and Foreign Press Center
established during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, to enable
foreign visitors to engage with American culture and values.
(4) Public availability.--The strategies required under
paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be made publicly available on an
internet website of the Department not later than--
(A) 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
with respect to the strategy required under paragraph (1);
and
(B) 5 years after the date described in subparagraph (A),
with respect to the strategy required under paragraph (2).
(5) Consultation.--The Secretary shall--
(A) consult with the appropriate congressional committees,
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
regarding the elements of the strategies required under
paragraphs (1) and (2) before submitting either strategy; and
(B) provide information regarding the implementation of the
most recently submitted strategy every 180 days during the
period beginning on the date of such submission and ending on
December 31, 2034.
(c) Office of Sports Diplomacy.--
(1) In general.--The Office of Sports Diplomacy (referred
to in this subsection as the ``Office'') is established in
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the
Department.
(2) Functions.--The Office shall manage sports diplomacy
exchange programs and implement the strategies required under
subsections (b), including by coordinating with Department
and interagency stakeholders--
(A) to coordinate the implementation of the strategy across
relevant bureaus, directorates, and offices of the
Department;
(B) to work with host cities and their social, political,
and economic partners to identify new avenues for engagement
with foreign entities;
(C) to engage local diaspora communities to deepen people-
to-people connections with foreign visitors and officials;
(D) to partner with the United States sports industry,
major sports leagues, and individual athletes to promote new
international sports partnerships and sports diplomacy
programs;
(E) to collaborate with host cities' international trade
and tourism offices to deepen economic and commercial ties
with foreign nations; and
(F) to elevate United States arts, film, and music creators
to promote cultural exchange and connection with foreign
visitors.
(3) Sunset.--This subsection shall cease to have any force
or effect beginning on the date that is 10 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Annual Implementation Reports.--Not later than 1year
after the submission of the strategy required under
subsection (b)(1), and annually thereafter until December 31,
2034, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees describing the progress made toward
achieving the objectives of this section.
SEC. 8402. STRENGTHENING UNITED STATES RESPONSE TO
ADVERSARIAL PROPAGANDA.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit a plan to the
appropriate congressional committees, the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives related to the
Strategy transmitted to Congress on March 6, 2026, entitled
``A Comprehensive Strategy to Counter Anti-U.S. Propaganda'',
which shall--
(1) identify the bureau leading Department efforts to
counter foreign adversarial propaganda;
(2) identify the number of full-time personnel, part-time
personnel, and contractors, respectively, dedicated to
countering foreign adversarial propaganda;
(3) describe how the Department will ensure the use of
commercial tools to detect and expose adversarial foreign
social media accounts and troll campaigns prioritizes foreign
accounts and campaigns aimed at sowing discord in the United
States and in allied and partner countries originating in--
(A) the People's Republic of China;
(B) the Russian Federation;
(C) the Islamic Republic of Iran; or
(D) the Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
(4) assess the resources necessary to counter the Russian
Federation's efforts to leverage the People's Republic of
China's social media platforms; and
(5) describe how the Department will accomplish the action
described in paragraph (4) during the 1-year period beginning
on the date of the enactment of this Act.
TITLE V--DIPLOMATIC SECURITY AND CONSULAR AFFAIRS
SEC. 8501. REPORT ON CONSULAR AFFAIRS OFFICERS JOINING UNITED
STATES MISSIONS TO PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Pacific Island countries, especially the Freely
Associated States, are close United States partners located
across highly strategic waters that are critical for United
States national security; and
(2) it is in the national security interests of the United
States to maintain and strengthen relations with the
governments and citizens of Pacific Island countries.
(b) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
committees of Congress'' means--
[[Page S3863]]
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(4) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate;
(5) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(6) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives;
(7) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(8) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination
with the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, the
Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, and the
Chief of Naval Operations, shall submit a report to the
appropriate committees of Congress that analyzes the
feasibility of attaching Department consular officers to
Coast Guard and Navy missions in Pacific Island countries.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include--
(A) an assessment of--
(i) the current demand for consular services from citizens
of Pacific Island countries; and
(ii) the challenges such citizens face in obtaining
consular services;
(B) an assessment of the approximate value, including in
time and resources saved, the initiative described in
paragraph (1) could save citizens of Pacific Island countries
that do not host United States embassies by having their
United States consular decisions adjudicated or receiving
other consular services;
(C) an assessment of the cost that would be incurred by the
Department, the United States Coast Guard, the United States
Indo-Pacific Command, and the United States Navy from the
implementation of such initiative, including potential
alternative cost-effective options and recommendations for
providing consular services to citizens of Pacific Island
countries;
(D) an assessment of the frequency and duration of Coast
Guard and Navy deployments to Pacific Island countries,
including--
(i) deployment frequency measured against the desired
number of visits;
(ii) the amount of time typically spent in port for such
visits; and
(iii) disruptions to planned Coast Guard and Navy missions
in order to visit locations needing consular assistance; and
(E) an evaluation of the logistical issues to be addressed
to implement the initiative described in paragraph (1),
including--
(i) an analysis of the spacing requirements to host
Department personnel and equipment aboard the various types
of Coast Guard and Navy vessels that make port calls to the
Pacific Islands;
(ii) an analysis of the information technology and
connectivity requirements to conduct consular affairs
activities in the Pacific Islands;
(iii) the feasibility of printing visas aboard Coast Guard
and Navy vessels;
(iv) maintaining the physical security of consular officers
and relevant adjudication equipment, during such missions;
(v) the impacts to Coast Guard and Navy vessels' operations
and security; and
(vi) the estimated time consular officers would spend on
board Coast Guard and Navy vessels between visits to Pacific
Island countries.
SEC. 8502. SECURE EMBASSY CONSTRUCTION AND COUNTERTERRORISM
ACT OF 2022 IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a
report to the appropriate congressional committees, the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives detailing the steps the Department has taken
to implement amendments made to the Secure Embassy
Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (title VI of
division A of H.R. 3427, as enacted into law by section
1000(a)(7) of Public Law 106-113 and contained in appendix G
of that Act) after the date of the enactment of the Secure
Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 2022 (title
XCIII of Public Law 117-263).
(b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) an overview of the Department's approach to
implementing the amendments made to the Secure Embassy
Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 by the Secure
Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 2022;
(2) a description of the guidelines the Secretary has
adopted to collect and utilize information from each
diplomatic post at which the construction of a new embassy
compound or new consulate compound could result in the
closure or co-location of an American Space that is owned and
operated by the United States Government (commonly known as
an ``American Center''), or any other public diplomacy
facility under the Secure Embassy Construction and
Counterterrorism Act of 1999;
(3) a list of every instance in which the Secretary
utilized the authorities established by the Secure Embassy
Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 2022, including an
explanation of why such authorities were determined to be
necessary in each instance;
(4) an assessment of cost savings, disaggregated by year
and efficiencies gained, by the Department as a result of the
amendments to the Secure Embassy Construction and
Counterterrorism Act of 1999 made by the Secure Embassy
Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 2022; and
(5) an assessment of how, if at all, the Secure Embassy
Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 could be
further amended to ensure the Department's risk calculus is
calibrated in a manner that best advances United States
interests abroad, while simultaneously ensuring the safety
and security of United States personnel and diplomatic posts.
SEC. 8503. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE UNIT AT ALL CRITICAL
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE THREAT POSTS.
The Secretary shall require that each United States
diplomatic post rated critical for counterintelligence
threats to employ not fewer than 1 full-time Diplomatic
Security agent at all times.
SEC. 8504. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO
COLLECT AND RETAIN FEES FOR THE ACCEPTANCE AND
EXECUTION OF PASSPORT APPLICATIONS.
(a) In General.--Subsection (a) of the Passport Act of June
4, 1920 (22 U.S.C. 214(a)), is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(4) The Secretary of State may authorize a public library
that is organized as a nongovernmental organization, a
nonprofit, a charitable organization, or a trust and is in
compliance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of
State for the acceptance and execution of passport
applications--
``(A) to serve as a passport acceptance facility; and
``(B) to collect and retain the execution fee for a
passport accepted by such public library.''.
(b) Authorization of Public Libraries That Previously
Served as Passport Acceptance Facilities.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall authorize any
public library to serve as a passport acceptance facility and
to collect and retain an execution fee for a passport
accepted by such library, if, before the date of the
enactment of this Act, such public library--
(A) had served as a passport acceptance facility; and
(B) was in compliance with the regulations prescribed by
the Secretary for the acceptance and execution of passport
applications.
(2) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees that includes--
(A) documentation of the Secretary's compliance with the
requirements described in paragraph (1); or
(B) if the Secretary is not in compliance with such
requirements, an explanation for such noncompliance.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (a)(1) of the
Passport Act of June 4, 1920 (22 U.S.C. 214(a)(1)), is
amended--
(1) by striking ``State officials or the United States
Postal Service'' and inserting ``a State, a local government,
the United States Postal Service, or a public library that
meets the requirements described in paragraph (4)''; and
(2) by striking ``by such officials or by that Service.''
and inserting ``by such State, local government, Postal
Service, or public library.''.
SEC. 8505. REVIEW OF TOUR LENGTHS FOR FOREIGN SERVICE
OFFICERS AT CRITICAL HUMAN INTELLIGENCE THREAT
POSTS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees, the Select Committee on
Intelligence of the Senate, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives that--
(1) evaluates the length of Foreign Service postings at
critical Human Intelligence threat posts identified in the
Security Environment Threat List;
(2) assesses the counterintelligence or safety risks of
current tour of duty lengths;
(3) determines whether changes at specific posts are
necessary to mitigate counterintelligence safety risks
referred to in paragraph (2); and
(4) describes the changes the Department is making in
accordance with the determination under paragraph (3) and the
timeline for implementing such changes.
SEC. 8506. MODERNIZATION OF CONSULAR FORMS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure that all
consular forms managed by the Bureau of Consular Affairs are
mobile responsive and have an electronic signature option.
(b) Briefing and Certification.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall--
(1) brief the appropriate congressional committees
regarding the status of the modernization efforts described
in subsection (a); and
(2) submit written certification to the appropriate
congressional committees that all consular forms managed by
the Bureau of Consular Affairs are mobile responsive and have
an electronic signature option.
[[Page S3864]]
(c) Rule of Construction.--The requirement under subsection
(a) may not be construed as a requirement to eliminate any
paper forms.
SEC. 8507. EXPANSION OF LIMITED CONSULAR APPOINTMENT
AUTHORITY.
Section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C.
3949) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, or 8 years in
duration for personnel performing consular services,'' after
``may not exceed 5 years in duration''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(6)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) a limited noncareer appointment for a period not to
exceed 2 years, in the case of personnel performing consular
services.''.
SEC. 8508. REPORT ON INDEFINITE SUSPENSIONS FOR MEMBERS OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Section 610(c)(5) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22
U.S.C. 4010(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``and each member
of the Civil Service whose security clearance remains
suspended for more than one calendar year'' after ``one
calendar year''.
SEC. 8509. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE FOR ONLINE PRESENCE
REVIEW.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the integration of artificial intelligence (referred to
in this section as ``AI'') into Consular Affairs work for
visa adjudication requires measures to be taken to reduce the
likelihood of negative results or discriminatory outcomes;
and
(2) as AI technologies are utilized for efficiency, human
oversight remains critical and visa adjudication decisions
must ultimately rest with consular officers.
(b) Report on Implementation of AI for Online Presence
Review.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees describing how the
Department uses AI to review the online presence and other
information of visa candidates.
(c) Report Elements.--The report required under subsection
(b) shall describe--
(1) the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology's implementation
plan;
(2) the specific ways consular officers are using AI in the
visa adjudication process;
(3) how AI is being used to identify information and how
such information is analyzed; and
(4) safeguards that are in place to protect the privacy of
visa candidates, particularly minors.
TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 8601. AU PAIR REGULATION.
(a) Clarification of Exclusive Federal Regulatory
Authority.--
(1) In general.--A State or political subdivision of a
State may not enact or enforce a law, regulation, or other
provision having the force or effect of law related to or
that would impose additional or different terms or conditions
upon the au pair program administered by the Department.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to limit the application of State laws of general
applicability, including criminal laws, that are unrelated to
and do not alter or affect any area of Federal regulation
applicable to the Department's au pair program.
(b) Revised Proposed Rule.--Not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
conduct an assessment and submit to the President a proposed
rule that--
(1) provides a uniform national modification that--
(A) increases the stipend and the educational stipend
provided by a host family to an au pair;
(B) reflects the room, board, and other programmatic costs
borne by a host family; and
(C) sustains the same level of program participation by
both au pairs and host families;
(2) enhances flexibility in the au pair program to
accommodate unique family scheduling needs, including
military families, first responders, single parents, shift
workers, and other host families with non-traditional work
schedules;
(3) ensures necessary safeguards are updated to protect the
health and safety of au pairs, host families, and their
children; and
(4) promotes the immersion of an au pair into the family
life of their host family, consistent with the cultural
exchange purposes of the au pair program.
SEC. 8602. REQUIREMENT FOR THINK TANKS TO DISCLOSE FOREIGN
FUNDING.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered organization.--The term ``covered
organization'' means any United States think tank that
received funding, including in the form of grants, from the
Department in the previous calendar year.
(2) Covered source of funding.--The term ``covered source
of funding'' means a foreign governmental entity from the
People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, or
the Russian Federation.
(3) Foreign governmental entity.--The term ``foreign
governmental entity'' means--
(A) any department, agency, or other entity of a foreign
government at the national, regional, or local level;
(B) any governing party or coalition of such a government,
including subsidiary national, regional, or local level
entities;
(C) any entity majority-owned or majority-controlled by
such a government; or
(D) any company, economic project, cultural organization,
exchange program, or nongovernmental organization that is
more than 33 percent owned or controlled by such a government
or advisors, consultants, or representatives of such a
government.
(4) Think tank.--The term ``think tank'' means a stand-
alone institution, organization, corporation, or group that
studies public policy issues with the primary objective of
providing information, ideas, and recommendations to United
States Government entities regarding the development and
implementation of policy.
(b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate
regulations requiring covered organizations to submit an
annual disclosure to the Under Secretary of State for
Management that describes--
(1) any funding, cooperative research or staffing
agreements, or joint projects--
(A) received from or executed with a covered source of
funding; and
(B) the purpose or subject of which relates to a topic the
covered organization engages on with the Department; and
(2) any practices or processes undertaken by the covered
organization to ensure that its research agenda or products
are not influenced by covered sources of funding.
(c) Report Required.--Not later than 120 days after the
effective date of the regulations prescribed under subsection
(b), the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that describes--
(1) the status of implementing the regulations and any
challenges or obstacles to such implementation;
(2) the offices within the Department that are responsible
for implementing the regulations; and
(3) any recommendations to improve upon the regulations
required under this section to overcome challenges to
implementation.
SEC. 8603. MARKING AND BRANDING.
(a) In General.--Section 641 of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2401) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 641. MARKING AND BRANDING.
``The Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of
other relevant Federal departments and agencies implementing
covered United States international assistance programs and
funds, and with due consideration for the safety and security
of implementing partners and beneficiaries, shall establish
and prescribe the use of uniform branding and marking
requirements to appropriately identify all goods provided to
foreign beneficiaries under this Act, which shall include the
flag of the United States and the words `from the American
people'.''.
(b) Audit.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the
Department, or any equivalent or successor Inspector General
charged with overseeing covered United States international
assistance programs and funds, shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees containing the results
of an audit of compliance with relevant branding and marking
requirements by partners implementing such programs and
funds, including any requirements prescribed pursuant to
section 641 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended
by subsection (a).
(c) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``covered
United States international assistance programs and funds''
means United States international assistance authorized to be
appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out--
(1) chapters 1 and 10 of part I of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq. and 22 U.S.C. 2293 et
seq.), relating to Development Assistance or Global Health
Programs;
(2) chapter 9 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2292 et seq.), relating to International
Disaster Assistance and Transition Initiatives;
(3) chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.) relating to Economic Support
Funds;
(4) the provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) relating to the Democracy Fund;
(5) chapter 11 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.), the FREEDOM Support Act
(Public Law 102-511; 22 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.), and the Support
for Eastern European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 (Public Law
101-179; 22 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.), relating to Assistance for
Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia;
(6) subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 2 of the
Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C.
2601), relating to Migration and Refugee Assistance and
Emergency Migration and Refugee Assistance;
(7) the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.);
(8) section 509(b) of the Global Fragility Act of 2019
(title V of division J of Public Law 116-94), relating to the
Complex Crisis Fund;
(9) the Global Health Security and International Pandemic
Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Act of 2022 (subtitle
D of title LV of division E of Public Law 117-263; 22 U.S.C.
2151b note);
(10) the United States African Development Foundation Act
(title V of Public Law 96-533; 22 U.S.C. 290h et seq.);
(11) the provisions of section 401(b) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1969 (22 U.S.C. 290f(b)) relating to the
Inter-American Foundation; and
[[Page S3865]]
(12) section 661 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2421), relating to the United States Trade and
Development Agency.
SEC. 8604. PERMITTING FOR INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES AND LAND
PORTS OF ENTRY.
Section 6 of the International Bridge Act of 1972 (33
U.S.C. 535d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``December 31, 2024,'' and inserting ``December 31, 2035,'';
and
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), and
inserting the following:
``(A) An international bridge between the United States and
Mexico.
``(B) An international bridge between the United States and
Canada.
``(C) A port of entry on the international land border
between the United States and Mexico.
``(D) A port of entry on the international land border
between the United States and Canada.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A)(ii), by inserting ``or land port of
entry'' after ``international bridge'';
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``or land port of
entry'' after ``international bridge'';
(3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``or land port of
entry'' after ``international bridge'';
(4) in subsection (f), by inserting ``or land port of
entry'' after ``international bridge'' each place it appears.
SEC. 8605. ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT INCREASE FOR DIRECT
COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS AUTHORITY.
Section 23(h) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C.
2763(h)) is amended by striking ``$100,000,000'' and
inserting ``$300,000,000''.
SEC. 8606. SUNSETTING THE 180-DAY COVID OBLIGATION AND
EXPENDITURE REPORTS.
Section 406(b) of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-123) is
amended by striking ``until all funds have been expended''
and inserting ``through Fiscal Year 2026''.
SEC. 8607. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS.
Section 5172 of the Department of State Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2026 (division E of Public Law 119-60; 22
U.S.C. 2680 note) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(d) and (e), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Decisions Not to Support Travel.--
``(1) In general.--Any decision not to support
congressional travel shall rest exclusively with the Chief of
Mission of the relevant country or the Secretary of State and
may not be delegated to any other official.
``(2) Justification.--Not later than 5 days after a
decision not to support congressional travel, the deciding
official shall provide the head of the congressional
delegation with a specific written justification for such
decision.''.
SEC. 8608. MODIFICATION OF THE SPECIAL RULE FOR COUNTRIES
DOWNGRADED FROM AND REINSTATED TO THE TIER 2
WATCH LIST IN THE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
REPORT.
(a) Modification to Special Rule for Downgraded and
Reinstated Countries.--Section 110(b)(2)(F) of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (division A of
Public Law 106-386; 22 U.S.C. 7107(b)(2)(F)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``the
special watch list'' and all that follows through ``the
country--'' and inserting ``the Tier 2 watch list described
in subparagraph (A) for more than 2 years immediately after
the country consecutively--'';
(2) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I),
by striking ``the special watch list described in
subparagraph (A)(iii)'' and inserting ``the Tier 2 watch list
described in subparagraph (A)''; and
(3) in clause (ii), by inserting ``in the year following
such waiver under subparagraph (D)(ii)'' before the period at
the end.
