STAND for Ukraine Act

To contain, reverse, and deter Russian aggression in Ukraine, to assist Ukraine’s democratic transition, and for other purposes. 1. Short title and table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Stability and Democracy for Ukraine Act STAND for Ukraine Act (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. Sec. 2. Statements of policy. Title I—Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Sec. 101. United States policy against recognition of territorial changes effected by force alone. Sec. 102. Prohibitions against United States recognition of the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimea. Sec. 103. Determinations and codification of sanctions under Executive Order No. 13685. Title II—Sanctions provisions Sec. 201. Prohibiting certain transactions with foreign sanctions evaders and serious human rights abusers with respect to the Russian Federation. Sec. 202. Report on certain foreign financial institutions. Sec. 203. Requirements relating to transfers of defense articles and defense services to the Russian Federation. Title III—Other matters Sec. 301. Strategy to respond to Russian Federation-supported information and propaganda efforts directed toward Russian-speaking communities in countries bordering the Russian Federation. Sec. 302. Cost limitation. Sec. 303. Sunset. 2. Statements of policy (a) In general It is the policy of the United States to further assist the Government of Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity to contain, reverse, and deter Russian aggression in Ukraine. That policy shall be carried into effect, among other things, through a comprehensive effort, in coordination with allies and partners of the United States where appropriate, that includes sanctions, diplomacy, and assistance, including lethal defensive weapons systems, for the people of Ukraine intended to enhance their ability to consolidate a rule of law-based democracy with a free market economy and to exercise their right under international law to self-defense. (b) Additional statement of policy It is further the policy of the United States— (1) to use its voice, vote, and influence in international fora to encourage others to provide assistance that is similar to assistance described in subsection (a) to Ukraine; and (2) to ensure that any relevant sanctions relief for the Russian Federation is contingent on timely, complete, and verifiable implementation of the Minsk Agreements, especially the restoration of Ukraine’s control of the entirety of its eastern border with the Russian Federation in the conflict zone. I Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition 101. United States policy against recognition of territorial changes effected by force alone Between the years of 1940 and 1991, the United States did not recognize the forcible incorporation and annexation of the three Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia into the Soviet Union under a policy known as the Stimson Doctrine 102. Prohibitions against United States recognition of the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimea (a) In general In accordance with United States policy enumerated in section 101, no Federal department or agency should take any action or extend any assistance that recognizes or implies any recognition of the de jure or de facto sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters. (b) Documents portraying crimea as part of russian federation In accordance with United States policy enumerated in section 101, the Government Publishing Office should not print any map, document, record, or other paper of the United States portraying or otherwise indicating Crimea as part of the territory of the Russian Federation. 103. Determinations and codification of sanctions under Executive Order No. 13685 (a) Determinations (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the assessment described in paragraph (2). (2) Assessment described The assessment described in this paragraph is— (A) a review of each person designated pursuant to Executive Order No. 13660 (March 6, 2014; 79 Fed. Reg. 13493; relating to blocking property of certain persons contributing to the situation in Ukraine) or Executive Order No. 13661 (March 16, 2014; 79 Fed. Reg. 15535; relating to blocking property of additional persons contributing to the situation in Ukraine); and (B) a determination as to whether any such person meets the criteria for designation pursuant to Executive Order No. 13685 (December 19, 2014; 79 Fed. Reg. 77357; relating to blocking property of certain persons and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to the Crimea region of Ukraine). (3) Form The assessment required by paragraph (2) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. (b) Codification United States sanctions provided for in Executive Order No. 13685, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall remain in effect until the date on which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a certification described in subsection (c). (c) Certification A certification described in this subsection is a certification of the President that Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea has been restored. (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the authority of the President to impose additional United States sanctions with specific respect to the Russian Federation’s occupation of Crimea pursuant to Executive Order No. 13685. (e) Appropriate congressional committees In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. II Sanctions provisions 201. Prohibiting certain transactions with foreign sanctions evaders and serious human rights abusers with respect to the Russian Federation The Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–95 22 U.S.C. 8901 10. Prohibiting certain transactions with foreign sanctions evaders with respect to the Russian Federation (a) In general The