H.R. 8176

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8176 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8176

To require the Secretary of State to facilitate strategic dialogue with 
Moldova and submit a report on support for Moldova, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 2, 2026

Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Lawler, and Ms. Ross) 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 require the Secretary of State to facilitate strategic dialogue with 
Moldova and submit a report on support for Moldova, 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 ``Moldova Support Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that:
(1) For more than 3 decades, the Republic of Moldova has 
demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing democracy, 
strengthening civil society, furthering accession to the 
European Union, and deepening cooperation with the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization through the Partnership for Peace 
Program.
(2) The Russian Federation's illegal invasion of Ukraine 
has threatened the sovereignty and territorial integrity of 
Moldova by destabilizing the country's economy as well as its 
energy security.
(3) The reelection of Moldovan President Maia Sandu further 
cements Moldova's pro-European path and Moldova's expedient 
accession to the European Union is in the direct interest of 
the United States.
(4) Moldova represents a United States foreign assistance 
success story with United States foreign assistance to Moldova 
contributing to Moldova's energy security, economic 
development, and democratic values as well as furthering the 
United States-Moldova bilateral relationship, all which benefit 
the people and businesses of the United States and strengthen 
the transatlantic relationship.
(5) The United States-Moldova Strategic Dialogue is an 
important platform for strengthening the United States-Moldova 
bilateral relationship.
(6) The Russian Federation has historically targeted 
Moldova, seeking to undermine its democratic institutions, 
weaponize energy supplies in Moldova (including through 
Transnistria), and use Moldova as a lynchpin of a wider 
campaign to expand its malign influence and promote broader 
instability across Europe and the world.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-MOLDOVA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall facilitate a 
strategic dialogue between the United States and the Republic of 
Moldova to--
(1) advance bilateral priorities, including defense and 
security cooperation;
(2) discuss Moldova's progress towards European Union 
integration and ways the United States can facilitate, through 
foreign assistance, investment, and public-private partnership, 
Moldova's process of accession to the European Union;
(3) strengthen economic and energy ties between Moldova and 
the United States, including expanding United States Government 
support for the Straseni-Gutinas transmission line project that 
will provide opportunities for United States businesses, 
strengthen Moldova's energy independence, and enhance Moldovan 
and European energy security;
(4) reaffirm support for Moldova's sovereignty and 
territorial integrity within its internationally recognized 
borders;
(5) expand support for the State Partnership Program 
between Moldova and North Carolina; and
(6) expand and support State Department facilitated 
American Spaces in Moldova.
(b) Frequency of Dialogue.--The Secretary, in partnership with the 
Government of Moldova, shall facilitate the strategic dialogue required 
in subsection (a) not less frequently than annually.

SEC. 4. STRATEGY TO PROMOTE MOLDOVA'S PRO-EUROPEAN FUTURE.

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate Congressional 
Committees a report that includes--
(1) a 4-year strategy to--
(A) bolster United States-Moldovan bilateral 
relations, including to advance the priorities outlined 
in the strategic dialogue required in section 3; and
(B) support Moldova's process of accession to the 
European Union and Moldova's goal of becoming a member 
of the European Union by the year 2030, including 
through United States foreign assistance that avoids 
conflicts with Moldova's obligations related to 
European Union accession or agreements with 
international financial institutions or other official 
creditors;
(2) a description of actions taken by the Department of 
State to counter malign influence by the Russian Federation and 
the People's Republic of China in Moldova since January 20, 
2025;
(3) a list of active and cancelled foreign assistance 
programs in or related to Moldova since January 20, 2025; and
(4) a description of actions taken by the Department to 
support the accession of Moldova to the European Union and 
expand, where appropriate and within the interests of both the 
United States and Moldova, Moldova's cooperation with the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization.

SEC. 5. MAINTENANCE OF CERTAIN SANCTIONS.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any 
sanction imposed by the United States and in effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act with respect to a person described in subsection 
(c) may not be terminated until the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary of the Treasury have, in addition to any other measure 
required by law--
(1) submitted to the appropriate congressional committees a 
written certification that the person (or the immediate family 
member of such person, as appropriate) is no longer engaging in 
the behavior that caused the person to be subject to the 
sanction;
(2) briefed the appropriate congressional committees 
regarding such certification; and
(3) consulted with the appropriate congressional committees 
regarding such certification.
(b) Ineligibility for Entry.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, including paragraph (3) of section 7031(c) of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2022 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note), the Secretary may not 
waive or terminate the application of paragraph (1) of such section 
with respect to an individual described in subsection (c) unless the 
Secretary has--
(1) submitted to the appropriate congressional committees a 
written certification that the individual (or the immediate 
family member of the individual, as appropriate) is no longer 
engaging in significant corruption or a gross violation of 
human rights described in such section 7031(c)(1);
(2) provided to the appropriate congressional committees a 
briefing regarding such certification; and
(3) consulted with the appropriate congressional committees 
regarding such certification.
(c) Persons Described.--A person described in this subsection is 
any of the following:
(1) Former member of the Moldovan Parliament Ilan Shor.
(2) The Shor Party.
(3) Former member of the Moldovan Parliament Vlad 
Plahotniuc.
(4) Igor Yuryevich Chayka.
(5) Ivan Alesksandrovich Zavorotnyi.
(6) Yuriy Igorevich Gudilin.
(7) Olga Yurievna Grak.
(8) Leonid Mikhailovich Gonin.
(9) Aleksei Valeryevich Troshin.
(10) Maksim Yakubets.
(11) The National Engineering Corporation (commonly known 
as ``NIK'').
(12) Any person with respect to whom sanctions have been 
imposed by the United States due to the relationship between 
such person and an individual described in paragraphs (1) 
through (11).

SEC. 6. CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
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