SEC. 8609. UNITED STATES SUPPORT TO UNITED NATIONS
PEACEKEEPING DUPLICATIVE REPORTING.
Section 4(d)(5)(B) of the United Nations Participation Act
of 1945 (22 U.S.C. 287b(d)(5)(B)), is hereby repealed.
SEC. 8610. RESTRICTIONS ON STINGER MISSILE TRANSFERS TO
BAHRAIN.
Section 581(b) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing,
and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 (Public Law
101-167), is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Replacement'';
(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``in
order to replace,'' and all that follows through ``or
otherwise destroyed'';
(3) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Replacement''; and
(4) in paragraph (2), by striking ``replacement''.
SEC. 8611. CHANGE TO THE MISSILE SANCTIONS LAWS STATUTORY
REFERENCES.
(a) Violations by United States Persons.--Section 11B(a) of
the Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. 4612(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)(i), by striking ``section 5 or 6 of
this Act'' and inserting ``section 1753 of the Export
Controls Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4813)''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section 11 of this
Act'' and inserting ``section 1754 of the Export Controls Act
of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4819)''.
(b) Presumption That Item Is Designed for Use in a
Missile.--Section 73(f) of the Arms Export Control Act (22
U.S.C. 2797b(f)) is amended by striking ``for purposes of
4605(j)(1)(A) of title 50'' and inserting ``for purposes of
section 1754 of the Export Controls Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C.
4813(c)(1)(A))''.
SEC. 8612. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE ARMS EXPORT
CONTROL ACT.
(a) Dollar Amount Thresholds.--The Arms Export Control Act
(22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in sections 3(d)(1), 3(d)(3)(A), 36(b)(1), 36(b)(5)(C),
36(c)(1), and 63(a)(1), by striking ``$14,000,000'' each
place it appears and inserting ``$25,000,000 (as adjusted
pursuant to section 48)'';
(2) in sections 3(d)(1), 3(d)(3)(A), 36(b)(1), 36(b)(5)(C),
36(c)(1), 47(6), 63(a)(1), and 71(d), by striking
``$50,000,000'' each place it appears and inserting
``$88,000,000 (as adjusted pursuant to section 48)'';
(3) in sections 3(d)(5)(A), 36(b)(6)(A), 36(c)(5)(A), and
63(a)(2)(A), by striking ``$25,000,000'' each place it
appears and inserting ``$44,000,000 (as adjusted pursuant to
section 48)'';
(4) in sections 3(d)(5)(B), 36(b)(6)(B), 36(c)(5)(B), and
63(a)(2)(B), by striking ``$100,000,000'' each place it
appears and inserting ``$175,000,000 (as adjusted pursuant to
section 48)'';
(5) in section 25(a)(1)--
(A) by striking ``$7,000,000'' and inserting ``$12,000,000
(as adjusted pursuant to section 48)''; and
(B) by striking ``25,000,000'' and inserting ``44,000,000
(as adjusted pursuant to section 48)'';
(6) in section 36(a)(10), by striking ``$250,000'' each
place it appears and inserting ``$440,000 (as adjusted
pursuant to section 48)'';
(7) in sections 36(b)(1), 36(b)(5)(C), and 47(6), by
striking ``$200,000,000'' each place it appears and inserting
``$350,000,000 (as adjusted pursuant to section 48)'';
(8) in section 36(b)(6)(C), by striking ``$300,000,000''
and inserting ``$526,000,000 (as adjusted pursuant to section
48)''; and
(9) by adding after section 47 the following:
``SEC. 48. ADJUSTMENTS FOR INFLATION.
``(a) In General.--On the date that is 3 years after the
date of the enactment of this section, and every 3 years
thereafter, the amounts specified in subsection (b) shall be
adjusted to reflect the percentage increase (if any) in
inflation, as reflected by the increase in the average of the
Consumer Price Index during the previous 3 years.
``(b) Amounts Specified.--The amounts specified in this
subsection are the dollar amounts in--
``(1) paragraphs (1), (3)(A), (5)(A), and (5)(B) of section
3(d);
``(2) section 25(a)(1);
``(3) subsections (a)(10), (b)(1), (b)(5)(C), (b)(6)(A),
(b)(6)(B), (b)(6)(C), (c)(1), (c)(5)(A), and (c)(5)(B) of
section 36;
``(4) section 47(6);
``(5) paragraphs (1), (2)(A), and (2)(B) of section 63(a);
and
``(6) section 71(d).
``(c) Defined Term.--In this section, the term `Consumer
Price Index' means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
Department of Labor.''.
(b) Information.--
(1) Foreign military sales.--Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(b)(1)) is amended, in the
matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting, after ``of
such technology.'', the following: ``Upon the initial
introduction of a new system or capability for the recipient
country, such numbered certification shall also contain,
submitted by the President, detailed information on how the
proposed sale contributes to the United States' foreign
policy objectives regarding that country and region, as well
as how those objectives are being implemented and measured by
the United States Mission in that country and the
Department's relevant regional and functional bureaus.''.
(2) Direct commercial sales.--Section 36(c)(1) of such Act
(22 U.S.C. 2776(c)(1)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and (C) a description of the items to be
exported'' and inserting ``(C) a description of the items to
be exported, and (D) the timeline for delivery of the items
to be exported''; and
(B) by inserting, after ``such offset agreement.'', the
following: ``Upon the initial introduction of a new system or
capability for the recipient country, such numbered
certification shall also contain, submitted by the President,
detailed information on how the proposed export contributes
to the United States' foreign policy objectives regarding
that country and region, as well as how those objectives are
being implemented and measured by the United States Mission
in that country and the Department's relevant regional and
functional bureaus.''.
(c) Quarterly Briefings.--Section 36 of such Act (22 U.S.C.
2776) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Quarterly Briefings.--Not less frequently than
quarterly, the Secretary of State shall provide to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate an unclassified
briefing on the letters of offers to sell, and licenses to
export, defense articles or defense services under this Act
issued during the preceding quarter for which a certification
was
[[Page S3866]]
not required to be submitted to Congress under subsection (b)
or (c).''.
SEC. 8613. REPORT ON CRITICAL LANGUAGE EXPERTISE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the Sense of Congress that--
(1) maintaining a robust cohort of Foreign Service officers
proficient in critical languages is vital to United States
national security; and
(2) the Department should take efforts to address
unnecessary delays in assigning Foreign Service officers who
possess the requisite language proficiencies to critical
United States missions.
(b) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a
report to the appropriate congressional committees on current
expertise in critical languages at the Department.
(c) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include the following elements:
(1) The number of speakers with Interagency Language
Roundtable proficiency of 2+/3 or above in the Foreign
Service and the Civil Service.
(2) A description of how the number of Department employees
with proficiency in critical languages has changed over the
most recent 5-year period.
(3) A summary of the Department's workforce incentives to
develop critical language training and expertise.
(4) An assessment of whether the Department's current
critical language capacity is sufficient to address the
Department's global workforce needs, including with regard to
strategic competition with the People's Republic of China.
(5) A description of any obstacles to assigning Department
employees who already possess the requisite foreign language
proficiency to critical United States missions, including the
People's Republic of China, in a timely manner.
(6) A description of the critical language activities
carried out by Foreign Service officers or Civil Service
officers compared to activities carried out by contracted
professional translators, including a justification for why
contracted translators are utilized for particular
activities.
SEC. 8614. USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO MEET
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Every report the Department submits to the
appropriate congressional committees shall contain--
(1) a disclosure indicating whether artificial intelligence
tools were used to produce any part of the content of the
report transmitted; and
(2) a certification that the report was reviewed and
verified by a human user prior to submission.
SEC. 8615. MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION COMPACTS.
Section 609(j) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22
U.S.C. 7708) is amended by adding the end the following new
subsection:
``(m) Other Matters.--Funds appropriated or otherwise made
available for a Compact under this section may only be
obligated if--
``(1) such Compact obligates, or contains a commitment to
obligate subject to the availability of appropriations and
the mutual agreement of the parties to the Compact to
proceed, the entire amount of the United States Government
funding anticipated for the duration of the Compact; and
``(2) the Chief Executive Officer consults with the
appropriate congressional committees at the commencement of
the implementation period of a Compact.''.
SEC. 8616. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR FOREIGN
ASSISTANCE.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide for
the independent and objective conduct and supervision of
audits and investigations relating to the programs and
operations funded with amounts authorized to be appropriated
or otherwise made available for foreign assistance.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the
House of Representatives.
(2) Foreign assistance.--The term ``foreign assistance''
means amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made
available for any fiscal year for--
(A) programs currently or previously administered by the
United States Agency for International Development and
programs currently or previously administered by the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States African
Development Foundation, or the Inter-American Foundation;
(B) programs funded with appropriations, other than
Department of Defense appropriations, for foreign assistance
programs administered pursuant to part I, chapters 1, 3, 8,
9, and 10 and part II, chapter 4 of the Foreign Assistance
Act (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq., 2292 et seq., 2293 et seq., 2346
et seq.), sections 2(a) through (c) of the Migration and
Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601), the Food for
Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.), the Millennium Challenge
Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.), the United States
African Development Foundation Act (title V of Public Law 96-
533; 22 U.S.C. 290h et seq.), and the Food for Progress Act
of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o), or successor legislation;
(C) any other non-military foreign assistance programs
including global health, development assistance,
international disaster assistance, food assistance and food
security, and economic support; and
(D) with regard to USAID, any other matter within the
preview of the Office of the Inspector General for USAID upon
the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Office of the Inspector General for Foreign
Assistance.--The Office of the Inspector General for the
United States Agency for International Development is hereby
redesignated as the ``Office of the Inspector General for
Foreign Assistance''. The Office of the Inspector General for
Foreign Assistance shall carry out activities in accordance
with the purpose described in subsection (a).
(d) Amendments to Inspector General Act of 1978.--Chapter 4
of title 5, United States Code is amended--
(1) in section 401--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the Agency for
International Development,''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``the Administrator of
the Agency for International Development,'';
(2) in section 402(a), by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Department of state.--In the establishment of the
Department of State, there is established--
``(A) an Office of Inspector General of the Department of
State; and
``(B) an Office of Inspector General for Foreign
Assistance.'';
(3) in section 406(f)(3), by striking ``Agency for
International Development,'';
(4) in section 409--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``Agency for
International Development'' and inserting ``Inspector General
for Foreign Assistance'';
(B) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) Definition, Duties and Responsibilities of Inspector
General for Foreign Assistance.--The Inspector General for
Foreign Assistance shall exercise all duties and
responsibilities of an Inspector General of an establishment
with respect to any agency, with the exception of the
Department of Defense, on all matters relating to foreign
assistance including global health, development assistance,
international disaster assistance, food assistance and food
security, and economic support, including jurisdiction for--
``(1) all programs funded with appropriations, other than
Department of Defense appropriations, for foreign assistance
programs, other than Department of Defense programs, for
foreign assistance programs administered pursuant to part I,
chapters 1, 3, 8, 9, and 10 and part II, chapter 4 of the
Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq., 2292 et seq.,
2293 et seq., 2346 et seq.), sections 2(a) through (c) of the
Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C.
2601), the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.), the
Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.),
the United States African Development Foundation Act (title V
of Public Law 96-533; 22 U.S.C. 290h et seq.), and the Food
for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o), or successor
legislation; and
``(2) programs currently or previously administered by the
United States Agency for International Development, and
programs currently or previously administered by the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States African
Development Foundation, or the Inter-American Foundation.'';
(C) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as
subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively;
(D) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Coordination of Foreign Assistance Oversight.--The
Inspector General for Foreign Assistance shall conduct
audits, evaluations, inspections, and investigations by
coordinating with the Offices of Inspectors General of the
respective agencies responsible for--
``(1) all foreign assistance programs, other than
Department of Defense programs, administered pursuant to part
I, chapters 1, 3, 8, 9, and 10 and part II, chapter 4 of the
Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq., 2292 et seq.,
2293 et seq., 2346 et seq.), the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C.
1691 et seq.), sections 2(a) through (c) of the Migration and
Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601), the
Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.),
the United States African Development Foundation Act (title V
of Public Law 96-533; 22 U.S.C. 290h et seq.), and the Food
for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o), or successor
legislation; and
``(2) programs currently or previously administered by the
United States Agency for International Development, the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States African
Development Foundation, or the Inter-American Foundation.
``(c) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
``(1) In general.--Upon request of the Inspector General
for Foreign Assistance for information or assistance from any
department, agency, or other entity of the Federal
[[Page S3867]]
Government, with the exception of the Department of Defense,
the head of such entity shall, to the extent practicable and
not in contravention of any existing law, furnish such
information or assistance to the Inspector General, or an
authorized designee.
``(2) Reporting of refused assistance.--Whenever
information or assistance requested by the Inspector General
is, in the judgment of the Inspector General, unreasonably
refused or not provided, the Inspector General shall report
the circumstances to the Secretary of State and the head of
the entity concerned, as appropriate, and to the appropriate
committees of Congress (as defined in section 8616(b) of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027)
without delay.'';
(E) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by striking ``of
the Agency for International Development'' and inserting
``for Foreign Assistance'';
(F) in subsection (e), as redesignated, by striking
``Administrator of the Agency for International Development''
and inserting ``Secretary of State''; and
(G) in subsection (f), as redesignated, by striking ``of
the Agency for International Development'' and inserting
``for Foreign Assistance''; and
(5) in section 419(c)(3), by striking ``of the United
States Agency for International Development'' and inserting
``for Foreign Assistance''.
(e) Availability of Previously Appropriated Funds.--Amounts
otherwise available to the Office of Inspector General for
the United States Agency for International Development shall
remain available for the Office of the Inspector General for
Foreign Assistance.
SEC. 8617. STRATEGY ON MARITIME ECONOMIC RESILIENCE.
Not later than 120 days after the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a strategy on how United States economic
assistance and international diplomatic engagement can better
support maritime economies and exclusive economic zones. Such
strategy shall include--
(1) a study on the regulatory and commercial barriers that
hinder maritime economies;
(2) how the Department can improve interagency coordination
to support the growth of maritime economies;
(3) the role external influence and actors, including the
Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, and the
Islamic Republic of Iran play in impacting maritime
economies;
(4) an analysis of regional efforts to strengthen maritime
economies and the role the United States can play in
supporting such cross-regional efforts;
(5) an assessment of beneficial training and exchange
programs that center on supporting coastal communities,
fisheries, ocean finance, industry expansion, and coastal and
marine tourism, offshore energy production and
transportation; and
(6) recommendations on--
(A) feasible programming that links commercial diplomacy
with maritime economic development and exclusive maritime
economic zones; and
(B) the role United States businesses can play in expanding
and supporting partner countries emerging markets related to
maritime economies.
(C) improving cooperation with allies on critical undersea
infrastructure protection.
SEC. 8618. MODERNIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS RELATED
TO CRITICAL UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Diplomatic Engagement Required.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary, in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report containing--
(1) the findings of a review of international agreements
relating to critical undersea infrastructure, including the
Convention for the Protection of Submarine Telegraph Cables
of 1884 (referred to in this section as the ``1884
Convention''); and
(2) a plan to modernize the agreements referred to in
paragraph (1), if applicable, or pursue new or additional
bilateral or multinational agreements to address gaps or
ambiguities in the legal protections applicable to the
installation, operation, or protection of critical undersea
infrastructure.
(b) Consultation With Congress.--In conducting the review
required under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall consult
with the appropriate congressional committees.
(c) Engagement With International Stakeholders.--In
conducting the review required under subsection (a)(1), the
Secretary shall seek to engage, as appropriate, other
relevant international stakeholders to support negotiation of
agreements described in subsection (a)(2).
(d) Coordination With Industry.--The Secretary shall
consult with private owners and operators of critical
undersea infrastructure, as appropriate, in conducting the
review required under subsection (a)(1).
(e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date
that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate
committees of Congress describing--
(1) the status of diplomatic efforts undertaken pursuant to
subsection (a);
(2) the positions of other parties to the 1884 Convention
and key non-party states with respect to modernization,
including any diplomatic efforts to encourage additional
countries to become signatories to the 1884 Convention,
pending the review required under subsection (a)(1); and
(3) any obstacles to concluding a successor agreement or
protocol and proposed measures to address those obstacles.
(f) Form.--The reports required under subsections (a) and
(e) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include
a classified annex.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Critical undersea infrastructure.--The term ``critical
undersea infrastructure'' means subsea communications
infrastructure and subsea energy infrastructure.
(3) Relevant federal departments and agencies.--The term
``relevant Federal departments and agencies'' means--
(A) the Federal Communications Commission;
(B) the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration;
(C) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(D) the Maritime Administration;
(E) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration;
(F) the United States Coast Guard; and
(G) any other Federal department or agency designated by
the Secretary.
(4) Subsea communications infrastructure.--The term
``subsea communications infrastructure'' has the meaning
given the term ``submarine cable system'' in section
1.70001(h) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, and any
subsequent update to such definition.
(5) Subsea energy infrastructure.--The term ``subsea energy
infrastructure'' means--
(A) subsea cables, pipelines, and other equipment installed
on, beneath, or within the seabed for the purpose of--
(i) transmitting electricity, including via subsea
electricity cables, subsea electricity transformers, or
equipment related to the support of offshore energy
production installations; or
(ii) transporting natural gas, oil, or hydrogen between
land-based or off-shore infrastructure; and
(B) landing stations and facilities associated with the
infrastructure described in clauses (i) or (ii) of
subparagraph (A).
SEC. 8619. EMBASSY EVACUATION AND NOTIFICATION PLANNING.
(a) Methodology to Capture Lessons Learned From Prior
Embassy Evacuations.--The Secretary shall develop a formal,
systematic methodology to capture lessons learned from prior
embassy evacuations.
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees, the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives the
methodology to capture lessons learned from prior embassy
evacuations.
SEC. 8620. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE.
(a) Short Titles.--This section may be cited as the ``Young
African Leaders Initiative Act of 2026'' or the ``YALI Act of
2026''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Young African Leaders Initiative, launched in 2010,
is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of
African leaders;
(2) Africa is a continent of strategic importance and it is
vital for the United States to support strong and enduring
partnerships with the next generation of African leaders;
(3) the United States Government should prioritize
investments to build the capacity of emerging young African
leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts
that--
(A) enhance leadership skills;
(B) encourage entrepreneurship;
(C) strengthen public administration and the role of civil
society; and
(D) connect young African leaders continentally and
globally across the private, civic, and public sectors; and
(4) youth in Africa have a positive impact on efforts to
foster economic growth, improve public sector transparency
and governance, and counter extremism and should be an area
of focus for United States outreach on the African continent.
(c) Young African Leaders Initiative.--
(1) In general.--There is established the Young African
Leaders Initiative (referred to in this section as ``YALI''),
which shall be carried out by the Secretary.