President is authorized to impose with respect to a foreign person the sanctions described in subsection (b) if the President determines that the foreign person knowingly— (1) has materially violated, attempted to violate, conspired to violate, or caused a violation of any license, order, regulation, or prohibition contained in, or issued pursuant to any covered Executive order; or (2) has facilitated significant deceptive or structured transactions for or on behalf of any person subject to United States sanctions concerning the Russian Federation. (b) Sanctions described (1) In general The sanctions described in this subsection are the exercise of all powers granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 (2) Penalties A person that is subject to sanctions described in paragraph (1) shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 (c) Waiver The President may waive the application of sanctions under subsection (b) on a case-by-case for a period of not more than 120 days, and may renew that waiver for additional periods of not more than 120 days with respect to a person if the President determines that such a waiver is in the national interests of the United States and on or before the date on which the waiver takes effect, submits to the appropriate congressional committees a notice of and justification for the waiver. (d) Implementation authority The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1702 (e) Regulatory authority The President shall issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this section. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. (2) Covered executive order The term covered Executive order (A) Executive Order No. 13660 (March 6, 2014; 79 Fed. Reg. 13493; relating to blocking property of certain persons contributing to the situation in Ukraine). (B) Executive Order No. 13661 (March 16, 2014; 79 Fed. Reg. 15535; relating to blocking property of additional persons contributing to the situation in Ukraine). (C) Executive Order No. 13685 (December 19, 2014; 79 Fed. Reg. 77357; relating to blocking property of certain persons and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to the Crimea region of Ukraine). (3) Foreign person The term foreign person (4) Structured The term structured structure (5) United states person The term United States person 11. Prohibiting certain transactions in areas controlled by the Russian Federation (a) In general The President is authorized to impose with respect to a foreign person the sanctions described in subsection (b) if the President determines that the foreign person, based on credible information— (1) is responsible for, complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses in any territory forcibly occupied or otherwise controlled by the Government of the Russian Federation; (2) has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to, a foreign person that is responsible for, complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses in any territory forcibly occupied or otherwise controlled by the Government of the Russian Federation; or (3) is owned or controlled by a foreign person, or has acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, a foreign person, that is responsible for, complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses in any territory forcibly occupied or otherwise controlled by the Government of the Russian Federation. (b) Sanctions described (1) In general The sanctions described in this subsection are the exercise of all powers granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1701 (2) Penalties A person that is subject to sanctions described in paragraph (1) shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 (c) Waiver The President may waive the application of sanctions under subsection (b) on a case-by-case for a period of not more than 120 days, and may renew that waiver for additional periods of not more than 120 days with respect to a person if the President determines that such a waiver is in the national interests of the United States and on or before the date on which the waiver takes effect, submits to the appropriate congressional committees a notice of and justification for the waiver. (d) Implementation authority The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1702 (e) Regulatory authority The President shall issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry out this section. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. (2) Foreign person The term foreign person (3) United states person The term United States person . 202. Report on certain foreign financial institutions The Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 ( Public Law 113–95 22 U.S.C. 8901 12. Report on certain foreign financial institutions (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on— (1) foreign financial institutions that are in direct control of assets owned or controlled by the Government of Ukraine in a manner determined by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to be in violation of the sovereignty, independence, or territorial integrity of Ukraine; (2) foreign financial institutions that are directly or indirectly assisting or otherwise aiding the violation of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine; and (3) foreign financial institutions determined by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to be complicit in illicit financial activity, including money laundering, financing of terrorism, transnational organized crime, or misappropriation of state assets, that are— (A) organized under the laws of the Russian Federation; or (B) owned or controlled by a foreign person whose property or interests in property have been blocked pursuant to any covered Executive order. (b) Form The report required to be submitted under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. (2) Covered executive order The term covered Executive order . 