H.R. 36

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 36 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]

<DOC>

Calendar No. 70
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 36

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 6, 2025

Received; read twice and placed on the calendar

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian 
Regime, and the Russian Federation in the nation of Georgia.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's 
Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act'' 
or the ``MEGOBARI Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives.
(2) NATO.--The term ``NATO'' means the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of State.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the progress made by the people of Georgia in forging 
an innovative and productive society since the country's 
independence from the Soviet Union should be applauded;
(2) the consolidation of democracy in Georgia is critical 
for regional stability and United States national interests;
(3) Georgia has seen significant democratic backsliding in 
recent years, as evidenced by numerous independent assessments 
and measures;
(4) the current Georgian government is increasingly hostile 
towards independent domestic civil society and its chief Euro-
Atlantic partners while increasingly embracing enhanced ties 
with the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, 
and other anti-Western authoritarian regimes;
(5) the United States has an interest in protecting and 
securing democracy in Georgia; and
(6) the Secretary should suspend the United States-Georgia 
Strategic Partnership Commission, established through the 
United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership on 
January 9, 2009, until after the Government of Georgia takes 
measures--
(A) to represent the democratic wishes of the 
citizens of Georgia; and
(B) to uphold its constitutional obligation to 
advance the country towards membership in the European 
Union and NATO.

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to support the constitutionally stated aspirations of 
Georgia to become a member of the European Union and NATO, 
which is made clear under Article 78 of the Constitution of 
Georgia and is supported by the overwhelming majority of the 
citizens of Georgia;
(2) to continue supporting the capacity of the Government 
of Georgia to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity 
from further Russian aggression or encroachment within its 
internationally recognized borders;
(3) to call on all political parties and elected Members of 
the Parliament of Georgia to continue working on addressing the 
reform plan outlined by the European Commission to resume 
Georgia's recently granted candidate status through an 
inclusive and transparent consultation process that involves 
opposition parties and civil society organizations, which the 
people of Georgia have freely elected to pursue;
(4) to reevaluate its relationship with the Government of 
Georgia and review all forms of foreign and security assistance 
made available to the Government if it takes the required 
steps--
(A) to reorient itself toward its European Union 
accession agenda; and
(B) to advance policy or legislation reflecting the 
express wishes of the Georgian people;
(5) to emphasize the importance of contributing to 
international efforts--
(A) to combat Russian aggression, including through 
sanctions on trade with Russia and the implementation 
and enforcement of worldwide sanctions on Russia; and
(B) to reduce, rather than increase, trade ties 
between Georgia and Russia;
(6) to continue supporting the ongoing development of 
democratic values in Georgia, including free and fair 
elections, freedom of association, an independent and 
accountable judiciary, an independent media, public-sector 
transparency and accountability, the rule of law, countering 
malign influence, and anti-corruption efforts and to impose 
swift consequences on individuals who are directly responsible 
for leading or have directly and knowingly engaged in leading 
actions of policies that significantly undermine those 
standards;
(7) to continue to support the Georgian people and civil 
society organizations that reflect the aspirations of the 
Georgian people for democracy and a future with the people of 
Europe;
(8) to continue supporting the right of the Georgian people 
to freely engage in peaceful protest, determine their future, 
and make independent and sovereign choices on foreign and 
security policy, including regarding Georgia's relationship 
with other countries and international organizations, without 
interference, intimidation, or coercion by other countries or 
those acting on their behalf;
(9) to call on all political parties, elected Members of 
the Parliament of Georgia, and officers of the Ministry of 
Internal Affairs of Georgia to respect the freedoms of peaceful 
assembly, association, and expression, including for the press, 
and the rule of law, and encourage a vibrant and inclusive 
civil society;
(10) to call on the Government of Georgia to release all 
persons detained or imprisoned on politically motivated grounds 
and drop any pending charges against them;
(11) to call on the Government of Georgia to thoroughly 
investigate all allegations emerging from the recent national 
elections, which took place on October 2024, make a 
determination whether the elections should be judged as 
illegitimate and hold those responsible for interference in the 
elections; and
(12) to continue impressing upon the Government of Georgia 
that the United States is committed to sustaining and deepening 
bilateral relations and supporting Georgia's Euro-Atlantic 
aspirations.

SEC. 5. REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS.

