39–010 

Calendar No. 449 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2nd Session 113–203 

THE MAGNITSKY GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS 

ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 

JUNE 26, 2014.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. MENENDEZ, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 1933] 

The Committee on Foreign Relations, to which was referred the 

bill S. 1933, to impose sanctions with respect to foreign persons responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human 

rights, and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon with an 

amendment and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Purpose ........................................................................................................... 1 

II. Committee Action .......................................................................................... 2 

III. Discussion ....................................................................................................... 2 

IV. Cost Estimate ................................................................................................. 3 

V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact .................................................................. 3 

VI. Changes in Existing Law .............................................................................. 3 

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 1933 is to authorize the imposition of sanctions 

on foreign persons responsible for gross violations of internationally 

recognized human rights and significant corruption, and for other 

purposes. S. 1933, as amended, authorizes the President to impose 

sanctions on foreign persons the President determines (1) are responsible for certain human-rights related offenses against individuals seeking to expose illegal activity by government officials or 

those seeking to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote internationally 

recognized human rights, as well as those that act on behalf of 

such persons; or (2) are governmental officials or senior associates 

of such officials involved in significant corruption, as well as those 

that materially support and assist such persons. In addition, S. 

1933, as amended, directs the President to provide information, 

upon a request from Congress, on whether a foreign person has engaged in particular activities and to report annually to Congress regarding certain actions taken pursuant to the Act. 


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II. COMMITTEE ACTION

S. 1933 was introduced on January 15, 2014, by Senator Cardin 

and co-sponsored by Senators McCain, Levin, Wicker, Durbin, 

Blumenthal, Shaheen, and Markey. On June 24, 2014, the committee considered S. 1933 and reported it favorably, with an 

amendment. Senator Corker asked to be recorded as voting no. 

The committee took the following action with regard to amendments: 

An amendment offered by Senators Cardin and McCain as a substitute for the original bill was approved by voice vote. An amendment offered by Senator Paul to cease foreign assistance to governments of countries that the President determines enforces a death 

sentence or life imprisonment on the basis of anti-apostasy laws, 

anti-blasphemy laws, or laws prohibiting marriage between individuals of different religious faiths, failed by a roll call vote of 2–16, 

with Senators Paul and Rubio voting in favor, and Senators 

Menendez, Boxer, Cardin, Shaheen, Durbin, Coons, Udall, Kaine, 

Murphy, Markey, Corker, Risch, Johnson, Flake, McCain, and Barrasso opposed. 

III. DISCUSSION

A section-by-section discussion of S. 1933, as amended, follows. 

Section 3 

Section 1 names the bill. 

Section 2 

Section 2 provides definitions. 

Section 3 

Section 3 permits the President to impose sanctions with respect 

to any foreign person the President determines is responsible for 

extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals 

in any foreign country; who acted as an agent of or on behalf of 

a foreign person in a matter relating to an activity mentioned 

above; who is a government official, or a senior associate of such 

an official, that is responsible for, or complicit in, ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, acts of significant corruption, including 

the expropriation of private or public assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural 

resources, bribery, or the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of 

corruption to foreign jurisdictions; or who has materially assisted, 

sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support 

for, or goods or services in support of, an activity described above. 

This section also explains the types of sanctions that could be applied, including inadmissibility to the United States and blocking 

of property. In determining whether to impose sanctions, the President should consider information provided by the chairperson and 

ranking member of each of the appropriate congressional committees and credible information provided by others. In addition, the 

President is directed to respond within 120 days of receiving requests by the Chairperson and Ranking Member of Appropriate 

Congressional Committees regarding whether an individual has enVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:50 Jun 26, 2014 Jkt 039010 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR203.XXX SR203

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gaged in activity described in section 3. The President may waive 

the application of sanctions under this section if the President determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of 

the United States and submits to the appropriate congressional 

committees notice of the waiver. This section also explains that a 

person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 

causes a violation of blocking of property shall be subject to the 

penalties set forth in the International Emergency Economic Powers. In addition, this section describes the terms in which the President may terminate sanctions. Finally, this section provides the 

President with the regulatory authority to carry out this section. 

Section 4 

Section 4 requires a report to Congress 120 days after the date 

of the enactment of the Act and annually thereafter. The report is 

to include a list of each foreign person with respect to which President imposed sanctions, a description of the type of sanction imposed with respect to each person, the number of foreign persons 

the President imposed sanctions and terminated sanction, the 

dates and reasons on which the sanctions were imposed or terminated, and a description of the efforts of the President to encourage 

the governments of other countries to impose similar sanctions. 

This section also explains the form of the report to be submitted 

in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. However, 

the President may include a separate classified annex with the 

name of the foreign persons to be sanctioned if the President determines it is vital for the national security interests of the U.S., uses 

the annex in a manner consistent with congressional intent and 

purposes of this Act, and provides Congress—not later than 15 

days before submitting the name in a classified form. In addition, 

this section explains that the unclassified portion of the report 

shall be made available to the public and the confidentiality requirements with respect to visa records will not be applicable. 

IV. COST ESTIMATE

In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this estimate of the 

costs of this legislation prepared by the Congressional Budget Office. 

V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing Rules 

of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation. 

VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no 

change to existing law made by the bill, as reported. 

Æ 


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