203. Requirements relating to transfers of defense articles and defense services to the Russian Federation (a) Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to oppose the transfer of defense articles and defense services from any country that is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to, or on behalf of, the Russian Federation, during any period in which the Russian Federation forcibly occupies the territory of Ukraine or of a NATO member country. (b) Adoption of NATO policy The President shall use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States in NATO to seek the adoption of a policy by NATO that is consistent with the policy of the United States specified in subsection (a). (c) Monitoring and identification of transfers (1) In general The President shall direct the heads of the appropriate departments and agencies of the United States to identify those transfers of defense articles and defense services described in subsection (a) that are contrary to the policy of the United States specified in subsection (a). (2) Report (A) In general The President shall submit a written report to the chairmen and ranking members of the appropriate committees of Congress within 5 days of the receipt of information indicating that a transfer described in paragraph (1) has occurred. (B) Form The report required under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate committees of congress The term appropriate committees of Congress (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. (2) Defense articles and defense services The terms defense article defense service 22 U.S.C. 2794 III Other matters 301. Strategy to respond to Russian Federation-supported information and propaganda efforts directed toward Russian-speaking communities in countries bordering the Russian Federation (a) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop and implement a strategy to respond to Russian Federation-supported disinformation and propaganda efforts directed toward persons in countries bordering the Russian Federation. (b) Matters To be included The strategy required under subsection (a) should include the following: (1) Development of a response to propaganda and disinformation campaigns as an element of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, specifically— (A) assistance in building the capacity of the Ukrainian military to document conflict zones and disseminate information in real-time; (B) assistance in enhancing broadcast capacity with terrestrial television transmitters in Eastern Ukraine; and (C) media training for officials of the Government of Ukraine. (2) Establishment of a partnership with partner governments and private-sector entities to provide Russian-language entertainment and news content to broadcasters in Russian-speaking communities bordering the Russian Federation. (3) Assessment of the extent of Russian Federation influence in political parties, financial institutions, media organizations, and other entities seeking to exert political influence and sway public opinion in favor of Russian Federation policy across Europe. (c) Report The Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the strategy required under subsection (a) and its implementation. (d) Appropriate congressional committees In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate. 302. Cost limitation No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized. 303. Sunset This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall cease to be effective beginning on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Stability and Democracy for Ukraine Act or the STAND for Ukraine Act This bill states that it is U.S. policy to assist the government of Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to reverse and deter Russian aggression in Ukraine. The bill prohibits: (1) a federal agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes Russian sovereignty over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters; and (2) the Government Publishing Office from printing any document indicating Crimea as part of the Russian Federation (Russia). U.S. sanctions provided for in Executive Order 13685 (blocking property of certain persons and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to the Crimea region of Ukraine) shall remain in effect until the President certifies to Congress that Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea has been restored. The Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 is amended to authorize the President to block and prohibit a foreign person's transactions of property or property interests that are U.S.-sited or controlled by a U.S. person if the foreign person has knowingly: (1) violated Executive Orders 13685 or Executive Orders 13360 or 13661(blocking property of persons contributing to the situation in Ukraine), or (2) facilitated deceptive or structured transactions for, or on behalf of, any person subject to U.S. sanctions against Russia. The President is authorized to impose similar sanctions against a foreign person: (1) who is responsible for, or complicit in, the commission of serious human rights abuses in any territory occupied or controlled by Russia; or (2) has materially assisted, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, such a person or is controlled by such a person. The President shall: (1) use U.S. influence to seek North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) adoption of a policy that opposes the transfer of defense articles and services to Russia while Russia occupies the territory of Ukraine or of a NATO member, and (2) direct appropriate U.S. agencies to monitor and identify transfers by NATO members of defense articles and services that are contrary to U.S policy. The Department of State shall develop and implement a strategy to respond to Russian-supported disinformation and propaganda efforts against persons in countries bordering Russia.