(2) Purpose.--YALI shall seek to build the capacity of
young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa in the areas of
business, civic engagement, or public administration,
including through efforts that--
(A) support young African leaders by offering professional
development, training, and networking opportunities,
particularly in
[[Page S3868]]
the areas of leadership, innovation, civic engagement,
elections, internationally recognized human rights,
entrepreneurship, good governance, peace and security, and
public administration; and
(B) build relationships with African leaders to promote
economic growth, strengthen ties between United States and
African businesses, build resilience to predatory lending
practices, and improve capacity in key economic areas such as
tendering, bidding, and contract negotiations, budget
management and oversight, anti-corruption, and establishment
of clear policy and regulatory practices.
(3) Fellowships.--
(A) In general.--YALI shall support the participation in
the United States in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for
Young African Leaders of fellows from Africa who--
(i) are between 21 and 35 years of age;
(ii) have demonstrated strong capabilities in
entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership;
and
(iii) have had a positive impact in their communities,
organizations, or institutions.
(B) Oversight.--The fellowships described in subparagraph
(A) shall be overseen by the Secretary through the Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs.
(C) Eligibility.--The Secretary shall establish and
publish--
(i) eligibility criteria for participation as a fellow
under subparagraph (A); and
(ii) criteria for determining which eligible applicants
will be selected.
(4) Reciprocal exchanges.--Subject to the approval of the
Secretary, United States citizens may--
(A) engage in reciprocal exchanges in connection with
alumni of the fellowship described in paragraph (3); and
(B) collaborate on projects with such fellowship alumni.
(5) Activities.--
(A) United states-based activities.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the heads of relevant Federal departments
and agencies, shall oversee all United States-based
activities carried out under YALI, including--
(i) the participation of Mandela Washington Fellows in a 6-
week Leadership Institute at a United States educational
institution in business, civic engagement, or public
management, including academic sessions, site visits,
professional networking opportunities, leadership training,
community service, and organized cultural activities; and
(ii) the participation by Mandela Washington fellows in an
annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, to provide such
Fellows the opportunity to meet with United States leaders
from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
(B) Implementation.--The Secretary, in coordination with
the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies,
shall carry out this subsection by seeking to partner with
the private sector--
(i) to pursue public-private partnerships;
(ii) to leverage private sector expertise;
(iii) to expand networking opportunities; and
(iv) to identify funding and fellowship opportunities for
YALI.
(6) Implementation plan.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall submit a plan to the
appropriate congressional committees for implementing YALI,
including--
(A) a description of clearly defined program goals,
targets, and planned outcomes for each year and for the
duration of implementation of the program;
(B) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the program and
progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and
planned outcomes; and
(C) a strategy to ensure the program is promoting United
States foreign policy goals in Africa, including ensuring
that the program is clearly branded, paired with robust
public diplomacy efforts, and incorporates participants from
a variety of countries, including communities in Africa
facing economic distress, civil conflict, persecution, and
other challenges.
(7) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
following 4 years, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees, and publish in a
publicly accessible, internet-based form, a report that
includes--
(A) a description of the progress made toward achieving the
goals, targets, and planned outcomes referred to in paragraph
(6)(A), including an overview of the program implemented in
the previous year and an estimated number of beneficiaries;
(B) an assessment of how YALI is contributing to and
promoting United States-Africa relations, particularly in
areas of increased private sector investment, trade
promotion, support to civil society, improved public
administration, promoting peace and security, and fostering
entrepreneurship and youth empowerment; and
(C) recommendations for improvements or changes to YALI and
the implementation plan, if any, that would improve their
effectiveness during subsequent years of YALI's
implementation.
(8) Defined term.--In this subsection, 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.
(d) Sunset.--The requirements set forth in paragraphs (6)
and (7) of subsections (c) 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.
TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS
Subtitle A--SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026
SEC. 8700. SHORT TITLES.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Sanctioning Harborers
And Dodgers Of Western Sanctions Act of 2026'' or the
``SHADOW Fleet Act of 2026''.
CHAPTER 1--SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SEC. 8701. DEFINITIONS.
In this chapter:
(1) Adequate maritime insurance.--
(A) In general.--The term ``adequate maritime insurance''
means--
(i) verified documentation evidencing protection and
indemnity insurance, cargo insurance, and hull and machinery
insurance, with audited financial statements of the insurer;
(ii) records demonstrating compliance with relevant
statutes and regulations regarding the insured subject
matter; and
(iii) a commitment to provide, upon reasonable request,
evidence needed by the insurer, reinsurer, or broker to
satisfy themselves or any regulator of such compliance.
(B) Exclusion.--The term ``adequate maritime insurance''
does not include insurance provided by an insurer that--
(i) is organized under the laws of the Russian Federation;
and
(ii) continues to provide coverage to any vessel designated
for the imposition of sanctions under the laws of the United
States, the European Union, or the United Kingdom without a
specific waiver of or exception to the application of such
sanctions.
(2) Admitted; alien; lawfully admitted for permanent
residence.--The terms ``admitted'', ``alien'', and ``lawfully
admitted for permanent residence'' have the meanings given
those terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).
(3) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Financial Services of the House of Representatives.
(4) Beneficial owner.--The term ``beneficial owner'' means,
with respect to a vessel, any individual who, directly or
indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding,
relationship, or otherwise--
(A) exercises substantial control over the vessel; or
(B) owns not less than 25 percent of the vessel.
(5) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(6) Foreign vessel.--The term ``foreign vessel'' means a
vessel that is not a vessel of the United States (as defined
in section 116 of title 46, United States Code).
(7) 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.
(8) Petroleum product.--The term ``petroleum product''
means oil of any kind or in any form, crude oil, gasoline,
diesel fuel, aviation fuel, fuel oil, kerosene, any product
obtained from refining or processing of crude oil, liquefied
petroleum gases, natural gas liquids, petrochemical
feedstocks, condensate, waste or refuse mixtures containing
any of such oil products, and any other liquid hydrocarbon
compounds.
(9) Russian-origin petroleum product.--The term ``Russian-
origin petroleum product'' means a petroleum product
extracted, refined, processed, or otherwise produced in the
Russian Federation.
(10) Russian person.--The term ``Russian person'' means--
(A) a citizen or national of the Russian Federation; or
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the Russian
Federation or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the
Government of the Russian Federation.
(11) Russian shadow fleet.--The term ``Russian shadow
fleet'' means any foreign vessel or vessels used or directed
by or on behalf of the Russian Federation to transport
Russian-origin petroleum products in circumvention of
sanctions imposed with respect to the Russian Federation by
the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or
other countries.
(12) Sabotage activities.--The term ``sabotage activities''
means actions, or preparations for actions, taken with the
intent to cause defective production, operation, or damage to
critical undersea infrastructure, including energy pipelines,
offshore energy facilities, or subsea power lines and
telecommunications cables and associated landing stations and
facilities.
(13) 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 of any jurisdiction
[[Page S3869]]
within the United States, including a foreign branch of such
an entity; or
(C) a person in the United States.
Subchapter A--Sanctions With Respect to Russian Shadow Fleet
PART I--IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS
SEC. 8702. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO VESSELS
SUSPECTED OF PARTICIPATION IN OR SUPPORT OF THE
RUSSIAN SHADOW FLEET.
(a) In General.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act, the President may impose the sanctions described in
section 8709 with respect to any Russian shadow fleet vessel
that, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act,
transports Russian-origin petroleum or petroleum products in
circumvention of sanctions imposed with respect to the
Russian Federation by the United States, the United Kingdom,
the European Union, or other countries, including--
(1) any Russian shadow fleet vessel the owner or operator
of which knowingly--
(A) exhibits or engages in unsafe or nonstandard maritime
behavior in furtherance of the transportation of Russian-
origin petroleum products that originated in the Russian
Federation; or
(B) lacks adequate maritime insurance for the transport of
goods described in subparagraph (A);
(2) any foreign person that the President determines
knowingly--
(A) owns, operates, or manages a vessel described in
paragraph (1);
(B) provides underwriting services or insurance or
reinsurance necessary for such a vessel after sanctions are
imposed with respect to the vessel;
(C) facilitates deceptive or structured transactions to
support a vessel described in paragraph (1);
(D) provides services or facilities for technology upgrades
or installation of equipment for, or retrofitting or
tethering of, a vessel described in paragraph (1) for the
purpose of evading sanctions;
(E) provides services for the testing, inspection, or
certification for a vessel described in paragraph (1) for the
purpose of evading sanctions;
(F) serves as a master of such a vessel; or
(G) transfers or leases to the Russian Federation, or
otherwise makes available for use involving any sanctioned
Russian entity, any foreign vessel designed to transport
petroleum products, including liquified natural gas.
(b) Vessels Subject to Sanctions by the United Kingdom or
the European Union.--Beginning on the date of the enactment
of this Act, the President may impose the sanctions described
in section 8709 with respect to any vessel that, on or after
such date of enactment, is--
(1) subject to sanctions with respect to the Russian
Federation imposed by the United Kingdom, the European Union,
the Group of 7, or a member of the Five Eyes intelligence
alliance; or
(2) owned or operated by a person subject to such
sanctions.
(c) Indicators of Unsafe or Nonstandard Maritime
Behavior.--In determining under subsection (a)(1)(A) if a
vessel is exhibiting or engaged in unsafe or nonstandard
maritime behavior, the President may use as prima facie
evidence that the vessel is exhibiting or engaged in such
behavior if the vessel has exhibited 3 or more indicators of
such behavior, including the following:
(1) Has refused to take on a pilot in accordance with best
practices of the International Maritime Organization.
(2) Does not respond when hailed by appropriate maritime
authority.
(3) Turns off the Automatic Identification System of the
vessel without explanation or report to the appropriate
maritime authority within a reasonable period of time.
(4) Engages in unsafe maritime maneuvers with another
vessel.
(5) Is uninsured or underinsured, including any vessel that
is insured by an insurance company organized under the laws
of the Russian Federation or the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(6) Is single-hulled contrary to standards of the
International Maritime Organization.
(7) Has changed ownership or flag registry more than once
in the previous year.
(8) Has a history of deliberately losing power or turning
off transmitters without a compelling security need.
(9) Has not been properly maintained, based on credible
evidence.
(10) Has been involved in a recent maritime or
environmental incident.
(11) Is escorted by the military of the Russian Federation.
(12) Has engaged in sabotage activities.
(d) Report.--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 report that describes any sanctions imposed
under this section, including a brief description of each
foreign person and foreign vessel with respect to which
sanctions are imposed and the justification for such
sanctions.
SEC. 8702A. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN
PERSONS THAT SUPPORT RUSSIAN ILLICIT SHIPPING
WITH VESSELS SUBJECT TO UNITED STATES
SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act, the President may impose the sanctions described in
section 8709 with respect to a foreign person if the
President determines that the foreign person, on or after the
date of the enactment of this Act, has engaged in a
transaction described in subsection (b) with a Russian shadow
fleet vessel that is subject to sanctions imposed by the
United States.
(b) Transactions Described.--A transaction described in
this subsection is any of the following:
(1) The conduct of any ship-to-ship transfer involving
Russian-origin petroleum products with a Russian shadow fleet
vessel.
(2) The provision of significant goods or services in
support of a Russian shadow fleet vessel with the knowledge
that the vessel is subject to sanctions imposed by the United
States, unless such goods or services are provided to respond
to an emergency.
(3) In the case of the owner or operator of a foreign port,
allowing a Russian shadow fleet vessel to port or otherwise
receive services at the foreign port, unless that vessel
needs to port or receive services as a result of an
emergency.
(4) In the case of a foreign person that is the owner or
operator of a refinery, knowingly engaging in a transaction
to process, refine, or otherwise deal in any Russian
Federation-origin petroleum products that were transported on
a Russian shadow fleet vessel.
SEC. 8702B. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PORT
TERMINALS ACCEPTING OIL FROM RUSSIAN SHADOW
FLEET VESSELS.
Beginning on the date that is 15 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President may impose the sanctions
described in section 8709 with respect to any foreign person
that owns or operates a port in the People's Republic of
China or the Republic of India that accepts oil from foreign
vessels with respect to which the United States has imposed
sanctions.
PART II--DISCLOSURES, PUBLICATIONS, AND REPORTS
SEC. 8703. ALIGNMENT OF DESIGNATION AUTHORITIES WITH EUROPEAN
UNION AND UNITED KINGDOM REGARDING RUSSIAN
SHADOW FLEET.
(a) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the
Secretary, through the head of the Office of Sanctions
Coordination and in coordination with the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets
Control of the Department of the Treasury, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report that
includes a list of each foreign vessel subject to sanctions
imposed by the European Union or the United Kingdom that is
determined to operate as part of the Russian shadow fleet.
(2) Justification.--For any vessel listed in a report under
paragraph (1) that is not subject to sanctions imposed by the
United States, the report shall include the justification
provided by the European Union or the United Kingdom, as the
case may be, for designation of the vessel (if that
justification is available to the public) and a brief
justification of the reason provided by the European Union or
the United Kingdom.
(b) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, through the head of
the Office of Sanctions Coordination and in coordination with
the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Office
of Foreign Assets Control, shall produce a strategy for
enhancing alignment of sanctions designation authorities of
the United States regarding vessels supporting the Russian
shadow fleet with those authorities of the European Union and
the United Kingdom.
SEC. 8703A. SUPPORT OF EFFORTS OF THE JOINT EXPEDITIONARY
FORCE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the United States supports the efforts of the Joint
Expeditionary Force to track, monitor, deter, and if
necessary, respond to operations and illicit activities of
the Russian shadow fleet.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the
United States to use relevant maritime elements of the United
States Government to support and amplify the authorized
efforts of the Joint Expeditionary Force.
PART III--FLAG STATE REQUIREMENTS AND STRATEGY
SEC. 8704. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR OPERATING AS A FLAG STATE
REGISTRY AND ASSESSMENT OF EFFORTS TO PREVENT
THE CIRCUMVENTION OF SANCTIONS AND OTHER
CRIMES.
It is the policy of the United States that the government
of a country is complying with the minimum standards required
by the United States for maintaining an open flag registry
if, on balance, the government--
(1) has enacted and implemented laws and established
government structures, policies, and practices that prohibit
and generally deter the use of its flag registry as a
mechanism to circumvent sanctions imposed by the United
States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or other
Group of 7 countries, including prohibiting its flag to
continue to fly on vessels that are subject to sanctions
imposed by any such country or jurisdiction;
(2) has enacted and implemented laws and established
government structures, policies, and practices that prohibit
and generally deter the use of its flag registry to avoid
detection of illicit activities, including drug trafficking,
illicit arms shipments, human trafficking, and illegal,
unreported, and unregulated fishing activities;
[[Page S3870]]
(3) enforces the laws described in paragraphs (1) and (2)
by punishing any person found, through a fair judicial
process, to have violated those laws;
(4) takes steps to ensure ships flying its flag comply with
well-established industry standards and best practices
relating to maritime activities, including adhering to
resolutions and warnings promulgated by the International
Maritime Organization, such as Resolution A.1192(33)
(December 6, 2023) relating to urging member states and all
relevant stakeholders to promote actions to prevent illegal
operations in the maritime sector by the ``dark fleet'' or
``shadow fleet'';
(5) responds to credible reports from other countries and
private entities warning of vessels flying its flag engaging
in maritime behavior that poses safety risks, such as not
allowing pilot access or turning off Automatic Identification
Systems without adequate justification;
(6) takes steps to ensure vessels flying its flag adhere to
measures that lawfully prohibit and regulate ship-to-ship
transfers of oil or petroleum products subject to sanctions;
(7) takes steps to ensure vessels flying its flag possess
adequate and credible insurance to cover the costs of
maritime accidents;
(8) takes steps to ensure vessels are operating under
transparent ownership structures, including by verifying the
beneficial ownership and management of vessels; and
(9) takes steps to ensure vessels do not avoid flag state
or port state control inspections or avoid commercial
screenings and inspections.
SEC. 8704A. STRATEGY FOR COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT MAKE
SUFFICIENT EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH MINIMUM
STANDARDS FOR OPERATING AS A FLAG STATE.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and annually thereafter through 2030, the
Secretary, in consultation with the heads of appropriate
Federal agencies, shall--
(1) conduct an assessment of countries that do not meet the
minimum standards for operating as a flag state registry in
compliance with United States policy, including the standards
described in section 8704; and
(2) submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
strategy for identifying and engaging with those countries.
PART IV--OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 8705. INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY VESSELS
TRANSPORTING RUSSIAN-ORIGIN OIL.
It shall be the policy of the United States--
(1) to fully promote the recommendations made by Resolution
A.1192(33) of the International Maritime Organization,
adopted on December 6, 2023;
(2) to use the voice and vote of the United States in
international organizations and engage other relevant
multilateral bodies, such as the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization and the European Union, to strongly encourage
the governments of all countries to adopt those
recommendations, including the recommendation that a port
state, when the state becomes aware of a vessel intentionally
taking measures to avoid detection, such as switching off its
Automatic Identification System or long-range identification
and tracking system transmissions or concealing its actual
identity, should, following an initial investigation to
verify that the vessel has not stopped transmitting signals
for legitimate reasons--
(A) subject the vessel to enhanced inspections as
authorized through relevant mechanisms of the port state; and
(B) notify the flag administration of the vessel, as
appropriate; and
(3) to encourage governments of all countries to deny
access to ports and services for any vessel that, following
an initial investigation, is found to have turned off its
transponder or entered false information for the purpose of
conducting a transfer of or transaction for crude oil of
Russian Federation origin or refined petroleum products made
from such oil.
Subchapter B--Sanctions With Respect to Russian-origin Energy Products
SEC. 8706. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS
WITH CERTAIN INTERESTS IN RUSSIAN ENERGY
PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act, the President may impose the sanctions described in
section 8709 with respect to any foreign person the President
determines is, on or after such date of enactment, a leader,
official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of
directors of, or principal shareholder with a controlling or
majority interest in, any of the following Russian energy
projects:
(1) The Yamal Liquified Natural Gas Project or a successor
project.
(2) The Arctic 1, 2, and 3 Liquified Natural Gas Projects
or a successor project.
(3) Any project in the Arctic region or the Russian Far
East carried out after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) countries that rely on Russian energy projects,
including Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2, TurkStream 1 and 2, and
the Druzhba pipeline, should work to expeditiously end their
dependence on such projects and diversify their sources of
energy to exports from other countries, including the United
States; and
(2) the European Union should remain committed to firm
deadlines set forth in the RePowerEU Roadmap for the phasing
out of energy exported from the Russian Federation.
SEC. 8706A. STRATEGY TO COUNTER ROLE OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
OF CHINA IN EVASION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT
TO RUSSIAN-ORIGIN PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation
with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a written
strategy, and provide to those committees an accompanying
briefing, on the role of the People's Republic of China in
evasion of sanctions imposed by the United States with
respect to Russian-origin petroleum products that includes an
assessment of options--
(1) to strengthen the enforcement of such sanctions; and
(2) to expand sanctions designations targeting the
involvement of the People's Republic of China in the
production, transportation, storage, refining, and sale of
Russian-origin petroleum products.
