PUPPETS Act of 2022

To designate certain unelected entities claiming to be governments as foreign terrorist organizations, to impose certain measures with respect to countries that support such entities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preventing Usurpation of Power and Privileges by Extralegal Territories’ Sedition Act of 2022 PUPPETS Act of 2022 2. Designation as foreign terrorist organizations of unelected entities claiming to be governments (a) In general Each entity described in subsection (b) is designated as— (1) a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 (2) a specially designated global terrorist organization under Executive Order 13224 ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 (b) Entities described An entity described in this subsection is an entity holding itself out to be the Government of— (1) the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, or any other region of Ukraine, that was not elected through the presidential or parliamentary elections in 2019 or local elections in 2020; (2) the Pridnestrovian Moldovian Republic; (3) the Republic of South Ossetia; or (4) the Republic of Abkhazia. 3. Non-recognition of sovereignty by unelected entities claiming to be governments (a) United states armed forces The Secretary of Defense may not take any action, including any movement of aircraft or vessels that implies recognition of the sovereignty of any entity described in section 2(b) over territory or airspace claimed by the Government of Ukraine, Moldova, or Georgia. (b) United states flagged vessels No vessel that is issued a certificate of documentation under chapter 121 (c) United states aircraft No aircraft operated by an air carrier that holds an air carrier certificate issued under chapter 411 4. Measures with respect to countries that support unelected entities claiming to be governments (a) Identification of countries that assist unelected entities claiming To be governments (1) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report identifying each country the government of which the Secretary determines, after February 23, 2022— (A) recognizes the sovereignty of an entity described in section 2(b) over territory or airspace claimed by the Government of Ukraine, Moldova, or Georgia; or (B) provides material assistance or support to such an entity. (2) Form The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if the Secretary determines it is necessary for the national security interests of the United States to do so. (3) Public availability The Secretary shall publish the unclassified part of the report required by paragraph (1) on a publicly available website of the Department of State. (b) Prohibition on foreign assistance (1) In general Except as provided by paragraph (2) or (3), no amounts may be obligated or expended to provide foreign assistance to the government of any country identified in a report required by subsection (a). (2) Exception This subsection shall not apply with respect to Ukraine, Taiwan, humanitarian assistance, disaster assistance, emergency food assistance, or the Peace Corps. (3) Waiver The President may waive the application of paragraph (1) with respect to the government of a country if the President determines that the waiver is in the national interests of the United States. (c) Designation as state sponsors of terrorism (1) In general The government of each country identified in a report required by subsection (a) shall be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. (2) State sponsor of terrorism defined In this subsection, the term state sponsor of terrorism (A) section 1754(c)(1)(A)(i) of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 ( 50 U.S.C. 4813(c)(1)(A)(i) (B) section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2371 (C) section 40(d) of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2780(d) (D) any other provision of law. 5. Termination The requirements of this Act terminate on December 31, 2023.

Summary: Preventing Usurpation of Power and Privileges by Extralegal Territories' Sedition Act of 2022 or the PUPPETS Act of 2022 This bill designates specified entities as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorist organizations. The bill also prohibits the Department of Defense from taking any action that implies recognition of the sovereignty of such entities over territory or airspace claimed by the governments of Ukraine, Moldova, or Georgia. Entities subject to this bill include any entities holding themselves out to be the governments of any region of Ukraine that was not elected through elections in 2019 or 2020, the Pridnestrovian Moldovian Republic, the Republic of South Ossetia, or the Republic of Abkhazia.