H.R. 8219

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8219 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8219

To encourage Hungary to end its reliance on Russian energy and prevent 
Hungary's efforts to obstruct financial or security assistance to 
Ukraine, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 9, 2026

Ms. Kaptur (for herself and Mr. Bacon) 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 encourage Hungary to end its reliance on Russian energy and prevent 
Hungary's efforts to obstruct financial or security assistance to 
Ukraine, 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 ``Barring Leverage and Obstruction 
that Contributes to Kremlin Profits Undermining Transatlantic Interests 
and NATO Act'' or the ``BLOCK PUTIN Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine 
in February 2022 has demonstrated the strategic risks of 
Europe's dependence on the Russian Federation for energy, 
specifically oil and gas.
(2) Following the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine, 
the United States, the European Union, and their partners 
imposed broad, punitive sanctions on the Russian Federation 
that limited the Russian Federation's income from energy.
(3) In May 2022, the European Commission launched the 
REPowerEU initiative to phase out dependence on Russian energy 
sources before 2028.
(4) Since February 2022, the European Union has 
subsequently reduced its dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 
approximately 90 percent by cutting oil imports by more than 90 
percent and reducing pipeline gas deliveries by roughly 80 
percent.
(5) Most European countries have undertaken significant 
measures to reduce their Russian energy imports in accordance 
with the REPowerEU initiative, but Hungary and Slovakia 
requested exemptions to the timeline.
(6) Since February 2022, Hungary increased its dependence 
on Russian energy by an estimated 30 percent, providing 
approximately $6,700,000,000 in crude oil revenue to the 
Russian Federation between February 24, 2022, and December 31, 
2024.
(7) On September 23, 2025, President Donald Trump said 
member countries of the European Union had ``to immediately 
cease all energy purchases from Russia''.
(8) On October 23, 2025, the Council of the European Union 
adopted the 19th package of restrictive measures against the 
Russian Federation, including--
(A) a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural 
gas into the European Union;
(B) a full transaction ban on Rosneft and Gazprom 
Neft;
(C) measures against third-country operators (which 
enable the Russian Federation's revenue streams), 2 
Chinese refineries, and a Chinese oil trader; and
(D) strengthened enforcement against maritime 
circumvention and the ``shadow fleet''.
(9) In October 2025, the United States imposed secondary 
sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft.
(10) Hungary has shown no sign of reducing its dependence 
on Russian fossil fuels.
(11) In November 2025, Hungary reportedly received an 
exemption from sanctions imposed by the United States related 
to its continued purchase of Russian oil and gas.
(12) In February 2026, Hungary blocked a =90,000,000,000 
loan package by the European Union intended for Ukraine's 
military and budget support and blocked the proposed 20th 
European Union sanctions package, demanding in exchange the 
resumption of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.
(13) Slovakia has vowed to follow Hungary's example and 
block the provision of European Union funds to Ukraine if 
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban loses his election.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that it is in 
the national security interests of the United States--
(1) to encourage countries to diversify from Russian 
energy; and
(2) for European Union member states to finance support for 
Ukraine.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United 
States to hold Hungary accountable for actions that undermine the 
national security interests of the United States described in 
subsection (a).