(b) Elements.--The strategy required by subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) a description and assessment of the use of sanctions in
effect before the date of the enactment of this Act to target
individuals and entities of the People's Republic of China
that are directly or indirectly associated with smuggling of
Russian-origin petroleum products;
(2) an assessment of--
(A) Russian-owned entities operating in the People's
Republic of China and involved in petroleum refining supply
chains;
(B) the People's Republic of China's role in Russian
petroleum refining supply chains;
(C) how the People's Republic of China leverages its role
in Russian petroleum supply chains to achieve political
objectives; and
(D) what percent of the energy consumption of the People's
Republic of China is linked to imported Russian-origin
petroleum products;
(3) a detailed plan for--
(A) monitoring the maritime domain for sanctionable
activity related to the transportation of Russian-origin
petroleum products;
(B) identifying the individuals, entities, and vessels
engaging in sanctionable activity related to Russian-origin
petroleum products, including--
(i) vessels--
(I) transporting petrochemicals of Russian Federation
origin;
(II) conducting ship-to-ship transfers of such
petrochemicals;
(III) with deactivated automatic identification systems; or
(IV) that engage in ``flag hopping'' by frequently changing
national registries;
(ii) individuals or entities--
(I) storing petrochemicals subject to sanctions; or
(II) refining or otherwise processing such petrochemicals;
and
(iii) through the use of port entry and docking permission
of vessels subject to sanctions;
(C) deterring individuals and entities from violating
sanctions by educating and engaging--
(i) insurance providers;
(ii) parent companies; and
(iii) vessel operators;
(D) collaborating with allies and partners of the United
States engaged in the Northern Europe, including through
standing or new maritime task forces, to build sanctions
enforcement capacity through assistance and training to
defense and law enforcement services; and
(E) using public communications and global diplomatic
engagements to highlight the role of smuggling of Russian-
origin petroleum products in bolstering the Russian
Federation's war efforts in Ukraine and support for other
malign activity; and
(4) an assessment of--
(A) the total number of vessels transporting Russian-origin
petroleum products;
(B) the total number of vessels smuggling such products
destined for the People's Republic of China;
(C) interference by the People's Republic of China with
attempts by the United States, the United Kingdom, or the
European Union to investigate or enforce sanctions with
respect to Russian-origin petroleum products;
(D) the effectiveness of the use of sanctions with respect
to insurers of entities that own or operate vessels involved
in transporting Russian-origin petroleum products;
(E) the personnel and resources needed to enforce sanctions
with respect to Russian-origin petroleum products; and
(F) the impact of smuggled Russian-origin petroleum
products on global energy markets.
(c) Form.--The strategy required by subsection (a) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified
index.
Subchapter C--Sanctions With Respect to Russian Defense Industrial Base
SEC. 8707. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS
THAT SELL, LEASE, OR PROVIDE GOODS OR SERVICES
RELATING TO THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE OF THE
RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter,
the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the
Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that identifies, for the period covered
by the
[[Page S3871]]
report each foreign person that the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Secretary of Commerce, determines has knowingly--
(1) sold, leased, provided, or facilitated selling,
leasing, or providing goods or services relating to the
defense industrial base of the Russian Federation,
including--
(A) computer numerical control (CNC) tools and associated
machinery, software, and maintenance or upgrade services;
(B) lubricant additives;
(C) semiconductors and associated manufacturing equipment;
(D) items on the Common High Priority Items List maintained
by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of
Commerce;
(E) nitrocellulose, wood cellulose, and associated
additives and components necessary for the production of
propellant or energetics for munitions;
(F) fiber optic cables with military applications and
associated technologies needed to manufacture such cables;
(G) advanced sensors; and
(H) any additional items identified by the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, that are
critical to the defense industrial base of the Russian
Federation; or
(2) facilitated deceptive or structured transactions to
provide the goods and services described by paragraph (1).
(b) Ineligibility for Visas, Admission, or Parole of
Identified Persons and Corporate Officers.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien described in
paragraph (2) 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 visa or other entry documentation of
an alien described in paragraph (2) shall be revoked,
regardless of when such visa or other entry documentation is
or was issued.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under clause (i)
shall--
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry
documentation that is in the possession of the alien.
(2) Aliens described.--An alien described in this paragraph
is an alien who is--
(A) identified in a report required by subsection (a);
(B) a corporate officer of a foreign entity identified in
that report; or
(C) a principal shareholder with a controlling interest in
a foreign entity described in subparagraph (A).
(c) Blocking of Property of Identified Persons.--The
President may exercise all powers granted to the President by
the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C.
1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit
all transactions in all property and interests in property of
any person identified in a report required by subsection (a)
if such property and interests in property are in the United
States, come within the United States, or are or come within
the possession or control of a United States person.
(d) Wind-down Period.--The President may not impose
sanctions under this section with respect to a person
identified in the first report submitted pursuant to
subsection (a) if the President certifies in such report that
the person has, not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, engaged in good faith efforts to wind
down operations that would otherwise subject the person to
the imposition of sanctions under this section.
Subchapter D--Modifications of Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act
of 2019
SEC. 8708. MODIFICATIONS OF PROTECTING EUROPE'S ENERGY
SECURITY ACT OF 2019.
Section 7503 of the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act
of 2019 (title LXXV of Public Law 116-92; 22 U.S.C. 9526
note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B)(v), by striking ``the Nord
Stream 2 pipeline'' and inserting ``the Nord Stream 1
pipeline, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, or a successor to
either such pipeline'';
(2) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking paragraph (4); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively;
(3) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
``(f) National Security Waiver.--
``(1) In general.--The President may waive the application
of sanctions under this section if--
``(A) the President--
``(i) determines such a waiver is in the national security
interests of the United States; and
``(ii) not later than 30 days before the waiver takes
effect, submits to the appropriate congressional committees a
report on the waiver and the reasons for the waiver; and
``(B) a joint resolution prohibiting the waiver is not
enacted into law during the 30-day period described in
subparagraph (A)(ii).
``(2) Consideration of joint resolutions.--
``(A) In general.--A joint resolution described in
paragraph (1)(B) introduced in either House of Congress shall
be considered in accordance with the provisions of section
601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms
Export Control Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-329; 90 Stat. 765),
except that the resolution shall be subject to germane
amendments.
``(B) Consideration of veto messages.--If joint resolution
described in paragraph (1)(B) is vetoed by the President, the
time for debate in consideration of the veto message on the
resolution shall--
``(i) in the Senate, be limited to 20 hours; and
``(ii) in the House of Representatives, be determined in
accordance with the Rules of the House.''; and
(4) in subsection (h)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2);
(B) by striking ``terminate'' and all that follows through
``the date on which'' and inserting ``terminate on the date
on which'';
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, and by moving such
paragraphs, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the left; and
(D) in paragraph (2), as redesignated, by striking ``; or''
and inserting a period.
Subchapter E--General Provisions
SEC. 8709. SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.
The sanctions described in this section that may be imposed
with respect to a foreign person are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President may exercise all
of the powers granted to the President 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 is--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to
enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into
the United States or to receive any other benefit under the
Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--A foreign person that is an alien is
subject to revocation of any visa or other entry
documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry
documentation is or was issued.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under clause (i) shall
take effect immediately and automatically cancel any other
valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien's
possession.
SEC. 8709A. EXCEPTIONS; WAIVERS.
(a) Exceptions.--
(1) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters
agreement and law enforcement activities.--Sanctions under
this chapter shall not apply with respect to the admission of
an alien to the United States if admitting or paroling the
alien into the United States is necessary--
(A) to permit the United States to comply with the
Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force
November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United
States, or other applicable international obligations of the
United States; or
(B) to carry out or assist authorized law enforcement
activity in the United States.
(2) Exception to comply with intelligence activities.--
Sanctions under this chapter shall not apply to 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 any
authorized intelligence activities of the United States.
(3) Humanitarian assistance.--
(A) In general.--Sanctions under this chapter shall not
apply to--
(i) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the
provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine,
medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or for humanitarian
purposes; or
(ii) transactions that are necessary for or related to the
activities described in clause (i).
(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
(i) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural
commodity'' has the meaning given that term in section 102 of
the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
(ii) 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).
(iii) 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).
(4) Exception for safety of vessels and crew and
decommissioning or demolition of vessels.--Sanctions under
this chapter shall not apply with respect to--
(A) a person providing provisions to a vessel otherwise
subject to sanctions under this chapter if the provisions are
intended for--
(i) the safety and care of the crew aboard the vessel;
(ii) the protection of human life aboard the vessel; or
(iii) the maintenance of the vessel to avoid any
environmental or other significant damage; or
[[Page S3872]]
(B) a person providing services to a vessel otherwise
subject to sanctions under this chapter if--
(i) the vessel fails to meet international maritime vessel
safety standards; and
(ii) the services are necessary to ensure the safe
decommissioning or destruction of the vessel.
(5) Annual report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that describes each activity that would
be sanctionable under this chapter if not covered by an
exception under this subsection.
(b) Waiver.--
(1) In general.--The President may, on a case-by-case basis
and for periods not to exceed 180 days each, waive the
application of sanctions imposed with respect to a foreign
vessel or a foreign person under this chapter if the
President certifies to the appropriate congressional
committees, not later than 15 days after such waiver is to
take effect, that the waiver is in the national security
interests of the United States.
(2) Certification.--The President shall not be required to
impose sanctions under this chapter with respect to a foreign
person who has engaged in activity subject to sanctions under
this chapter if the President certifies in writing to the
appropriate congressional committees that the foreign
person--
(A) is no longer engaging in such activities; or
(B) has taken and is continuing to take significant,
verifiable steps toward permanently terminating such
activities.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to affect the availability of any existing
authorities to issue waivers, exceptions, exemptions,
licenses, or other authorization.
SEC. 8709B. IMPLEMENTATION.
(a) Implementation.--The President may exercise all
authorities under sections 203 and 205 of the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) for
purposes of carrying out this chapter.
(b) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this
chapter or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry
out this chapter may be subject to the penalties set forth in
subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same
extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in
subsection (a) of that section.
SEC. 8709C. TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS AUTHORITIES.
The requirements and authorities to impose sanctions under
subchapters A, B, and C, and any sanctions imposed under
those subchapters, shall terminate on the date that is 10
years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
CHAPTER 2--OTHER MATTERS
SEC. 8710. DETERMINATION WITH RESPECT TO RUSSIAN MILITARY
ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF RUSSIAN SHADOW FLEET.
(a) In General.--The President may determine, at such times
as are required under subsection (b), whether--
(1) the Government of the Russian Federation, including
through any of its proxies, is engaged in or knowingly
supporting an escalation of military measures in the Gulf of
Finland, the Baltic Sea, or the Straits of Denmark, including
to deter members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
from inspecting vessels transporting Russian-origin petroleum
products or posing a threat to undersea infrastructure to
ensure such vessels are adhering to accepted maritime
standards; and
(2) if the President makes a positive determination under
paragraph (1), whether that escalation increases the risk of
an incident at sea, including damage to undersea cable
infrastructure.
(b) Timing of Determinations.--The President may make the
determination described in subsection (a)--
(1) not later than 15 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act;
(2) after the first determination under paragraph (1), not
less frequently than every 30 days (or more frequently as
warranted) during the 1-year period beginning on such date of
enactment; and
(3) after the end of that 1-year period, not less
frequently than every 90 days.
(c) Report Required.--Upon making a determination under
subsection (a), the President shall submit a report on the
determination to--
(1) the committees specified in subsection (d);
(2) the majority leader and the minority leader of the
Senate; and
(3) the Speaker and the minority leader of the House of
Representatives.
(d) Committees Specified.--The committees specified in this
subsection are--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of
the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 8710A. RESOURCES FOR SANCTIONS IMPLEMENTATION AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
sanctions are a vital foreign policy and national security
tool, and as such, it is critical that the Department and
other agencies with responsibilities relating to sanctions
across the executive branch--
(1) are fully staffed, including through the prompt
confirmation by the Senate of a qualified head of the Office
of Sanctions Coordination of the Department; and
(2) have the resources and infrastructure necessary for the
successful development and implementation of sanctions.
(b) Increasing Resources and Improving Modernization for
Sanctions Implementation.--The head of the Office of
Sanctions Coordination shall take steps to modernize the
sanctions infrastructure and increase resources dedicated to
implementing sanctions, including by--
(1) ensuring the Department has necessary subscriptions and
access to open-source databases for purposes of making
determinations to support the designation of persons for the
imposition of sanctions;
(2) equipping bureaus involved in drafting and reviewing
evidentiary packages to support such designations with
sufficient technical resources to do so, including an
adequate number of workstations that can be used to review
classified information; and
(3) increasing the number of personnel dedicated to making
and reviewing such designations.
(c) Report on Modernizations Efforts.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of
the Office of Sanctions Coordination shall submit to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
a report describing steps the Department is taking to address
challenges in the ability of the Department to support the
designation of persons for the imposition of sanctions.
(d) Authorizations of Appropriation.--
(1) Office of sanctions coordination.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Office of Sanctions Coordination
for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 $15,000,000 to carry
out this section.
(2) Office of foreign assets control.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Office of Foreign Assets Control of
the Department of the Treasury for each of fiscal years 2026
and 2027 $15,000,000 to carry out this section.
SEC. 8710B. MODIFICATION OF LIMITATION ON MILITARY
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
Section 1232 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 130 Stat. 2488) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsections (c) and (d); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively.
SEC. 8710C. EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE COUNTERING
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE FUND.
(a) Emergency Appropriations.--
(1) Authorization of appropriation.--There is authorized to
be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, $200,000,000 to the Secretary for
fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for the Countering Russian
Influence Fund to provide additional support to Ukraine and
allies of the United States in Central and Eastern Europe in
the wake of aggression by the Russian Federation, including
assistance combating Russian Federation information
operations, sabotage activities, cyber threats, and security
threats.
(2) Emergency designation.--
(A) In general.--The amounts provided under paragraph (1)
are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to
section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2
U.S.C. 933(g)).
(B) Designation in the senate and the house of
representatives.--This subsection is designated as an
emergency requirement pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of
section 4001 of S. Con. Res. 14 (117th Congress), the
concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2022.
(b) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report that contains a description of the
activities carried out pursuant to this section.
(2) Form.--The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex if necessary.
(c) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 8710D. REPORT ON PRESIDENTIAL DRAWDOWN AUTHORITY AND
UKRAINE SECURITY ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 30 days thereafter, the
Secretary and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that
includes--
(1) the status of remaining amounts available for Ukraine
under the Presidential drawdown authority provided in the
Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022
(Public Law 117-128; 136 Stat. 1211) and the Ukraine Security
Supplemental Appropriations Act (Public Law 118-50; 138 Stat.
905);
[[Page S3873]]
(2) a description of all defense articles and services
provided to Ukraine under Presidential drawdown authority,
Foreign Military Financing, and the Ukraine Security
Assistance Initiative under section 1250 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law
114-92; 129 Stat. 1068); and
(3) a description of the readiness requirements,
valuations, and replenishment calculations used to determine
the availability of inventory to transfer to Ukraine.
(b) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(5) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(6) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 8710E. SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE ARMS SALES.
For any letter of offer to sell or license to export
defense articles or defense services to Ukraine that would
require a numbered certification to Congress required by
section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776),
the President shall not offer such letter of offer or issue
such license until 15 days have elapsed from the time such
numbered certification is provided to Congress,
notwithstanding the requirements of such section for 30 days,
and any joint resolution of disapproval shall be eligible for
a motion to discharge from the Committee on Foreign Relations
of the Senate 5 days after introduction.
Subtitle B--Deterring Aggression Against Taiwan
SEC. 8711. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Deter PRC Aggression
Against Taiwan Act''.
SEC. 8712. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States must be
prepared to take immediate action to impose sanctions with
respect to any military or non-military entities owned,
controlled, or acting at the direction of the Government of
the PRC or the Chinese Communist Party that are supporting
actions by the Government of the PRC or by the Chinese
Communist Party--
(1) to overthrow or dismantle the governing institutions in
Taiwan;
(2) to occupy any territory controlled or administered by
Taiwan;
(3) to violate the territorial integrity of Taiwan; or
(4) to take significant action against Taiwan, including--
(A) conducting a naval blockade of Taiwan;
(B) seizing any outlying island of Taiwan; or
(C) perpetrating a significant physical or cyber attack on
Taiwan that erodes the ability of the governing institutions
in Taiwan to operate or provide essential services to the
citizens of Taiwan.
SEC. 8713. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' 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 Appropriations of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) PRC.--The term ``PRC'' means the People's Republic of
China.
(3) PRC sanctions task force; task force.--The terms ``PRC
Sanctions Task Force'' and ``Task Force'' mean the task force
established pursuant to section 8714.
SEC. 8714. TASK FORCE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Coordinator for Sanctions
of the Department and the Director of the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury shall
establish a task force to identify military or non-military
entities that could be subject to sanctions imposed by the
United States immediately following any action taken by the
PRC that demonstrates an attempt to achieve, or has the
significant effect of achieving, the physical or political
control of Taiwan, including by taking any of the actions
described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 8712.
(b) Strategy.--Not later than 270 days after the
establishment of the PRC Sanctions Task Force, the Task Force
shall submit a strategy to the appropriate congressional
committees for identifying proposed targets for sanctions
referred to in subsection (a), which shall--
(1) assess how existing sanctions programs could be used to
impose sanctions with respect to entities identified by the
Task Force;
(2) develop or propose, as appropriate, new sanctions
authorities that might be required to impose sanctions with
respect to such entities;
(3) analyze the potential economic consequences to the
United States, and to allies and partners of the United
States or other third countries, of imposing various types of
such sanctions with respect to such entities;
(4) assess measures that could be taken to mitigate the
consequences referred to in paragraph (3), including through
the use of licenses, exemptions, carve-outs, and other
approaches;
(5) include coordination with allies and partners of the
United States--
(A) to leverage sanctions, including actions targeting the
PRC's financial and industrial sectors to deter or respond to
aggression against Taiwan;
(B) to identify and resolve potential impediments to
coordinating sanctions-related efforts with respect to
responding to, or deterring aggression against, Taiwan; and
(C) to identify industries, sectors, or goods and services
where the United States and allies and partners of the United
States can take coordinated action through sanctions that
will have a significant negative impact on the economy of the
PRC; and
(D) to coordinate actions with partners and allies to
provide economic support to Taiwan and other countries being
threatened by the PRC, including measures to counter economic
coercion by the PRC;
(6) assess the resource gaps and needs at the Department
and the Department of the Treasury to most effectively use
sanctions to respond to the threats posed by the PRC;
(7) recommend how best to target sanctions against
individuals, entities, and economic sectors in the PRC, which
shall take into account--
(A) the role of such targets in supporting policies and
activities of the Government of the PRC, or of the Chinese
Communist Party, that pose a threat to the national security
or foreign policy interests of the United States;
(B) the negative economic implications of such sanctions
for the Government of the PRC, including its ability to
achieve its objectives with respect to Taiwan; and
(C) the potential impact of such sanctions on the stability
of the global financial system, including with respect to--
(i) state-owned enterprises;
(ii) officials of the Government of the PRC and of the
Chinese Communist Party;
(iii) financial institutions associated with the Government
of the PRC; and
(iv) companies in the PRC that are not formally designated
by the Government of the PRC as state-owned enterprises; and
(8) identify any foreign military or non-military entities
that would likely be used to achieve the outcomes specified
in section 8712, including entities in the shipping,
logistics, energy (including oil and gas), maritime,
aviation, ground transportation, and technology sectors.
SEC. 8715. REPORT.
