H.R. 7415

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7415 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7415

To designate Russian-based paramilitary organizations and their 
successor entities as foreign terrorist organizations, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 9, 2026

Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Lawler, Ms. 
Salazar, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Fallon, and Mr. Nunn of Iowa) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To designate Russian-based paramilitary organizations and their 
successor entities as foreign terrorist organizations, and for other 
purposes.

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 ``Holding Accountable Russian 
Mercenaries Act'' or the ``HARM Act 2.0''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF POLICY.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Following the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy 
Prigozhin in August 2023, the organization's personnel, 
operational infrastructure, and activities have been absorbed 
into the Russian Ministry of Defense and reorganized under 
various successor entities, including the Africa Corps, Redut 
PMC, and Patriot PMC.
(2) These successor entities continue to conduct operations 
consistent with the Wagner Group's historical activities, 
including mercenary operations, human rights abuses, resource 
extraction facilitation, and support for authoritarian regimes 
in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
(3) The integration of Wagner-derived forces into Ministry 
of Defense structures does not diminish their threat to 
international peace and security, human rights, or United 
States national security interests.
(4) The Wagner Group and its successor entities constitute 
a ``terrorist group'' that engages in ``terrorism'' (as defined 
in section 140(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, 
Fiscal Year 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656f(d))).
(5) The Wagner Group and its successor entities have 
committed, or are credibly accused of committing, terrorist 
activity (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B))) and ongoing 
atrocities and human rights violations conducted by successor 
entities operating under the Africa Corps, Redut PMC, Patriot 
PMC, and other Ministry of Defense-affiliated formations in 
Africa, the Middle East, and other regions in 2024 and 2025.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United 
States to designate as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially 
Designated Global Terrorists the successor and associated entities to 
the Wagner Group.

SEC. 3. REPORTS REQUIRED AND DETERMINATION.

(a) Secretary of State Report.--The Secretary of State shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the following:
(1) A list of all successor and affiliated entities of the 
organization formerly known as the Wagner Group, including 
Africa Corps, Redut PMC, Patriot PMC, and any Ministry of 
Defense-affiliated paramilitary formations that inherit Wagner 
personnel, operations, or assets.
(2) A list of all individuals that order, control, or 
otherwise direct the organizations described in paragraph (1).
(3) Any entity that--
(A) operates under the direction, control, or 
coordination of the Russian Ministry of Defense;
(B) employs personnel previously associated with 
the Wagner Group or its successor entities; and
(C) conducts operations consistent with Wagner 
Group activities.
(4) A description of any conduct of the organizations or 
individuals described in paragraphs (1) through (3) that--
(A) may be grounds for designation pursuant to 
Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to 
blocking property and prohibiting transactions with 
persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support 
terrorism); and
(B) may constitute terrorist activity (as defined 
in section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B))).
(b) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than 60 days after the 
submission of the report required by subsection (a), the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report evaluating the accuracy and 
completeness of the report required by subsection (a), including an 
assessment of the methodologies and data sources used in preparing such 
report.
(c) Form.--The reports required by subsections (a) and (b) shall be 
transmitted in an unclassified form, and may contain a classified 
annex.
(d) Determination.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the Comptroller General submits the report required by 
subsection (b), the Secretary of State, in coordination with 
the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the 
Office of the Director of National Intelligence, shall 
determine whether any person identified in the report under 
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) meets the criteria 
for designation under paragraph (4) of subsection (a).
(2) Effect of positive determination.--The Secretary of 
State, the Secretary of Treasury, and the Attorney General (as 
appropriate) shall apply the measures described in subsection 
(a)(4) to each person with respect to which a positive 
determination under paragraph (1) has been made.
(3) Periodic review and updates.--The Secretary of State 
shall periodically review and update the designations under 
this section to include any newly identified successor 
entities, affiliates, or rebranded organizations that meet the 
criteria specified in subsection (a)(4).
(e) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five 
years, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, 
and the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
international activities of the Russian-based mercenary Wagner 
Group and its successor entities that includes--
(A) a comprehensive assessment of the operations, 
activities, and force disposition of the Wagner Group 
and successor entities in Africa, Latin America, 
Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and any other region;
(B) an analysis of the relationship between the 
Wagner Group, its successor entities, and the Russian 
Ministry of Defense, including command and control 
structures, funding mechanisms, and operational 
coordination;
(C) a detailed account of human rights abuses, war 
crimes, and violations of international humanitarian 
law committed by the Wagner Group and successor 
entities;
(D) an assessment of the financial networks, 
revenue sources, and economic activities supporting the 
Wagner Group and successor entities, including resource 
extraction operations;
(E) an evaluation of the effectiveness of sanctions 
imposed against the Wagner Group and successor 
entities;
(F) recommendations for additional legislative or 
executive actions to counter the activities of the 
Wagner Group and successor entities;
(G) an assessment of cooperation with international 
partners in addressing threats posed by the Wagner 
Group and successor entities; and
(H) specific information regarding the deployment, 
activities, and objectives of Russian paramilitary 
forces in Venezuela and throughout the Western 
Hemisphere, including any threats to regional security 
or United States interests.
(2) Form.--The report required by this subsection shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
annex.
(f) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of 
the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
Representatives;
(4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives; and
(5) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
Representatives.
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