(a) Report on Russian Intelligence Assets in Georgia.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Director of National Intelligence and the 
Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a classified report, prepared consistent 
with the protection of sources and methods, examining the 
penetration of Russian intelligence elements and their assets 
in Georgia, that includes an annex examining Chinese influence 
and the potential intersection of Russian-Chinese cooperation 
in Georgia.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate, the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
Senate, and the Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives, the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives.
(b) 5-Year United States Strategy for Bilateral Relations With 
Georgia.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Administrator 
of the United States Agency for International Development, in 
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal 
departments and agencies, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a detailed strategy that--
(A) outlines specific objectives for enhancing 
bilateral ties which reflect the current domestic 
political environment in Georgia;
(B) includes a determination of the tools, 
resources, and funding that should be available to 
achieve the objectives outlined pursuant to paragraph 
(1) and an assessment whether Georgia should remain the 
second-highest recipient of United States funding in 
the Europe and Eurasia region;
(C) includes a determination of the extent to which 
the United States should continue to invest in its 
partnership with Georgia;
(D) includes a plan for how the United States can 
continue to support civil society and independent media 
organizations in Georgia; and
(E) includes a determination whether the Government 
of Georgia remains committed to expanding trade ties 
with the United States and Europe and whether the 
United States Government should continue to invest in 
Georgian projects.
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, with a classified annex.

SEC. 6. SANCTIONS.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'', 
``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given such terms 
in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives;
(E) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Financial Services of the 
House of Representatives.
(3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means any 
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(4) Immediate family members.--The term ``immediate family 
members'' has the meaning given the term ``immediate 
relatives'' in section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(b)(2)(A)(i)).
(5) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to 
conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has 
actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the 
circumstance, or the result.
(6) Unites states person.--The term ``United States 
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the 
United States or any jurisdiction within the United 
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity; 
or
(C) any person within the United States.
(b) Inadmissibility of Officials of Government of Georgia and 
Certain Other Individuals Involved in Blocking Euro-Atlantic 
Integration.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the President shall determine 
whether each of the following foreign persons has knowingly 
engaged in significant acts of corruption, or acts of violence 
or intimidation in relation to the blocking of Euro-Atlantic 
integration in Georgia:
(A) Any individual who, on or after January 1, 
2014, has served as a member of the Parliament of the 
Government of Georgia or as a current or former senior 
official of a Georgian political party.
(B) Any individual who is serving as an official in 
a leadership position working on behalf of the 
Government of Georgia, including law enforcement, 
intelligence, judicial, or local or municipal 
government.
(C) An immediate family member of an official 
described in subparagraph (A) or a person described in 
subparagraph (B) who benefitted from the conduct of 
such official or person.
(2) Sanctions.--The President shall impose the sanctions 
described in subsection (d)(2) with respect to each foreign 
person with respect to which the President has made an 
affirmative decision under paragraph (1).
(3) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the 
appropriate committees of Congress with respect to--
(A) any foreign person with respect to which the 
President has made an affirmative determination under 
paragraph (1); and
(B) the specific facts that justify each such 
affirmative determination.
(4) Waiver.--The President may waive imposition of 
sanctions under this subsection on a case-by-case basis if the 
President determines and reports to the appropriate committees 
of Congress that--
(A) such waiver would serve national security 
interests; or
(B) the circumstances which caused the individual 
to be ineligible have sufficiently changed.
(c) Imposition of Sanctions With Respect to Undermining Peace, 
Security, Stability, Sovereignty or Territorial Integrity of Georgia.--
(1) In general.--The President may impose the sanctions 
described in subsection (d)(1) and shall impose the sanctions 
described in subsection (d)(2) with respect to each foreign 
person the President determines, on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act--
(A) is responsible for, complicit in, or has 
directly or indirectly engaged in or attempted to 
engage in, actions or policies, including ordering, 
controlling, or otherwise directing acts that are 
intended to undermine the peace, security, stability, 
sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Georgia;
(B) is or has been a leader or official of an 
entity that has, or whose members have, engaged in any 
activity described in subparagraph (A); or
(C) is an immediate family member of a person 
subject to sanctions for conduct described in 
subparagraph (A) or (B) and benefitted from the conduct 
of such person.
(2) Brief and written notification.--Not later than 10 days 
after imposing sanctions on a foreign person or persons 
pursuant to this subsection, the President shall brief and 
provide written notification to the appropriate committees of 
Congress regarding the imposition of such sanctions, which 
shall describe--
(A) the foreign person or persons subject to the 
imposition of such sanctions;
(B) the activity justifying the imposition of such 
sanctions; and
(C) the specific sanctions imposed on such foreign 
person or persons.
(3) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of 
sanctions under this subsection with respect to a foreign 
person for renewable periods not to exceed 180 days if, not 
later than 15 days before the date on which such waiver is to 
take effect, the President submits to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a written determination and 
justification that the waiver is in the national security 
interests of the United States.
(d) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are the following with respect to a foreign person described 
in subsection (b) or (c), as applicable:
(1) Blocking of property.--Notwithstanding the requirements 
under section 202 of the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701), the President shall exercise all 
authorities granted under the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to 
block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests 
in property of the foreign person if such property and 
interests in property are in the United States, come within the 
United States, or are or come within the possession or control 
of a United States person.
(2) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--A foreign person 
that is an alien shall be--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other 
documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 
or paroled into the United States or to receive 
any other benefit under the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B) Current visas revoked.--The foreign person 
shall be subject to the following:
(i) Revocation of any visa or other entry 
documentation regardless of when the visa or 
other entry documentation is or was issued.
(ii) A revocation under clause (i) shall 
take effect immediately and automatically 
cancel any other valid visa or entry 
documentation that is in the foreign person's 
possession.
(e) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all 
authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 
1704) to carry out this section.
(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to 
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of 
subsection (d)(2)(A) or any regulation, license, or order 
issued under that subsection shall be subject to the penalties 
set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the 
International Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same 
extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in 
subsection (a) of that section.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this Act, or any 
amendment made by this Act, may be construed to limit the 
authority of the President to designate or sanction persons 
pursuant to an applicable Executive order or otherwise pursuant 
to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
1701 et seq.).
(f) Rulemaking.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the President shall prescribe such 
regulations as are necessary for the implementation of this 
section.
(2) Notification to congress.--Not later than 10 days 
before prescribing regulations pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
President shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress 
of the proposed regulations and the provisions of this section 
that the regulations are implementing.
(g) Sanctions With Respect to Broader Corruption in Georgia.--
(1) Determination.--The President shall determine whether 
there are foreign persons who, on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, have engaged in significant corruption 
in Georgia or acts that are intended to undermine the peace, 
security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of 
Georgia for the purposes of potential imposition of sanctions 
pursuant to powers granted to the President under the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.).
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
submit a report to the appropriate committees of 
Congress that--
(i) identifies all foreign persons the 
President has determined, pursuant to this 
subsection, have engaged in significant 
corruption in Georgia or committed acts that 
are intended to undermine the peace, security, 
stability, sovereignty, or territorial 
integrity of Georgia;
(ii) the dates on which sanctions were 
imposed; and
(iii) the reasons for imposing such 
sanctions.
(B) Form.--The report required under subparagraph 
(A) shall be provided in unclassified form, but may 
include a classified annex.
(h) Termination of Sanctions.--Any sanctions imposed on a foreign 
person pursuant to this section shall terminate on the earlier of--
(1) the date on which the President certifies to the 
appropriate committees of Congress that the foreign person is 
no longer engaging in the activities that led to the imposition 
of such sanction; or
(2) the sunset date described in section 7.
(i) Exceptions.--
(1) Definitions.--In this section:
(A) Agricultural commodity.--The term 
``agricultural commodity'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 
1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
(B) Good.--The term ``good'' means any article, 
natural or man-made substance, material, supply, or 
manufactured product, including inspection and test 
equipment and excluding technical data.
(C) Medical device.--The term ``medical device'' 
has the meaning given the term ``device'' in section 
201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 
U.S.C. 321).
(D) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the 
meaning given the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(2) Exceptions.--
(A) Exception relating to intelligence 
activities.--Sanctions under this section shall not 
apply to--
(i) any activity subject to the reporting 
requirements under title V of the National 
Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); 
or
(ii) any authorized intelligence activities 
of the United States.
(B) Exception to comply with international 
obligations.--Sanctions under this section shall not 
apply with respect to a foreign person if admitting or 
paroling the person into the United States is necessary 
to permit the United States to comply with the 
Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United 
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and 
entered into force November 21, 1947, between the 
United Nations and the United States, or other 
applicable international obligations.
(C) Humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions under this 
section shall not apply to--
(i) the conduct or facilitation of a 
transaction for the provision of agricultural 
commodities, food, medicine, medical devices, 
or humanitarian assistance, or for humanitarian 
purposes; or
(ii) transactions that are necessary for, 
or related to, the activities described in 
paragraph (1).
(j) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.--The requirement to 
block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in 
property under this section shall not include the authority or a 
requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.

SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WITH RESPECT TO GEORGIA.

(a) In General.--Upon submission to Congress of the certification 
described in subsection (c)--
(1) the Secretary of State, in consultation with other 
heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, 
should seek to further enhance people-to-people contacts and 
academic exchanges between the United States and Georgia; and
(2) the President, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Defense, should maintain, and as appropriate, expand military 
co-operation with Georgia, including by providing further 
security and defense equipment ideally suited for territorial 
defense against Russian aggression and related training, 
maintenance, and operations support elements.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, after the 
submission of the certification described in subsection (c) should the 
Georgian government take steps to re-align itself with its Euro-
Atlantic agenda, including significant changes to the foreign influence 
law, the President should take steps to improve the bilateral 
relationship between the United States and Georgia, including actions 
to bolster Georgia's ability to deter threats from Russia and other 
malign actors.
(c) Certification Described.--The certification described in this 
subsection is a certification submitted to Congress by the President 
that Georgia has shown significant and sustained progress towards 
reinvigorating its democracy and advancing its Euro-Atlantic 
integration.

SEC. 8. SUNSET.

This Act shall cease to have any force or effect beginning on the 
date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives May 5, 2025.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.
Calendar No. 70

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 36

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, the Iranian 
Regime, and the Russian Federation in the nation of Georgia.

_______________________________________________________________________

May 6, 2025

Received; read twice and placed on the calendar