Not later than 120 days after the submission of the
strategy required under section 8714(b), and semiannually
thereafter, the PRC Sanctions Task Force shall submit a
classified report to the appropriate congressional committees
that includes information regarding--
(1) any entities identified pursuant to section 8714(b)(8);
(2) any new authorities required to impose sanctions with
respect to such entities;
(3) potential economic impacts on the PRC, the United
States, and allies and partners of the United States or other
third countries resulting from the imposition of sanctions
with respect to such entities;
(4) mitigation measures that could be employed to limit any
deleterious economic impacts on the United States and allies
and partners of the United States or other third countries of
such sanctions;
(5) the status of coordination with allies and partners of
the United States regarding sanctions identified under this
subtitle;
(6) resource gaps and recommendations to enable the
Department and the Department of the Treasury to use
sanctions to more effectively respond to the malign
activities of the Government of the PRC; and
(7) any additional resources that may be necessary to carry
out the strategies and recommendations included in the report
submitted pursuant to section 8714(b).
SEC. 8716. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
As used in this subtitle, the term ``sanctions'' shall not
be construed to include tariffs.
Subtitle C--PEACE in Sudan
SEC. 8721. SHORT TITLES.
This subtitle may be cited as the `` `Preventing External
Aggression and Conflict Escalation in Sudan Act of 2026' ''
or the ``PEACE in Sudan Act''.
SEC. 8722. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to advance and protect the national security of the
United States, including by identifying, disrupting, and
dismantling the networks and actions of criminal and malign
actors who foment and benefit from instability, conflict,
humanitarian emergency, state failure, and ungoverned spaces;
(2) to utilize all available diplomatic and economic tools
to secure an end to the war in Sudan;
(3) to counter--
(A) malign foreign interference and external military
support to parties to the conflict in Sudan; and
(B) destabilizing regional and domestic actors who seek to
benefit from the continued conflict in Sudan;
(4) to promote efforts to bring about stability and
security in Sudan, including by addressing the humanitarian
suffering of the
[[Page S3874]]
Sudanese people and others impacted across Africa;
(5) to hold perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against
humanity, and genocide in Sudan accountable for their crimes;
(6) to advance and protect the internationally recognized
human rights of all Sudanese people, regardless of ethnicity,
religion, sex, or geographic area of origin; and
(7) to support the aspirations of the people of Sudan for a
political transition process that results in a civilian
government that--
(A) is democratic;
(B) is accountable;
(C) respects the internationally-recognized human rights of
its citizens; and
(D) is at peace with itself and its neighbors
SEC. 8723. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'',
``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given such
terms in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
(2) Aid or abet.--The term ``aid or abet'' means to
intentionally assist or encourage a person or persons to
commit a crime.
(3) Appropriate congressional committees.--Except as
provided in section 8727, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(4) Atrocity.--The term ``atrocity'' means war crimes,
crimes against humanity, or genocide.
(5) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(6) Genocide.--The term ``genocide'' means an offense
described in section 1091(a) of title 18, United States Code.
(7) International financial institution.--The term
``international financial institution'' means--
(A) the International Monetary Fund;
(B) the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development;
(C) the International Development Association;
(D) the International Finance Corporation;
(E) the Inter-American Development Bank Group;
(F) the Asian Development Bank;
(G) the Inter-American Investment Corporation;
(H) the African Development Bank;
(I) the African Development Fund;
(J) the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
(K) the Multilateral Investment Guaranty Agency; and
(L) any multilateral financial institution established
after the date of the enactment of this Act that could
provide financial assistance to the Government of Sudan.
(8) Non-state armed group.--The term ``non-state armed
group'' means any entity participating in, supporting, or
contributing to the conflict or commission of atrocities that
is not an organization of a foreign government, including
militia, armed groups, mercenaries, private military
contractors, and terrorist organizations.
(9) Quad.--The term ``Quad'' means the diplomatic grouping
of the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United
Arab Emirates that has been convening in an effort to mediate
an end to the conflict in Sudan.
(10) Quintet.--The term ``Quintet'' means the diplomatic
grouping of the African Union, the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development, the League of Arab States, the
European Union, and the United Nations.
(11) Torture.--The term ``torture'' has the meaning given
such a term in section 2340(1) of title 18, United States
Code.
(12) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen, an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence to the United States, or any other
individual subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;
and
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the United States
or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a
foreign branch of such an entity.
(13) War crime.--The term ``war crime''--
(A) has the meaning given such term in section 2441(c) of
title 18, United States Code; and
(B) includes sexual violence.
SEC. 8724. REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS AND GROUPS IN SUDAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and semiannually thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that includes--
(1) a comprehensive analysis of the involvement of foreign
governments by supporting, facilitating, or contributing to
the conflict and commission of atrocities in Sudan,
including--
(A) providing arms and materiel to the Sudanese Armed
Forces and the Rapid Support Forces;
(B) the estimated number of affiliated combatants and
support personnel in Sudan acting in support of the war
effort, including those who are engaged in active fighting,
training, and equipping;
(C) engagement in, or support for, drone and aircraft
strikes, and the training of combatants;
(D) the provision of financial, in-kind, or material
support to the Sudanese Armed Forces or the Rapid Support
Forces, including intelligence services or information
sharing
(E) the source, frequency, and scope of violations of the
United Nations arms embargo outlined in United Nations
Security Council Resolutions 1556 (2004) and 1591 (2005);
(F) instances of international travel by non-state armed
groups from Sudan for purposes other than structured
diplomatic negotiations; and
(G) actions that violate existing United States defense
cooperation agreements or designation as a major non-NATO
ally of the United States (as defined in section 644 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2403));
(2) a comprehensive analysis of the involvement of non-
state armed groups in supporting, facilitating, or
contributing to the conflict in Sudan and the commission of
atrocities in Sudan, which may include--
(A) the Wagner Group;
(B) the Sudan Revolutionary Front;
(C) the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood, including its al-Baraa
Bin Malik Brigade;
(D) the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Minni Minnawi;
(E) the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North-al Hilu;
(F) the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition;
(G) the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdul Wahid al-
Nur;
(H) the Sudanese Liberation Army, led by Malik Agar;
(I) the Sudan Liberation Movement - Transitional Council,
led by El-Hadi Idris Yahya;
(J) the Joint Security Forces, including the Justice and
Equality Movement;
(K) Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces, led by Al-Tahir
Hajar;
(L) the Central Reserve Forces;
(M) the Sudanese Awakening Revolutionary Council, led by
Musa Hilal;
(N) the Sudan Shield Forces;
(O) the Third Front (Tamazuj);
(P) Army 70;
(Q) the Tigray Defense Forces;
(R) the Desert Wolves;
(S) the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (also known as the
``Libyan National Army''); and
(T) the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development;
(3) an analysis of private and commercial activity
facilitating or benefitting from the war economy related to
the conflict in Sudan, within or outside Sudan, which may
include activity related to--
(A) port operations;
(B) aviation (including airlines and airports);
(C) ground transportation services;
(D) the mining, refining, processing, and trade of gold,
gum arabic, and other natural resources;
(E) private military companies;
(F) banking and financial services;
(G) cryptocurrency transactions;
(H) technology;
(I) military equipment; and
(J) weapons manufacturing; and
(4) an analysis of whether actions taken by a government of
a foreign country referred to in paragraph (1)--
(A) involves defense articles or defense services (as such
terms are defined in section 47 of the Arms Export Control
Act (22 U.S.C. 2794) of United States origin;
(B) violates the terms of applicable United States or end-
user assurances, licenses, or agreements; and
(C) violates the arms embargo designated by United Nation
Security Council Resolutions 1556 (2004), 1591 (2005), and
any successor Security Council Resolution for an arms embargo
on all or part of Sudan.
(b) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
(c) Briefing.--Not later than 15 days after the submission
of the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary or
the Secretary's designee, shall provide a briefing to the
appropriate congressional committees regarding the matters
contained in such report.
SEC. 8725. REPORT ON ATROCITIES AND GROSS VIOLATIONS OF
INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS IN
SUDAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and semiannually thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a comprehensive report regarding the conduct of,
support for, and perpetrators of gross violations of
internationally recognized human rights in Sudan since April
15, 2023.
(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include a description of--
(1) any atrocities and other gross violations of
internationally recognized human rights committed by the
Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, non-state
armed groups, other entities of the Government of Sudan, and
other individuals, which may include--
(A) the recruitment and use of child soldiers;
(B) the use of starvation and sexual violence as weapons of
war, including systematic rape, sexual slavery, and other
forms of sexual violence;
(C) the denial of humanitarian access, including the
obstruction of humanitarian assistance or the targeting of
aid workers;
(D) looting, occupation, or destruction of civilian
infrastructure, including religious sites, health facilities,
residential buildings, and schools;
[[Page S3875]]
(E) violations in the conduct of hostilities, summary
executions, the deliberate targeting of civilians, and
arbitrary detention;
(F) the systematic targeting of medical facilities and
medical personnel, emergency response rooms, or other
humanitarian initiatives;
(G) the deliberate targeting of places of worship; and
(H) ethnically motivated violence, including violence
against minority non-Arab communities and indigenous ethnic
groups of the Nuba Mountains; and
(2) the sanctions imposed in accordance with the Chemical
and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of
1991 (title III of Public Law 102-182; 22 U.S.C. 5601 et
seq.) and the continued monitoring of the use of chemical
weapons by the Government of Sudan.
(c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
SEC. 8726. STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Defense, shall
develop a comprehensive strategy to secure a ceasefire and
durable political settlement in Sudan. In developing such
strategy, the Secretary shall utilize all economic and
diplomatic tools available to the Department and the
Department of the Treasury, including the Office of Foreign
Assets Control, and enhance diplomatic, financial, and legal
measures to hold perpetrators of atrocities and other gross
violations of internationally recognized human rights
accountable.
(b) Elements.--The strategy required under subsection (a)
shall include a description of the Secretary's plans--
(1) to help end the conflict in Sudan, which may include--
(A)(i) determining the key actors who must be involved in
diplomatic negotiations to end the war;
(ii) supporting their sustained and credible participation
in such negotiations;
(iii) assessing the appropriate staffing needed within the
Department's Office of Sudan Affairs, including locally
employed staff and staff based in Ethiopia and Kenya, to
engage on coordinated diplomatic efforts to end the war in
Sudan;
(B) establishing a timeline for using diplomatic
engagement, intelligence diplomacy, security cooperation, and
foreign assistance, as appropriate, to secure the support of
allies and partners in finding diplomatic paths to end the
conflict in Sudan; and
(C) coordinating with the Quintet, the Quad, and other
international partners--
(i) to end the armed conflict in Sudan;
(ii) to protect civilians in Sudan;
(iii) to hold accountable perpetrators of atrocities and
other gross violations of internationally recognized human
rights; and
(iv) to seek an enduring diplomatic resolution to the
conflict;
(2) to cripple the war economy and abettor network;
(3) to collaborate with the Secretary of the Treasury to
hold perpetrators of atrocities in Sudan accountable for
their crimes;
(4) to counter foreign influence and military support to
the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which
exacerbates the conflict in Sudan; and
(5) to promote stability and alleviate human suffering in
Sudan, which may include--
(A) securing guarantees for unrestricted humanitarian
access to vulnerable populations and the implementation of
protection measures, including measures to provide trauma-
informed care and prevent human trafficking, sexual violence,
and the recruitment of child soldiers; and
(B) analyzing--
(i) how to most effectively leverage diplomatic and
assistance tools and incentivize strategic burden-sharing
with international partners to improve the humanitarian
conditions in Sudan;
(ii) requirements for rebuilding essential infrastructure
that has been destroyed in the conflict, including health
systems, education, and civilian infrastructure, and the role
to be played by the international community in such efforts;
(iii) how to engage in diplomatic efforts to ensure support
for humanitarian relief and recovery in Sudan from
international donors, including foreign governments and
multilateral organizations; and
(iv) how the United States, and other partners can work to
ensure the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers
and journalists in Sudan;
(6) to implement a comprehensive diplomatic approach toward
engagement with the countries bordering Sudan, in addition to
Kenya and Uganda, and regional institutions to address the
issues detailed in paragraphs (1) through (5); and
(7) to identify potential opportunities for United States
economic engagement and investment in a post-conflict Sudan
and the broader region that could support diplomatic efforts
to end the conflict, which may include--
(A) identifying opportunities for United States private
sector investment in Sudan's recovery and reconstruction,
including in sectors such as agriculture, energy, critical
minerals, infrastructure, and financial services;
(B) assessing mechanisms through which the United States
Government, including through the United States International
Development Finance Corporation and the United States Trade
and Development Agency, may support United States private
sector actors seeking to engage in Sudan and the broader
region;
(C) evaluating opportunities to deepen trade and investment
ties with countries neighboring Sudan as part of a broader
regional economic strategy that advances United States
interests and promotes stability for the region; and
(D) analyzing the manner in which United States economic
engagement in Sudan and the region can support the durability
of a credible peace agreement or cessation of hostilities,
and advance an economic order that prioritizes transparency,
accountability, and the long-term interests of the people of
Sudan.
(c) Submission.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees the strategy developed
pursuant to subsection (a) in an unclassified form, which
shall include the information described in subsection (b) and
may include a classified annex.
(d) Briefing.--Not later than 15 days after submitting the
strategy required under subsection (a), and every 90 days
thereafter, the Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, shall
brief the appropriate congressional committees regarding--
(1) the status of the implementation of such strategy; and
(2) any changes or updates based on evolving conditions in
Sudan.
SEC. 8727. ASSESSMENT OF ELIGIBILITY OF ARMED ACTORS IN SUDAN
FOR DESIGNATION AS SPECIALLY DESIGNATED GLOBAL
TERRORISTS.
(a) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(b) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Treasury, shall conduct an assessment to
determine whether any armed actor in Sudan meets the criteria
for designation as a specially designated global terrorist,
consistent with the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
(c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a classified report
containing--
(1) the results of the assessment conducted pursuant to
subsection (b); and
(2) a description of action the Secretary has planned based
on such results.
SEC. 8728. SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--The President may impose the sanctions
described in subsection (b) with respect to any foreign
person the President determines, on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act--
(1) to be responsible for, complicit in, or to have
directly or indirectly engaged in or facilitated--
(A) actions that threaten the peace, security, stability,
or territorial integrity of Sudan;
(B) the supply, sale, or transfer of arms or any related
materiel, or any assistance, advice, or training related to
military activities, other than advice or training on
compliance with the law of armed conflict, to--
(i) the Sudanese Armed Forces;
(ii) the Rapid Support Forces; or
(iii) non-State armed groups operating in Sudan;
(C) the use or recruitment of child soldiers;
(D) directing, leading, or enabling the presence of foreign
military forces or non-state armed groups in Sudan that have
engaged in actions that threaten the peace, security,
stability, or territorial integrity of Sudan;
(E) knowingly aiding or abetting Sudanese Armed Forces or
Rapid Support Forces by--
(i) providing financial or material support or a safe
haven; or
(ii) contributing to the concealment of their crimes;
(F) actions that obstruct, undermine, delay, or have the
purpose or effect of undermining a political process aimed at
securing a ceasefire, peace, or political resolution to the
conflict in Sudan;
(G) the commission of atrocities or other gross violations
of internationally recognized human rights (as defined in
section 1262 of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public Law
114-328; 22 U.S.C. 10101);
(H) the smuggling or trafficking of natural resources from
or through Sudan, including gold and gum arabic;
(I) actions that constitute a violation of the arms embargo
under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1556 (2004)
and 1591 (2005), including facilitating financial
transactions in furtherance of such actions or facilitating
any export, reexport, transshipment, or transfer in
furtherance of such actions;
(J) the targeting of civilians, including women and
children, through the commission of acts of violence
(including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other sexual
violence), abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on
schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where
civilians are seeking refuge or aid provided by domestic or
international actors;
(K) the obstruction of activities of, or attacks on, the
United Nations, bilateral or multilateral diplomatic
missions, or international humanitarian organizations, or
their personnel;
[[Page S3876]]
(L) the operation of private military companies that are
contributing to violence against civilians in Sudan;
(M) the obstruction of the delivery or distribution of, or
access to, humanitarian assistance, including by force,
intimidation, theft, coercion, or bureaucratic means;
(N) significant efforts to impede investigations or
prosecutions of alleged gross abuses of internationally
recognized human rights in Sudan; or
(O) actions or policies that obstruct, undermine, delay, or
impede, or pose a significant risk of obstructing,
undermining, delaying, or impeding, the formation or
operation of a civilian government;
(2)(A) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided
financial, material, or technological support for, or goods
or services to or in support of--
(i) any activity described in this section;
(ii) any person whose property and interests in property
are blocked pursuant to this section; or
(B) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or
purported to act for or on behalf of (directly or indirectly)
any person whose property and interests in property are
blocked pursuant to this section; or
(3) forms an entity for the purpose of evading sanctions
that would otherwise be imposed pursuant to this section.
(b) Sanctions; Exceptions.--
(1) Sanctions.--
(A) Asset blocking.--Notwithstanding section 202 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701),
the President may exercise all of the powers granted to the
President by such Act to the extent necessary to block and
prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in
property of a foreign person the President determines meets 1
or more of the criteria described in subsection (a) if such
property and interests in property are in the United States,
come within the United States, or are or come within the
possession or control of a United States person.
(B) Prohibitions on financial transactions.--
Notwithstanding the requirements under section 202 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701),
the President may exercise all powers granted to the
President by such Act to the extent necessary--
(i) to prohibit any United States financial institution
from making loans or providing credit to the foreign person;
or
(ii) to prohibit any transactions in foreign exchange that
are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and in
which the foreign person has any interest.
(C) Aliens inadmissible for visas, admission, or parole.--
(i) In general.--An alien described in subsection (a) is--
(I) inadmissible to the United States;
(II) ineligible for 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.).
(ii) Current visas revoked.--
(I) In general.--An alien described in subsection (a) is
subject to revocation of any visa or other entry
documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry
documentation was issued.
(II) Immediate effect.--A revocation under subclause (I)
shall take effect immediately and automatically cancel any
other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the
alien's possession.
(2) Penalties.--Any person that commits, attempts to
commit, conspires to commit, or causes the commission of an
action described in subsection (a) shall be subject to the
penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206
of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C.
1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful
act described in subsection (a) of such section.
(3) Implementation.--The President--
(A) 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; and
(B) shall issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as
may be necessary to carry out this section.
(4) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters
agreement.--Sanctions described in paragraph (1)(B) shall not
apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the
alien 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.
(5) Exception to comply with intelligence and law
enforcement activities.--Sanctions under this section shall
not apply to any activity subject to--
(A) the reporting requirements under title V of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) or any
authorized intelligence activities of the United States; or
(B) to carry out or assist any authorized law enforcement
activities of the United States.
(6) Exception for humanitarian assistance.--
(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
(i) 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).
(ii) 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).
(iii) 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).
(B) In general.--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, humanitarian assistance, or for humanitarian
purposes; or
(ii) transactions that are necessary for or related to any
activity described in clause (i).
SEC. 8729. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SUDAN.
Section 7204(d) of the Department of State Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (division G of Public Law 118-159;
22 U.S.C. 10001 note) is amended by striking ``2 years'' and
inserting ``5 years''.