SEC. 4. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President 
shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to 
the individuals described in subsection (b).
(b) Individuals Described.--The individuals described in this 
subsection are senior officials of the Government of Hungary that, on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act--
(1) take steps to block, delay, or otherwise obstruct 
additional financial or security assistance to Ukraine through 
bilateral, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
or other multilateral mechanisms; or
(2) approve or continue to facilitate oil or natural gas 
imports from the Russian Federation.
(c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President shall exercise all 
of the powers granted to the President by the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except 
that the requirements of section 202 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 
1701) shall not apply) to the extent necessary to block and 
prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property 
of an individual described in subsection (b) 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) Inadmissibility of certain individuals.--
(A) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or 
parole.--An alien described in subsection (b) 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 visa revoked.--
(i) In general.--An alien described in 
subparagraph (A) 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, in accordance with section 
221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1201(i))--
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) automatically cancel any other 
valid visa or entry documentation that 
is in the alien's possession.
(d) Exceptions.--
(1) Decreased dependency on russian oil and gas and 
allowing assistance to ukraine.--The President shall not impose 
sanctions under this section if the Government of Hungary has--
(A) formally adopted and begun implementation of a 
public, time-bound plan to end the dependency of 
Hungary on oil and natural gas imports from the Russian 
Federation that includes a binding commitment to 
achieve substantial diversification of oil and natural 
gas imports before 2028; and
(B) for a continuous period of not less than 180 
days, ceased any official action, to block, delay, or 
otherwise obstruct additional financial or security 
assistance to Ukraine through bilateral, European 
Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or other 
multilateral mechanisms.
(2) Compliance with international obligations and law 
enforcement activities.--Sanctions under this section shall not 
apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the 
alien into the United States is necessary--
(A) to comply with United States obligations 
under--
(i) the Agreement between the United 
Nations and the United States of America 
regarding the Headquarters of the United 
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, 
and entered into force November 21, 1947;
(ii) the Convention on Consular Relations, 
done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into 
force March 19, 1967; or
(iii) any other international agreement; or
(B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity 
in the United States.
(3) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions under 
this section shall not apply to--
(A) 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
(B) any authorized intelligence activities of the 
United States.
(4) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian 
assistance.--Sanctions under this section may not be imposed 
with respect to transactions or the facilitation of 
transactions for--
(A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food, 
medicine, or medical devices;
(B) the provision of humanitarian assistance;
(C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian 
assistance; or
(D) transporting goods or services that are 
necessary to carry out operations relating to 
humanitarian assistance.
(e) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of sanctions 
under this section for a period not to exceed 180 days if the President 
determines and certifies to the appropriate committees of Congress 
that--
(1) the waiver is vital to the national security interests 
of the United States; and
(2) the individual has committed to refrain from engaging 
in any action described in subsection (b) for a period of not 
less than one year.
(f) Termination.--This section shall terminate on the date that is 
30 days after the date on which the Secretary of State submits to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a written certification that the 
Government of Hungary has--
(1) formally adopted and begun implementation of a public, 
time-bound plan to end the dependency of the country on oil and 
natural gas imports from the Russian Federation that includes a 
binding commitment to achieve substantial diversification of 
oil and natural gas imports by not later than one year from the 
date of such termination; and
(2) for a continuous period of not less than 180 days, 
ceased any official action to block, delay, or otherwise 
obstruct additional financial or security assistance to Ukraine 
through bilateral, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization, or other multilateral mechanisms.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien; lawfully admitted for 
permanent residence.--The terms ``admission'', ``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).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives.
(3) 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 any jurisdiction within the United 
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity; 
or
(C) any person located in the United States.

SEC. 5. REPORT ON UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FACILITATION OF HUNGARIAN 
PURCHASES OF RUSSIAN OIL AND GAS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary 
of State shall jointly submit to the committees specified in subsection 
(c) a report that provides the justification for any United States 
Government facilitation of purchases of Russian Federation oil and 
national gas by the Government of Hungary or any related entities.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include--
(1) a detailed description of--
(A) any license or comfort letter issued on or 
after October 22, 2025, to, or for the benefit of, the 
Government of Hungary or Hungarian individuals or 
entities that were related to oil, petroleum products, 
or natural gas of Russian Federation origin, including 
with respect to transactions involving energy companies 
or financial institutions designated for the imposition 
of sanctions;
(B) the period of effectiveness of any license or 
comfort letter described in subparagraph (A);
(C) any foreign policy guidance by the Department 
of State conveyed to the Department of the Treasury 
related to the issuance of any license or comfort 
letter described in subparagraph (A); and
(D) any information communicated to the Government 
of Hungary regarding the potential renewal or extension 
of any license or comfort letter described in 
subparagraph (A); and
(2) an estimate of the total quantity of oil and gas of 
Russian Federation origin purchased by the Government of 
Hungary or Hungarian individuals or entities, by volume and 
dollar value, since the effective date of any license or 
comfort letter described in paragraph (1)(A).
(c) Committees Specified.--The committees specified in this 
subsection are--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee of Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
Financial Services of the House of Representatives.
(d) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted 
in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
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