SEC. 8730. ASSISTANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN BY
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Restrictions.--Except as provided in subsections (b)
and (c), the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the
United States Executive Director or the appropriate head of
the respective international financial institutions--
(1) to use the voice and vote of the United States in those
institutions to oppose any premature, new, long-term
reconstruction or capacity-building support for Sudan,
including support that would benefit a foreign person or
entity described in section 8728(a); and
(2) to work with other key donor countries to develop a
coordinated policy for lending to the Government of Sudan in
a post-conflict scenario, including firm benchmarks and
preconditions for lending.
(b) National Security Waiver.--The President may waive
application of subsection (a) if the President determines
such a waiver is in the national security interest of the
United States.
(c) Exception for Lifesaving Humanitarian Projects That
Directly Support Basic Human Needs.--The advocacy otherwise
required under subsection (a)(1) shall not apply to a
specific loan or extension of financial assistance that has
the sole purpose of supporting lifesaving humanitarian
projects that directly support basic human needs, including
emergency food, shelter, health, water, sanitation, and
hygiene.
SEC. 8731. SUDAN BUSINESS RISK ADVISORY.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall update its Sudan Business Risk
Advisory, which was originally issued in May 2022 and updated
in May 2023, which may include--
(1) updates to the information regarding gold from Sudan as
a mineral from a conflict-affected area, including the role
of foreign governments in the supply chain for Sudanese gold;
(2) information with respect to the supply chain for
Sudanese gum arabic, its role in fueling the conflict in
Sudan, and nefarious actors involved in smuggling gum arabic
through Chad, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan;
and
(3) risks associated with conducting business with entities
connected to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support
Forces, or non-state armed groups;
SEC. 8732. UNITED STATES ENGAGEMENT AT THE UNITED NATIONS
WITH RESPECT TO SUDAN.
The United States Mission to the United Nations shall
assess--
(1) the need for additional coordination between the United
States, the United Nations Security Council, the European
Union, and other partner countries' sanctions regimes;
(2) if the mandate of the United Nations Panel of Experts
on the Sudan (established by United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1591 (2005) and most recently extended by United
Nations Security Council Resolution 2791 (2025)) is
sufficient to enable it to fully and accurately report to the
United Nations Security Council on issues related to war,
including with respect to violations of the United Nations
arms embargo; and
(3) the need to work with other United Nations Security
Council members to expand the United Nations arms embargo for
Sudan.
SEC. 8733. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO SUDAN.
(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
United States assistance may not be furnished to Sudan if
such assistance--
(1) provides financial or capacity building support
directly to Government of Sudan institutions;
(2) supports debt relief through the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries Initiative to restructure, reschedule, or cancel
the sovereign debt of Sudan; or
(3) is security assistance.
(b) National Security Waiver.--The President may waive
application of subsection (a) if the President determines
that such a waiver is in the national security interest of
the United States.
(c) Annual Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture
and other relevant departments and agencies, shall submit a
report to the appropriate congressional committees that
details all United States foreign assistance to Sudan.
[[Page S3877]]
SEC. 8734. ANNUAL REPORT ON FINANCIAL ASSETS HELD BY ARMED
ACTORS IN SUDAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the
Secretary, shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that includes--
(1) a list of all countries and foreign banking
institutions that hold assets on behalf of senior officials
in the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, and
the General Intelligence Service; and
(2) how foreign actors are profiting from the war in Sudan
through various business sectors.
(b) Form.--Each report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
SEC. 8735. TERMINATION.
The requirements under sections 8724, 8725, 8726, 8730,
8733, and 8734 shall terminate on the date that is 30 days
after the Secretary submits to the appropriate congressional
committees a certification that--
(1) a credible and durable peace agreement, cessation of
hostilities, or other end to hostilities has been achieved
and verified by the Secretary; and
(2) the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces,
and any other body or institution of the Government of Sudan
are no longer committing atrocities.
SEC. 8736. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this subtitle may be construed to authorize the
use of military force.
SEC. 8737. SUNSET.
This subtitle 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.
Subtitle D--Scam Compound Accountability and Mobilization
SEC. 8741. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Scam Compound
Accountability and Mobilization Act''.
SEC. 8742. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Transnational cyber-enabled fraud, particularly such
fraud that is perpetrated from scam compounds in Southeast
Asia, is a growing threat to citizens of the United States,
national security, and global economic interests.
(2) The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported
$17,697,074,980 in losses in the United States due to cyber-
enabled fraud during 2025, including schemes commonly
perpetrated by transnational criminal organizations that are
operating scam compounds.
(3) Annual global losses due to cyber-enabled fraud are
estimated at between $40,000,000,000 and $65,000,000,000, but
the actual amount is likely higher since many instances are
not reported.
(4) Transnational criminal organizations responsible for a
large proportion of these scam compounds--
(A) are affiliated with the People's Republic of China;
(B) are actively spreading propaganda on behalf of the
People's Republic of China;
(C) are promoting unification with Taiwan; and
(D) have brokered projects for the Belt and Road
Initiative.
(5) Transnational criminal organizations have lured
hundreds of thousands of human trafficking victims from an
estimated 80 countries to scam compounds, which are located
primarily in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos, for purposes of
forced criminality.
(6) Transnational criminal organizations are expanding scam
compounds internationally, including in Africa, the Middle
East, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
(7) Money laundering, human trafficking, and fraudulent
recruitment related to such scam compounds have occurred in
Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
SEC. 8743. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should redouble efforts to hold the
perpetrators and enablers of scam compound operations
accountable, including those involved in related money
laundering, human trafficking, and fraudulent recruitment, by
employing effective tools, such as targeted financial
sanctions, visa restrictions, asset seizures, prosecutions,
and forfeiture;
(2) to enhance effective international cooperation and
responses against cyber-enabled fraud originating from scam
compounds internationally, the United States Government
should work with partner governments, multilateral
institutions, civil society experts, and private sector
stakeholders to improve information sharing, strengthen
preventative measures, raise public awareness, and increase
coordination on law enforcement investigations and regulatory
actions; and
(3) victims and survivors of human trafficking, including
for the purpose of forced criminality, require victim-
centered and trauma-informed protection and support to ensure
they are not inappropriately prosecuted, penalized, or
otherwise punished solely for unlawful acts committed as a
direct result of being trafficked, consistent with section
102(b)(19) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
(22 U.S.C. 7101(b)(19)).
SEC. 8744. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It shall be the policy of the United States--
(1) to comprehensively combat the transnational criminal
organizations operating scam compounds and exploiting
workers, including through human trafficking, such as forced
criminality, to perpetrate large-scale online scams against
the people of the United States; and
(2) to bolster international law enforcement cooperation
with nations in Southeast Asia and in other regions where
scam compounds and associated financial and operational
infrastructures are located to combat transnational crime,
including scam compounds, human trafficking, narcotics
trafficking, and money laundering.
SEC. 8745. DEFINITIONS.
(a) In General.--In this subtitle:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of
the Senate;
(D) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(E) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(F) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(G) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives;
(H) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(I) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives; and
(J) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Cyber-enabled fraud.--The term ``cyber-enabled fraud''
means the use of the internet or other technology to commit
fraudulent activity, including illicitly obtaining money,
property, data, identification documents, or authentication
features, or creating counterfeit goods or services.
(3) Enabling country.--The term ``enabling country'' means
a country where--
(A) government authorities actively or implicitly permit,
enable, or perpetuate scam compound operations; or
(B) ineffective law enforcement or a failure to enact
legislation intended to prevent facilitating services from
reaching scam compounds or transnational criminal
organizations enables scam compound operators to obtain
facilitating services.
(4) Forced criminality.--The term ``forced criminality''
means a form of forced labor for the purpose of causing the
victim to engage in criminal activity, which may include
cyber-enabled fraud.
(5) Forced labor.--The term ``forced labor'' has the
meaning given the term severe forms of trafficking in persons
in section 103(11)(B) of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(11)(B)).
(6) Relevant foreign assistance programs.--The term
``relevant foreign assistance programs''--
(A) means foreign assistance programs funded by the United
States Government to provide assistance for one or more
foreign countries for the purpose of combating scam compound
operations and related transnational criminal organizations
as well as combating associated human trafficking; and
(B) excludes intelligence activities, including activities
authorized by the President and reported to Congress in
accordance with section 503 of the National Security Act of
1947 (50 U.S.C. 3093).
(7) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking'' has
the meaning given the term severe forms of trafficking in
persons in section 103(11) of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102(11)).
(8) Human trafficking victim.--The terms ``human
trafficking victim'' and ``victim of human trafficking'' mean
a person subject to an act or practice described in section
103(11) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22
U.S.C. 7102(11)).
(9) Impacted country.--The term ``impacted country'' means
a country that is a significant--
(A) transit location through which victims of human
trafficking pass en route to scam compounds;
(B) source location for victims of human trafficking for
scam compounds; or
(C) target of cyber-enabled fraud originating from scam
compounds.
(10) Scam compound.--The term ``scam compound'' means a
physical installation where a transnational criminal
organization carries out cyber-enabled fraud operations,
using victims who may be exploited through human trafficking,
including forced criminality.
(11) Strategy.--The term ``Strategy'' means the strategy to
counter scam compounds and hold transnational criminal
organizations and human traffickers accountable described in
section 8746.
(12) Transnational criminal organization.--The term
``transnational criminal organization'' means a group of
persons that--
(A) includes one or more foreign person;
(B) engages in or facilitates an ongoing pattern of serious
criminal activity involving the jurisdictions of at least two
foreign states or one foreign state and the United States;
and
(C) threatens the national security, foreign policy, or
economy of the United States.
[[Page S3878]]
(b) Rule of Construction.--The definitions under this
section are exclusive to this subtitle and may not be
construed to affect any other provision of United States law.
SEC. 8746. STRATEGY TO COUNTER SCAM COMPOUNDS AND HOLD
TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS AND HUMAN
TRAFFICKERS ACCOUNTABLE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with
the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
heads of other Federal departments and agencies as
appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a comprehensive strategy, with a classified annex
if necessary, that--
(1) is designed--
(A) to shut down scam compounds and prevent their further
proliferation;
(B) to disrupt and dismantle--
(i) transnational criminal organizations and human
traffickers involved in exploiting workers in, and
fraudulently recruiting workers to, scam compounds; and
(ii) the financial, operational, and technological
infrastructure that enables such criminal enterprises to
execute their scams and crimes; and
(C) to hold accountable corrupt officials and non-state
actors enabling scam compounds;
(2) is global in scope and fosters cooperation among
officials from affected regions; and
(3) may prioritize efforts focused on countries where scam
compound operations are most prevalent, including Southeast
Asia.
(b) Objectives.--The Strategy shall seek to accomplish the
following objectives:
(1) Reducing the ability of transnational criminal
organizations to operate scam compounds in Southeast Asia and
elsewhere.
(2) Building the capacity of efforts related to digital
forensics, anti-money laundering and investigative tools,
anti-corruption, and border patrol, of trusted foreign law
enforcement partners to degrade, disrupt, and shut down scam
compounds and prevent their proliferation.
(3) Supporting victims of human trafficking, including
those exploited in forced criminality under the direction of
the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in
Persons.
(4) Preventing fraudulent recruitment and human trafficking
in scam compounds, including by--
(A) engaging private sector entities operating internet
platforms or other services that could be abused or exploited
to perpetrate fraudulent recruitment, human trafficking or
cyber-enabled fraud;
(B) raising awareness among at-risk populations to identify
common fraudulent recruitment strategies and improve due
diligence and self-protection measures;
(C) urging governments to monitor and enforce laws against
fraudulent and unlawful recruitment practices; and
(D) sharing information and building capacity among foreign
counterparts, including law enforcement, border and port
officials, and other anti-trafficking authorities, as well as
civil society organizations to identify and protect potential
human trafficking victims.
(5) Advocating for the thorough review of countries
implicated in scam compound operations at the Financial
Action Task Force (FATF) or FATF-style regional bodies.
(6) Examining existing authorities and procedures of the
United States Government for recovering and returning
proceeds of crime to defrauded United States persons.
(7) Using sanctions, visa restrictions, and other
accountability and behavioral change measures, in
coordination with allies and partners to the greatest extent
possible, against enabling countries, transnational criminal
organizations, human traffickers, and related third-party
facilitators of scam compound operations.
(8) Investigating and highlighting the People's Republic of
China's involvement in the origin and perpetuation of scam
compounds, including through links between Chinese Communist
Party officials and criminal organizations, deepening
regional security influence, and selective crackdowns that
incentivize the targeting of Americans.
(9) Investigating the Burmese military's involvement in
allowing, ignoring, and profiting from scam compounds in
Burma, and the importance of resolving the instability and
violence in Burma to stop the unfettered operation of scam
compounds in Burma.
(10) Harnessing offensive cyber capabilities to degrade
scam compound operations.
(11) Integrating data collection, analysis, and response
mechanisms across Federal, Tribal, territorial, State, and
local agencies, including by assessing if any existing
relevant Fusion Centers could be leveraged to combat the
operations of scam compounds.
(12) Convening like-minded foreign allies and partners to
combat scam compounds, including by establishing similar task
forces or working groups, compiling and sharing data, and
collaborating regarding the investigation and prosecution of
key actors and enablers.
(c) Contents.--The Strategy shall--
(1) include a comprehensive problem statement identifying
the structural vulnerabilities exploited by transnational
criminal organizations operating scam compounds;
(2) develop a comprehensive list of enabling countries and
impacted countries;
(3) identify private sector entities whose commercial
services are utilized by transnational criminal organizations
operating scam compounds and provide recommendations to
address such use;
(4) identify all active executive branch relevant foreign
assistance programs as well as diplomatic efforts underway to
address scam compounds, transnational criminal organizations
connected to scam compounds, and related money laundering,
and human trafficking, including forced criminality,
including efforts with enabling countries and impacted
countries;
(5) identify resources needed to implement the Strategy and
any obstacles to the response of the Federal Government to
scam compounds, including coordination with partner
governments, to address the human trafficking, including
forced criminality, and money laundering that facilitates and
sustains scam compound operations; and
(6) include indicators that measure the success of the
Strategy, including achieving the objectives described in
subsection (b), which may include the number of persons
sanctioned, the number of arrest warrants or indictments
issued, the number of arrests made, the amount of United
States losses mitigated, the number of victims of trafficking
in persons identified and protected, and the reduction in the
number of active scam compounds, in comparison to the
previous year.
(d) Limitation.--Nothing in the Strategy may--
(1) affect, apply to, or create obligations related to
past, present, or future criminal or civil law enforcement or
intelligence activities of the United States or the law
enforcement activities of any State or subdivision of a
State; or
(2) change existing authorities related to the sharing of
personally identifiable information or the collection or
sharing of information about individuals solely for
constitutionally protected activities.
SEC. 8747. ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO IMPLEMENT THE
STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after submitting
the Strategy pursuant to section 8746(a), the Secretary, in
consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the
Treasury, and the heads of other Federal departments and
agencies, shall establish or designate an interagency task
force (referred to in this section as the ``Task Force'')--
(1) to coordinate the implementation of the Strategy;
(2) to conduct regular monitoring and analysis of scam
compound operations internationally; and
(3) to track and evaluate progress toward the objectives,
activities, and performance indicators of the Strategy.
(b) Information Sharing.--To ensure proper coordination and
effective interagency action, each Federal department or
agency represented on the Task Force shall fully share--
(1) all relevant data with the Task Force, consistent with
existing Federal law; and
(2) all information regarding the department's or agency's
plans, before and after final agency decisions are made, on
all matters relating to actions regarding combating scam
compounds to the extent that sharing of information does not
violate protocols or regulations regarding sharing of law
enforcement sensitive or classified information.
(c) Consultation.--The Task Force, or representatives of
the Task Force, should--
(1) consult with Tribal, State, territorial, and local law
enforcement entities and stakeholder organizations in the
United States that have firsthand expertise in reporting and
combating cyber-enabled fraud and recovering proceeds of
crimes;
(2) consult regularly with nongovernmental organizations in
the United States with expertise in countering trafficking in
persons or anti-corruption, as appropriate;
(3) develop partnerships with relevant private sector
actors for the purpose of better disrupting the enabling
infrastructure of scam compounds, operations, and syndicates;
and
(4) engage civil society organizations to better understand
the complexity of the scam compound problem in each country
and the broader economic, political, and governance
challenges that are exacerbating the problem.
(d) Congressional Consultation.--The Task Force shall
consult regularly with the appropriate congressional
committees on its efforts to implement the Strategy,
including potential updates to the Strategy.
(e) Annual Reviews and Reports.--Not later than 1 year
after the establishment of the Task Force, and not less
frequently than annually thereafter, the Task Force shall--
(1) conduct a status review of the Strategy and the overall
state of scam compounds operated by transnational criminal
organizations that includes--
(A) a list of enabling countries and impacted countries;
(B) an estimate of the amount of proceeds of crimes against
United States nationals through scams emanating from scam
compounds;
(C) an estimate of the amount of proceeds described in
subparagraph (B) that was intercepted, seized, or returned as
a result of United States Government action;
(D) an analysis of the role that human trafficking plays in
scam compounds around the world;
(E) a list of known scam compounds operating across
Southeast Asia; and
[[Page S3879]]
(F) a description of if, where, and how scam compounds and
operations have proliferated outside of Southeast Asia across
other regions of the world; and
(2) submit the results of such review in a public report to
the appropriate congressional committees, which may contain a
classified annex.
(f) Task Force Termination.--The Task Force shall terminate
on the date that is 6 years after the date on which the Task
Force is established.
SEC. 8748. STRENGTHENING TOOLS TO DISMANTLE SCAM COMPOUNDS
AND HOLD TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS
ACCOUNTABLE.
(a) Imposition of Sanctions With Respect to Actors in Scam
Compound Operations.--Beginning on the date that is 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President
may impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with
respect to any foreign person the President determines--
(1) has knowingly provided significant financial or
technological support to, or knowingly provided significant
goods or services in support of, the activities of
international scam compounds or enabling services, including,
but not limited to, fraudulent recruitment, human trafficking
(including forced criminality), cyber-enabled fraud, or
money-laundering; or
(2) owned, controlled, directed, or acted for, or on behalf
of, a significant scam compound operation or enabling
service, including, but not limited to, fraudulent
recruitment, human trafficking (including forced
criminality), cyber-enabled fraud, or money-laundering.
(b) Sanctions Described.--
(1) Asset blocking.--The President may exercise all powers
granted to the President 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 all
property and interests in property of a foreign person
described in subsection (a), including, to the extent
appropriate, the vessel of which the person is the beneficial
owner, if such property or 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) Visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) In general.--An alien described in subsection (a) is--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible for 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.--An alien described in subsection (a) is
subject to revocation of any visa or other entry
documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry
documentation was issued.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under clause (i) shall
take effect immediately and automatically cancel any other
valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien's
possession.
(c) Exceptions.--
(1) Exception to comply with international obligations and
law enforcement activities.--Sanctions described in
subsection (b)(2) shall not apply with respect to the
admission of an alien if admitting or paroling such alien
into the United States is necessary--
(A) 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; or
(B) to carry out or assist with authorized law enforcement
activities in the United States.
(2) Exception to comply with intelligence activities.--
Sanctions authorized under this section shall not apply with
respect to 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 any authorized intelligence activities of
the United States.
(3) Exception for human trafficking victims.--Sanctions
described in subsection (b) shall not apply with respect to a
person determined by the President to be a victim of
trafficking in persons within a scam compound, consistent
with section 102(b)(19) of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101(b)(19)).
(4) Exception for unwitting participation.--Sanctions
described in subsection (b) shall not apply with respect to a
foreign person if the President determines--
(A) the foreign person's involvement in a scam compound or
a scam compound operation was without knowledge of its
criminal nature; or
(B) the foreign person did not knowingly or willingly
participate in, or provide significant support for, such
operation.
(d) 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.--The penalties set forth in subsections (b)
and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to any
person who violates, attempts to violate, conspires to
violate, or causes a violation of any prohibition of this
section, or an order or regulation prescribed under this
section, to the same extent that such penalties apply to a
person that commits an unlawful act described in section
206(a) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1705(a)).
(e) Semiannual Report.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days
thereafter for 7 years, the President shall submit a report
to the appropriate congressional committees that identifies--
(1) all foreign persons the President has sanctioned
pursuant to this section; and
(2) the dates on which such sanctions were imposed.
(f) Form.--The report required under subsection (e) shall
be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
(g) Waiver.--
(1) In general.--The President may waive the application of
sanctions under this section with respect to a foreign person
or a foreign financial institution if the President
determines that such waiver is in the national interest of
the United States.
(2) Report.--Not later than 15 days before granting a
waiver pursuant to paragraph (1), the President shall submit
a report to the appropriate congressional committees that
includes--
(A) the name of the individual or institution that is
benefitting from such waiver; and
(B) if the beneficiary is an individual, a detailed
justification explaining how the waiver serves the national
security interests of the United States.
(3) Form.--The report required under paragraph (2) shall be
submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
SEC. 8749. REDRESS TO VICTIMS OF INTERNATIONAL SCAM COMPOUND
OPERATIONS.
(a) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation
with the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies,
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report containing an assessment of existing forfeiture law
that--
(1) outlines challenges or limitations to providing
financial redress to victims of international scam compound
operations; and
(2) offers recommendations, if any, to amend existing
forfeiture law to better enable the Department of Justice to
recover assets that may be used to compensate United States
victims of scam operations.
(b) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in an unclassified form.
SEC. 8750. SATELLITE IMAGERY ACCESS TO MONITOR HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES RELATED TO SCAM COMPOUNDS TO DISCOVER
THE PRESENCE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
(a) Access to Satellite Imagery.--The Director of the
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, in coordination
with, or at the request of, the Secretary, may provide
nongovernmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, and
intergovernmental entities access to current and archival
high-resolution satellite imagery, subject to appropriate
classification and information security requirements, to help
advance efforts to combat scam compounds, forced criminality,
and human trafficking, including monitoring and documenting
observable activities at scam compounds in Southeast Asia,
which may be associated with human trafficking, including
forced labor or forced criminality.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the appropriate congressional committees that includes--
(1) any terms and conditions applicable with respect to the
access authorized under subsection (a); and
(2) a list of each organization or entity that has been
provided access pursuant to subsection (a).
(c) Form.--The report required under subsection (b) shall
be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
SEC. 8750A. SUNSET.
This subtitle shall cease to be effective beginning on the
date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
Subtitle E--Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026
SEC. 8751. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Strategic Subsea Cables
Act of 2026''.
SEC. 8752. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given the
term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Select Committee
on Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary, and
[[Page S3880]]
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Appropriate federal agencies.--The term ``appropriate
Federal agencies'' means the following:
(A) The Department of Commerce.
(B) The Department of Defense.
(C) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
(D) The Department.
(E) The Federal Communications Commission.
(F) The Department of the Treasury.
(G) The Department of Justice.
(H) Any additional Federal agencies, as determined by the
President.
(4) Critical undersea infrastructure.--The term ``critical
undersea infrastructure'' refers to both subsea
communications infrastructure and subsea energy
infrastructure.
(5) Interagency committee.--The term ``interagency
committee'' means the entity established under section
8762(b).
(6) Non-federal entity.--The term ``non-Federal entity''
means any nongovernmental entity that is an individual,
organization, or business involved in the operation,
maintenance, repair, or construction of critical undersea
infrastructure, including critical undersea infrastructure
owners.
(7) Sabotage.--The term ``sabotage'' means any act, or
attempt to commit such an act, undertaken with the intent to
cause damage to, or substantial interruption or impairment
of, the safe and reliable operation of, critical undersea
infrastructure, including by materially degrading the
confidentiality, availability, and integrity of data
transmitted via subsea communications infrastructure.
(8) Subsea energy infrastructure.--The term ``subsea energy
infrastructure'' means a subsea cable, pipeline, or other
equipment installed on, beneath, or within the seabed,
including--
(A) to transmit electricity, including via subsea
electricity cables, subsea electricity transformers, or
equipment related to the support of offshore energy
production installations;
(B) to transport natural gas, oil, or hydrogen between
land-based or off-shore infrastructure; and
(C) associated landing stations and facilities.
(9) Subsea communications infrastructure.--The term
``subsea communications infrastructure'' has the meaning
given the term ``submarine cable system'' in section
1.70001(h) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, and any
subsequent update to such meaning.
PART I-- INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION AND ENGAGEMENT ON CRITICAL UNDERSEA
INFRASTRUCTURE
SEC. 8753. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Sabotage of critical undersea infrastructure poses a
growing threat to United States and allied security and
economic prosperity.
(2) In recent years, numerous critical undersea
infrastructure sites were destroyed or damaged, including--
(A) in January 2022, the reported damage to subsea
communications infrastructure connecting the Norwegian
mainland with the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, home of
SvalSAT, the largest commercial satellite ground station on
Earth;
(B) in February 2023, the reported damage to subsea
communications infrastructure connecting the main island of
Taiwan to the Matsu Islands in the Taiwan Strait;
(C) in October 2023, the reported damage to the Finland-to-
Estonia Balticconnector natural gas pipeline spanning the
Gulf of Finland, in addition to the reported damage to subsea
communications cables connecting Estonia and Sweden and
Finland and Estonia;
(D) in November 2024, the reported damage to the Finland-
to-Germany C-Lion1 subsea communications cables and the
Lithuania-to-Sweden BCS subsea communications cable in the
central Baltic Sea;
(E) in December 2024, the reported damage to the Finland-
to-Estonia EstLink2 subsea electricity interconnection cable
and nearby subsea communications cables in the Gulf of
Finland;
(F) in January 2025, the reported damage to the Trans-
Pacific Express subsea communications cable connecting Taiwan
to the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan;
(G) in February 2025, the reported damage to a subsea
communications cable connecting the main island of Taiwan
with the Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait;
(H) in January 2026, the reported damage to subsea
communications cables from Latvia in the Central Baltic Sea
linking Liepaja and Sventoji; and
(I) in January 2026, the reported damage to the Elisa cable
connecting Finland and Estonia involving a vessel named the
Fitburg.
(3) In February 2024, NATO Defense Ministers established
the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Network to coordinate
information and threat intelligence sharing among private and
public sector actors to protect critical undersea
infrastructure.
(4) In January 2025, following critical undersea
infrastructure sabotage in the Baltic Sea in December 2024,
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched Baltic
Sentry to strengthen the protection of critical undersea
infrastructure.
(5) On February 21, 2025, the European Union published an
EU Action Plan on Cable Security to include the development
and deployment of an Integrated Surveillance Mechanism for
Submarine cables work to establish a dedicated regional hub
in the Baltic Sea to serve as a test bed of the integrated
surveillance approach.
(6) The Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN)
published guidelines for Strengthening Resilience and Repair
of Submarine Cables and most recently announced plans to
``build a secure, diverse and resilient submarine cable
network'' and ``to facilitate the expeditious deployment,
repair, maintenance, removal, and protection of submarine
cables, between ASEAN Member States''.
(7) On July 1, 2025, the Quad, represented by the United
States, India, Japan, and Australia, met to reaffirm its
commitment to the Quad Partnership on Cable Connectivity and
Resilience. In the meeting, the Quad underscored the need for
digital infrastructure collaboration, organizing a subsea
cables forum to be hosted by the United States and India and
encouraging regulatory harmonization between Quad partners.
Through this initiative, the Quad seeks to defend and promote
resilient, secure, and transparent digital infrastructure
across the Indo-Pacific region.
SEC. 8754. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) critical undersea infrastructure represents vital
strategic and economic links between the United States and
its partners and allies;
(2) according to NATO, ``undersea cables carry an estimated
$10 trillion in transfers every day; two-thirds of the
world's oil and gas is either extracted at sea or transported
by sea; and around 95 percent of global data flows are
transmitted via undersea cables'';
(3) since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022,
there has been a marked increase in high-profile suspected
sabotage incidents resulting in damage to critical undersea
infrastructure, especially across Northern Europe and East
Asia;
(4) private sector owners and operators of critical
undersea infrastructure are responsible for the installation,
maintenance, security, and repair of critical undersea
infrastructure, and the role of the United States Government
is to support, not supplant, those responsibilities through
domestic and international coordination, including with the
private sector and allied foreign governments, to improve
security, threat detection, and incident response to address
sabotage and policies that undermine critical undersea
infrastructure resilience;
(5) the United States Government has an important role to
play in supporting international bodies concerned with the
protection of critical undersea infrastructure, including
promoting network resilience and redundancy, and encouraging
the implementation of appropriate standards and best
practices in support of these goals;
(6) the United States Government should deepen its
contribution to multilateral efforts to protect critical
undersea infrastructure, including appropriate participation
in NATO initiatives such as the NATO Maritime Centre for the
Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure, the Critical
Undersea Infrastructure Coordination Cell, the Critical
Undersea Infrastructure Network, and the NATO-EU Task Force
on the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure, allied maritime
security efforts such as the Joint Expeditionary Force, Indo-
Pacific initiatives, including the Quad Partnership for Cable
Connectivity and Resilience, and international organizations
such as the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC),
in order to advance United States national security and
economic interests; and
(7) the United States should work with allies and partners
to support the private sector deployment of resilient
critical undersea infrastructure networks, enhance shared
situational awareness, strengthen joint preparedness, and
formalize coordinated responses among allies and partners
through improved information sharing and cooperation with
private sector owners and operators to prevent, deter, and
mitigate sabotage.
SEC. 8755. ENHANCING UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT WITH
RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL BODIES TO SAFEGUARD
UNITED STATES INTERESTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
interagency committee, as appropriate, shall seek to deepen
United States Government engagement with relevant
international bodies to advance United States national
security and economic interests as it relates to critical
undersea infrastructure.
(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years,
the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that includes the following:
(1) A description of how strengthened United States
Government engagement with relevant international bodies,
including in coordination with the United States domestic
subsea cable industry, could support United States national
security objectives as it relates to the protection of
critical undersea infrastructure.
(2) A description of key objectives for promoting and
protecting United States national security interests within
relevant international bodies.
[[Page S3881]]
(3) A description of how the People's Republic of China
entities leverage their engagement with relevant
international bodies to further their strategic interests.
(4) A description of how encouraging other countries and
regional bodies to engage with relevant international bodies
can better ensure coordinated, consistent global critical
undersea infrastructure policies.
(5) A description of international bodies relevant for
critical undersea infrastructure where the United States
should increase its diplomatic engagement.
SEC. 8756. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CRITICAL
UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE SABOTAGE.
(a) In General.--The President, in coordination with the
Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury, shall impose the
sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to any
foreign person that the President determines, on or after the
date of the enactment of this Act, is responsible for acts of
sabotage or knowingly facilitates acts of sabotage against
critical undersea infrastructure, including--
(1) any foreign vessel or entity the owner or operator of
which knowingly--
(A) commits acts of sabotage; or
(B) conducts preparatory surveillance, logistical support,
security, or other services that facilitate or enable an act
of sabotage; and
(2) any foreign person that the President determines
knowingly--
(A) owns, operates, or manages the vessel or entity
described in paragraph (1);
(B) provides underwriting services or insurance or
reinsurance necessary for such a vessel or entity;
(C) facilitates deceptive or structured transactions to
support a vessel or entity described in paragraph (1);
(D) provides port or logistics services or facilities for
technology upgrades or installation of equipment for, or
retrofitting or tethering of, a vessel described in paragraph
(1) for the purpose of evading sanctions;
(E) provides documentation, registration, or flagging
services for a vessel described in paragraph (1) for the
purpose of evading sanctions; or
(F) serves as a captain, principal officer, or senior
leadership of such a vessel or entity.
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President may exercise all
of the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary
to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and
interests in property of a foreign person described in
subsection (a), if such property and interests in property
are in the United States, come within the United States, or
are or come within the possession or control of a United
States person.
(2) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien described in
subsection (a) 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 visa or other entry documentation of
an alien described in subsection (a) shall be revoked,
regardless of when such visa or other entry documentation is
or was issued.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under clause (i)
shall--
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry
documentation that is in the possession of the alien.
(c) 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.--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 any
person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to
violate, or causes a violation of any prohibition of this
section, or an order or regulation prescribed under this
section, to the same extent that such penalties apply to a
person that commits an unlawful act described in section
206(a) of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1705(a)).
(d) Exceptions.--
(1) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters
agreement and law enforcement activities.--Sanctions under
this section shall not apply with respect to an alien if
admitting or paroling the alien is necessary--
(A) to permit the United States to comply with the
Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force
November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United
States, or other applicable international obligations of the
United States; or
(B) to carry out or assist authorized law enforcement
activity in the United States.
(2) Exception to comply with intelligence activities.--
Sanctions under this section shall not apply to 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 any
authorized intelligence activities of the United States.
(3) Exception for humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions under
this section shall not apply to--
(A) 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
(B) transactions that are necessary for or related to the
activities described in subparagraph (A).
(4) Exception for safety of vessels and crew.--Sanctions
under this section shall not apply with respect to a person
providing provisions to a vessel otherwise subject to
sanctions under this section if such provisions are intended
for the safety and care of the crew aboard the vessel, the
protection of human life aboard the vessel, or the
maintenance of the vessel to avoid any environmental or other
significant damage.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'',
``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given those
terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1101).
(2) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural
commodity'' has the meaning given that term in section 102 of
the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
(3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(4) 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).
(5) 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).
(6) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) any 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 of any jurisdiction within the United States, including
any foreign branch of such an entity; or
(C) any person in the United States.
(f) National Security Interests Waiver.--The President may
waive the application of sanctions under this section if,
before issuing the waiver, the President submits to the
appropriate congressional committees--
(1) a certification in writing that the issuance of the
waiver is in the national security interests of the United
States; and
(2) a report, including an optional classified annex,
explaining the basis for the certification.
SEC. 8757. REPORT ON ACTIVITIES BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
(a) Report.--To ensure appropriate deterrence, escalation
management, and responses related to critical undersea
infrastructure, not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years,
the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI),
in coordination with the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense,
and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees
that includes the following:
(1) A description, with respect to the applicable reporting
period, of the subsea cable manufacturing, installation, and
maintenance capabilities of the People's Republic of China
(PRC) and the Russian Federation.
(2) An analysis of the mission, capabilities, and
activities of the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research
(GUGI) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,
including--
(A) a description of GUGI's use of ostensibly civilian
research vessels to conduct critical undersea infrastructure
seabed warfare, and potential sabotage;
(B) an assessment of the impact of sanctions on the ability
of GUGI to procure advanced technologies and equipment, as
well as its efforts to circumvent those sanctions; and
(C) a list of suspected GUGI research or scientific
vessels, including vessel names and International Maritime
Organization and Maritime Mobile Service Identity numbers,
and related equipment that are suspected of engaging in dual-
use operations and probing of critical undersea
infrastructure.
(3) An analysis of the missions, capabilities, and
activities of the People's Liberation Army, the PRC Coast
Guard, the China Ship Scientific Research Center, HMN
Technologies, and other PRC-based entities, including
unmarked or dual-use maritime militia or commercial vessels
related to monitoring and sabotage of critical undersea
infrastructure, including--
(A) a description of recent capability developments related
to sabotaging critical undersea infrastructure, including for
both deep-sea and littoral purposes; and
(B) a description of the PRC's use of ostensibly civilian
fishing, merchant, and research vessels for sabotage of
critical undersea infrastructure, including in the Indo-
Pacific, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and the Western
Hemisphere.
(4) An assessment of cooperation between the Russian
Federation and the PRC on sabotage of critical undersea
infrastructure, including--
(A) any current or planned operational coordination against
United States or allied and partner nation targets;
[[Page S3882]]
(B) any joint research, development, testing, or evaluation
of critical undersea infrastructure sabotage or seabed
warfare capabilities;
(C) any technology transfers or joint training related to
critical undersea infrastructure surveillance, sabotage, or
seabed warfare; and
(D) any coordination in procurement of advanced
technologies related to critical undersea infrastructure
sabotage, seabed warfare, or circumvention of sanctions
against the Russian Federation.
(5) A list of instances during the previous calendar year
in which the United States, or allies and partners of the
United States, documented anomalous behavior from vessels,
either flagged, crewed, or operated by the PRC or Russia,
around critical undersea infrastructure, including--
(A) any official United States Government response to
counter the anomalous behavior; and
(B) any coordinated diplomatic action with allies and
partners.
(6) An assessment of the extent to which PRC-based entities
are involved in laying, maintaining, and repairing United
States-invested cables.
(b) Initial and Subsequent Reports.--The initial report
required under subsection (a) shall cover the period between
January 1, 2022, through the date of the enactment of this
Act. Subsequent reports required by subsection (a) shall
cover the previous calendar year for the reporting period.
(c) Classification.--The report required under subsection
(a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a
classified annex.
SEC. 8758. ENGAGING FOREIGN PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN THE
SECURITY OF CRITICAL UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) as international critical undersea infrastructure
expands, the complexity of the deployment and protection of
subsea cables is increasing, which can create operational and
security vulnerabilities that, if exploited, may have
national security implications for the United States and
foreign partners;
(2) the United States, together with its allies and
partners, is well positioned to offer technical, material,
and other forms of support to international partners to
enhance the resilience of international critical undersea
infrastructure;
(3) the United States Government should enhance its
diplomatic engagement with trusted allies to support foreign
governments and private industry efforts to improve the
timely and effective deployment and protection of critical
undersea infrastructure; and
(4) given the importance of critical undersea
infrastructure to United States and allied energy security
and prosperity, adversaries are increasingly prioritizing
capabilities designed to target United States and allied
subsea energy infrastructure.
(b) Commitment of Personnel and Resources.--The Secretary
shall devote sufficient personnel and resources towards--
(1) engaging with foreign countries, in coordination with
other relevant Federal agencies and private industry, to
promote international cooperation on the security and
resilience of critical undersea infrastructure, including by
helping address regulatory and diplomatic obstacles that may
affect the timely deployment and protection by operators; and
(2) working with allies and partners to improve collective
preparedness and response times in the event of sabotage
affecting critical undersea infrastructure, including, as
appropriate, by supporting international coordination
mechanisms that facilitate the timely deployment of cable
repair and support vessels.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the next 5
years, the Secretary, in coordination with other relevant
Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report that outlines efforts by
the United States Government in the prior calendar year to
work with international allies and partners to strengthen the
security and resilience of critical undersea infrastructure,
including--
(1) a list of current foreign policies, laws, or regulatory
practices that may create barriers or constrain the ability
of critical undersea infrastructure operators to install,
maintain, repair, and protect critical undersea
infrastructure and any steps taken through dialogue with
allies and partners to address such challenges; and
(2) a description of the progress made in the previous
calendar year as a result of United States diplomatic
engagement with allies and partners on these issues.
PART II--DEPARTMENT OF STATE CRITICAL UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE EXPERTISE
SEC. 8761. EXPANDING CRITICAL UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE-RELATED
EXPERTISE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
Department has adequate expertise to support the Department's
diplomatic and interagency engagement on matters related to
critical undersea infrastructure, including--
(1) promoting the protection and resilience of critical
undersea infrastructure through international cooperation;
(2) coordinating with United States allies and partners on
foreign policy and security aspects of critical undersea
infrastructure; and
(3) representing United States interests and engagement in
international bodies that address critical undersea
infrastructure.
(b) Assignment.--The Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital
Policy shall ensure that personnel assigned to oversee
critical undersea infrastructure are provided sufficient
time, resources, and ability to carry out those
responsibilities effectively, including, as appropriate, by
prohibiting dual-hatting arrangement that could dilute the
Department's expertise.
(c) Notification.--Not later than 15 days after fulfilling
the expertise requirement in subsection (a), the Secretary
shall notify the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(d) International Cooperation on Critical Undersea
Infrastructure Sabotage.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on how
the United States Government plans to prioritize diplomatic
engagement within relevant international bodies to encourage
and facilitate appropriate information sharing between allied
and partner governments and relevant private sector companies
regarding threats to, and the sabotage of, critical undersea
infrastructure.
PART III--INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON SUBSEA COMMUNICATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION FROM SABOTAGE
SEC. 8762. IMPROVING UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT COORDINATION ON
PROTECTING SUBSEA COMMUNICATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) There is no single agency where subsea cable owners and
operators can engage the United States Government on security
and resilience, including to seek coordinated assistance in
identifying and addressing shared risks to subsea
communications infrastructure.
(2) United States Federal Government responsibilities for
the protection of subsea communications infrastructure,
damage reporting, information and intelligence sharing, and
emergency response are spread across multiple departments and
agencies.
(3) In order to ensure United States agencies and
departments appropriately account for the risks to subsea
communications infrastructure and provide timely and
coordinated support when warranted, the United States
Government should improve interagency coordination and share
risk assessments and best practices with the subsea
communications infrastructure industry, while respecting the
industry's primary responsibility for security risk
mitigation, investment, and operational decision-making.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish
an interagency committee (referred to in this subtitle as the
``interagency committee'') comprised of the heads, or their
designees, of the appropriate Federal agencies and
departments, to coordinate the United States Government
efforts to--
(1) promote awareness of and support for the protection and
resilience of subsea communications infrastructure;
(2) facilitate voluntary collaboration and information
sharing with relevant non-Federal entities, including
relevant members of the subsea communications infrastructure
industry, to identify and address shared challenges to subsea
communications infrastructure security and resilience;
(3) coordinate United States Government policies related to
subsea communications infrastructure security and resilience;
and
(4) address other matters related to subsea communications
infrastructure deemed appropriate and necessary by the
President.
(c) Coordination.--The President shall direct the
interagency committee to conduct an overview of the United
States Federal Government's operational authorities for
subsea communications security and resilience. The overview
shall include an interagency concept of operations describing
how Federal departments and agencies will coordinate with one
another and, on a voluntary basis, partner with non-Federal
entities, including subsea communications owners and
operators, to support the security and repair of subsea
communications infrastructure in a variety of crisis
scenarios.
(d) Analysis of Subsea Communications Infrastructure
Sabotage.--
(1) In general.--The President shall direct the heads of
the appropriate Federal agencies to develop strategies to
coordinate closely within the interagency process and, on a
voluntary basis, with subsea communications industry
stakeholders to review sabotage and other threats to subsea
communications infrastructure, including where appropriate
and consistent with applicable law and voluntary information-
sharing arrangements, by leveraging analysis from aggregated
industry data, to--
[[Page S3883]]
(A) identify trends;
(B) refine attributions, particularly in cases of subsea
communications infrastructure sabotage;
(C) identify geographic areas where subsea communications
infrastructure may face elevated risk;
(D) identify Federal Government functions and private
sector engagement methods that can support, rather than
direct, the security of subsea communications infrastructure;
and
(E) inform future risk mitigation efforts by Federal
departments and agencies to support industry-led measures to
reduce damage to subsea communications infrastructure.
(2) Strategy elements.--The strategies required under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) resourcing requirements to carry out the activities
described in paragraph (1);
(B) coordination with United States allies and partners and
relevant subsea communications infrastructure industry
stakeholders; and
(C) the necessary technical expertise within the Federal
Government to contribute to the analysis of subsea
communications infrastructure sabotage.
(e) Report.--Not later than 30 days after establishing the
required interagency committee under subsection (b), the
President shall submit to Congress a report that includes the
following elements:
(1) Any resources required to sufficiently staff the
interagency committee and United States Federal agencies
overseeing the objectives outlined in subsection (b).
(2) A detailed plan for how the interagency committee will
advance the objectives outlined in subsection (b).
SEC. 8763. STRENGTHENING INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR
STAKEHOLDERS ON SUBSEA COMMUNICATIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Public-private Sector Information Sharing.--Consistent
with the necessary protections of classified information, the
sourcing of relevant intelligence material, and privacy and
civil liberties, all appropriate Federal agencies shall, in
direct coordination with the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence, and, as appropriate, with intelligence
sharing partnerships with trusted allies, issue procedures--
(1) to enable the timely sharing of classified information
regarding subsea communications infrastructure sabotage, any
indications of potential sabotage, and other threats to
subsea communications infrastructure with non-Federal
entities that possess the necessary security clearances;
(2) to facilitate the timely sharing between members of the
interagency committee and non-Federal entities of information
related to subsea communications infrastructure sabotage,
information relating to indications of potential sabotage, or
other threats when such information can be declassified and
shared at an unclassified level;
(3) to promote the timely sharing by members of the
interagency committee to non-Federal entities, and the
voluntary, cooperative sharing by non-Federal entities to
members of the interagency committee, of unclassified,
including controlled unclassified, information regarding
subsea communications infrastructure sabotage, indications of
potential sabotage, and other threats to subsea
communications infrastructure; and
(4) to support the prevention or mitigation of adverse
effects from sabotage or other threats to subsea
communications infrastructure through the timely sharing by
members of the interagency committee to non-Federal entities,
and the voluntary cooperative sharing by non-Federal entities
to members of the interagency committee, when and if
appropriate, of information relating to indications of
potential subsea communications infrastructure sabotage.
(b) Development of Procedures.--The procedures developed in
accordance with this section shall--
(1) ensure the Federal departments and agencies that are
members of the interagency committee have and maintain the
capacity to identify and inform in near real time information
regarding subsea communications infrastructure sabotage and
indications of potential subsea communications infrastructure
sabotage to other appropriate Federal agencies or non-Federal
entities consistent with the protection of classified
information;
(2) incorporate, whenever possible, existing processes,
roles, and responsibilities of members of the interagency
committee and non-Federal entities for information sharing,
including subsea communications infrastructure-specific
information sharing and analysis entities; and
(3) require members of the interagency committee and other
appropriate Federal agencies which are sharing subsea
communications infrastructure sabotage indicators or
defensive measures to employ any applicable security controls
to defend against unauthorized access to or acquisition of
such information.
(c) Submittal to Congress.--The Director of National
Intelligence, in consultation with the members of the
interagency committee, shall--
(1) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, submit to the appropriate congressional
committees the procedures required under subsection (b); and
(2) not later than one year after submitting such
procedures, and annually thereafter for 5 years, submit to
Congress a report on the implementation and execution of
information sharing with non-Federal entities in the previous
year pursuant to subsection (a).
PART IV--LIMITATIONS AND RULE OF CONSTRUCTION
SEC. 8764. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this subtitle may be construed--
(1) to confer any new regulatory authority on, or to modify
any existing regulatory of, any Federal department or agency
with respect to owners and operators of critical undersea
infrastructure, to authorize the provision of subsidies to
critical undersea infrastructure, or to alter the
responsibility of the private sector for the deployment,
operation, maintenance, security, and repair of critical
undersea infrastructure;
(2) to involuntarily require non-Federal entities to share
proprietary or confidential business information with the
United States Government;
(3) to alter existing statutory authorities or criteria
governing communications services, or the licensing
permitting, or authorization of submarine cable landings,
spectrum, or domestic communications regulation, including
any requirements under the Act of May 27, 1921 (47 U.S.C. 34
et seq.; commonly known as the ``Cable Landing Licensing
Act'') or related statutes;
(4) to create any new requirement that non-Federal entities
obtain additional Federal approvals, beyond those already
required under existing law, before planning, constructing,
operating, maintaining, or repairing critical undersea
infrastructure; or
(5) to authorize any Federal department or agency to
direct, approve, or veto the day-to-day operational decisions
of owners or operators of critical undersea infrastructure,
including route selection, maintenance scheduling, or other
commercial decisions except as expressly provided by other
applicable law.
Subtitle F--Countering China's Control of the Caucasus Act
SEC. 8771. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Countering China's
Control of the Caucasus Act of 2026''.
SEC. 8772. 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, 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 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.
Subtitle G--Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act
SEC. 8776. ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Saving
Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act''.
(b) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act,
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and annually thereafter through December 31, 2030, the
Secretary, in coordination with the head of the relevant
Federal department or agency responsible for administering
assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) or under the Food for Peace Act
(Public Law 83-480; 7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq) shall submit a
report to the appropriate congressional committees that
describes any foreign assistance product or commodity that,
despite all reasonable efforts to prevent contamination,
spoilage, or expiration or, having reached the end of a
product's useful life under the laws of the United States or
of the recipient country, was destroyed during the reporting
period.
(c) Contents.--The report required under subsection (b)
shall include, for each product or commodity that was
contaminated, spoiled, expired, or reached the end of its
useful life and was destroyed--
(1) a description of the reasonable efforts made to prevent
waste and ensure the product or commodity reached the
intended beneficiaries;
(2) the reason the product or commodity could not be made
available to the intended beneficiaries, including a
description of any relevant domestic laws or regulations of
the intended beneficiary country that impeded or prohibited
the delivery, donation or sale of such product or commodity
prior to its spoilage, expiration date, or the date on which
the product reached the end of its useful life;
(3) the purpose of the product or commodity and the
geographic locations of the intended beneficiaries of such
product or commodity;
(4) the procured and market value of the products or
commodity; and
(5) the cost incurred to destroy the product or commodity,
as applicable.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(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) Foreign assistance product or commodity.--The term
``foreign assistance product or commodity'' means any product
or commodity provided by the United States Government under
part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151
et seq.) or under the Food for Peace Act (Public Law 83-480;
7 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.), including food, specialized nutrition
products, medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies and
devices that are procured, acquired, managed, controlled, or
held in warehouse, ships, shipping containers, or any other
storage facility, by the United States Government or an
implementing partner of the United States Government.
(3) Reporting period.--The term ``reporting period''
means--
(A) with respect to the initial report required under
subsection (b), the period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which such
report is submitted to the appropriate congressional
committees; and
(B) with respect to all subsequent reports required under
subsection (b), the period beginning on the day after the
date on which the prior report was submitted pursuant to
subsection (b) and ending on the date on which the next
report is submitted.
Subtitle H--Reporting on Syria
SEC. 8781. REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report that--
(1) describes the foreign assistance strategy of the United
States in support of United States-Syria policy; and
(2) provides comprehensive details on foreign assistance
programs (including humanitarian and nonhumanitarian efforts)
inside Syria that have been paused or canceled since January
2025.
(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include, at a minimum, the following elements:
(1) A listing of any United States foreign assistance
program currently operating in Syria, including a description
of the scope of each program and how each program serves
United States objectives in Syria.
(2) A description of efforts to leverage international
donors, multilateral organizations, charities, or other
external funders to fill gaps, where they exist.
(3) An accounting of all sustained and ongoing humanitarian
and foreign assistance programs inside Syria, including a
comprehensive description of each project, any supporting
organizations, relevant details related to funding,
performance metrics, progress towards meeting United States
objectives, and other relevant details, as needed.
SEC. 8782. STRATEGY ON ISIS-RELATED DETAINEE AND DISPLACEMENT
CAMPS IN SYRIA.
Section 1262 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``, and annually
thereafter through January 2029,'' after ``Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act''; and
(2) in subsection (f)(1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``January 31, 2025'' and inserting ``January 31, 2029''; and
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (ii) and
inserting the following:
``(ii) an assessment of the status of all United States
efforts, including via foreign assistance, to encourage and
facilitate repatriation and reintegration of all individuals
from such camps, consistent with all relevant domestic and
applicable international laws;''.
SEC. 8783. STRATEGY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SYRIAN AUTHORITIES
AND FOR EVALUATING SECURITY AT THE UNITED
STATES MISSION.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should take measures to expand its
engagement with Syrian authorities in support of mutual
national security interests, such as combating terrorism,
eliminating chemical weapons, and mitigating Captagon
smuggling; and
(2) the Department should take measures to evaluate and
mitigate known security vulnerabilities at the United States
mission in Damascus in support of eventually reopening the
embassy compound for official usage.
(b) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter
until January 1, 2029, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the
strategy of the United States to establish and sustain
deepened engagement with Syrian authorities and assesses in
detail the security conditions at the United States mission
in Damascus and any known security preparations to re-
establish operations on the compound.
(2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include, at a minimum, the following elements:
(A) A strategy to strengthen and sustain broader United
States engagement with Syrian authorities, which includes
policy objectives, staffing plans domestically and overseas,
regional engagement efforts, and efforts to engage Syrians,
including activists, political groups, and civil society
organizations.
(B) A detailed accounting of progress made on the
engagement strategy, including meetings, travel, staffing
patterns and changes, and notable gaps or areas where
additional engagement is needed.
(C) A comprehensive assessment of security conditions at
the United States mission in Damascus, any notable changes or
progress made towards hardening security, and any progress
towards re-establishing a permanent presence or re-opening
the embassy.
SEC. 8784. STRATEGY TO ENSURE THE ENDURING DEFEAT OF ISIS IN
SYRIA.
(a) Strategy Required.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of
other appropriate Federal agencies, shall jointly develop and
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a strategy
to combat and prevent the further resurgence of ISIS and its
affiliates in Syria.
(b) Elements of the Strategy.--The strategy required under
subsection (a) shall include the following elements:
(1) A summary of the United States national security
interests in Syria and the impact a resurgence of ISIS would
have on those interests.
(2) A comprehensive assessment of current training and
support programs by agency or department, specifically
focused on countering ISIS and other terrorist organizations,
including nonlethal assistance, training, and organizational
capacity for the Syrian authorities and others to counter
gains by ISIS and its affiliates.
(3) A detailed description of United States Government
efforts to support, develop, and expand the capacity of
Syrian authorities to combat ISIS and prevent its return.
(4) An estimate of the number of current, active ISIS
members in Iraq and Syria, including an assessment of those
being held in detainee camps or prisons.
(5) A comprehensive plan to repatriate or secure ISIS
detainees currently being held in Syria and Iraq, including--
(A) repatriation, transfer, prosecution, and intelligence-
gathering;
(B) coordinating a whole-of-government approach with other
countries and international organizations, including
INTERPOL, to ensure secure chains of custody and locations of
ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees;
(C) coordinating technical and evidentiary assistance to
foreign countries to aid in the successful prosecution of
ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees;
(D) all multilateral and international engagements led by
the Department and other agencies that are related to the
current and future handling, detention, and prosecution of
ISIS foreign terrorist fighter detainees;
(E) engagement with international partners on legal,
tenable mechanisms for repatriating foreign fighters; and
(F) a plan for how funds in appropriations Acts will
support disarmament, demobilization, disengagement,
deradicalization, and reintegration of current and former
members and affiliates of ISIS and their family members.
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(6) A description, which may be in classified form, of ISIS
senior leadership and infrastructure and efforts to target
leadership figures.
(7) A comprehensive description of the activities of the
United States Government, utilizing social media and other
communication technologies, to counter ISIS's propaganda and
influence and its ability to use such technologies to recruit
fighters domestically and internationally, including through
private technology companies, and a description of how such
activities are being coordinated across the United States
Government.
(8) A description of the steps taken by the United States
Government, including through the use of economic sanctions
to deny financial resources to ISIS and its affiliates, in
conjunction with international partners and financial
institutions.
(9) A description of United States Government efforts to
support credible war crimes prosecutions against ISIS
fighters.
(10) A plan to ensure the delivery of humanitarian and
reintegration assistance.
SEC. 8785. DEFINED TERM.
In this subtitle, the term ``appropriate committees of
Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Appropriations 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 Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(6) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives.
Subtitle I--Additional Authorities
SEC. 8791. REPEALS OF SYRIA SANCTIONS STATUTES.
(a) Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty
Restoration Act of 2003.--The Syria Accountability and
Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-
175; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note) is repealed.
(b) Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012.--The
Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012 (title VII of
Public Law 112-158; 22 U.S.C. 8701 et seq.) is repealed.
SEC. 8792. ESTABLISHMENT OF UKRAINE LESSONS LEARNED TASK
FORCE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the Secretary, the Director of National
Intelligence, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
shall establish a joint interagency task force, to be known
as the ``Ukraine Lessons Learned Task Force'' (referred to in
this section as the ``Task Force'').
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Task Force are--
(1) identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing key
battlefield innovations, operational practices, and defense
strategies employed by Ukraine in its resistance to Russian
aggression;
(2) assessing the relevance of such lessons to United
States military doctrine, training, logistics, acquisition,
and strategic planning;
(3) recommending specific changes or pilot programs to
integrate such lessons into United States defense systems;
(4) identifying vulnerabilities in United States systems
highlighted by Ukraine's experience, including through joint
operations such as Operation Spider Web; and
(5) coordinating with NATO allies and Ukrainian defense
counterparts, as appropriate.
(c) Reporting Requirements.--
(1) Annual report to congress.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary of
Defense, in coordination with the Secretary, the Director of
National Intelligence, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report that includes--
(A) a summary of the findings and assessments conducted by
the Task Force;
(B) recommendations for changes to doctrine, training,
acquisition, or organizational structure;
(C) an overview of any pilot programs or implementation
actions taken in response to such recommendations; and
(D) a classified annex with detailed assessments, to the
extent necessary.
(2) Public version.--An unclassified version of the report
required under paragraph (1) that excludes sensitive and
classified information shall be made available to the public
through a public website.
(d) Integration Into Military Training and Strategy.--The
Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff shall ensure that relevant findings from the Task Force
are--
(1) incorporated into professional military education
curricula, including at the National Defense University,
service academies, and war colleges;
(2) reflected in joint and service-specific training
exercises and war games; and
(3) considered in the development of future operational
concepts and planning scenarios.
(e) NATO and Allied Coordination.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall coordinate with NATO
allies--
(1) to share and compare assessments of lessons learned
from Ukraine's defense;
(2) to promote interoperability in defense innovation; and
(3) to explore the establishment of a multilateral
``Defense Innovation Lessons Hub'' or similar mechanism.
(f) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(3) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(5) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(6) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives;
(7) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives; and
(8) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(g) Sunset.--This section 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.
Subtitle J--Exception Relating to Importation of Goods
SEC. 8795. EXCEPTION RELATING TO IMPORTATION OF GOODS.
(1) In general.--The authorities and requirements to impose
sanctions under this title shall not include the authority or
requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
(2) Defined term.--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.
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