I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6219 
To support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Georgia, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 26, 2018 
Mr. POE of Texas (for himself and Mr. CONNOLLY) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in ad-
dition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, 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 com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial 
integrity of Georgia, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Georgia Support 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. United States policy. 
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TITLE I—ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS 
Sec. 101. United States-Georgia security assistance. 
Sec. 102. United States cybersecurity cooperation with Georgia. 
Sec. 103. Enhanced assistance to combat Russian disinformation and propa-
ganda. 
Sec. 104. Sense of Congress on free trade agreement with Georgia. 
TITLE II—SANCTIONS PROVISIONS 
Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions on persons complicit in or responsible for se-
rious human rights abuses, including right to life in Georgian 
regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia occu-
pied by Russia. 
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States to— 
(1) support Georgia’s sovereignty, independ-
ence, and territorial integrity within its internation-
ally recognized borders; 
(2) support the right of the people of Georgia 
to freely determine their future and make inde-
pendent and sovereign choices on foreign and secu-
rity policy, including regarding their country’s rela-
tionship with other nations and international organi-
zations, without interference, intimidation, or coer-
cion by other countries; 
(3) support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic and Euro-
pean integration; 
(4) not recognize territorial changes effected by 
force, including the illegal invasions and occupations 
of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Re-
gion/South Ossetia by the Russian Federation; 
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(5) condemn ongoing detentions, kidnappings, 
and other human rights violations committed in the 
Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Re-
gion/South Ossetia forcibly occupied by the Russian 
Federation, including the recent killings of Georgian 
citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria, and 
Davit Basharuli; 
(6) support peaceful conflict resolution in Geor-
gia, including by urging the Russian Federation to 
fully implement the European Union-mediated 
ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, and sup-
porting the establishment of international security 
mechanisms in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia 
and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia and the safe 
and dignified return of internally displaced persons 
(IDPs) and refugees, all of which are important for 
lasting peace and security on the ground; and 
(7) support continued development of demo-
cratic values in Georgia, including public sector 
transparency 
and 
accountability, 
as 
well 
as 
anticorruption efforts. 
TITLE I—ASSISTANCE 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 101. UNITED STATES-GEORGIA SECURITY ASSISTANCE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) In fiscal year 2018, the United States pro-
vided Georgia with $2,200,000 in assistance under 
chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act 
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.; relating to inter-
national military education and training) and 
$35,000,000 in assistance under section 23 of the 
Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763; relating 
to the Foreign Military Financing Program). 
(2) Georgia has been a longstanding NATO-as-
pirant country. 
(3) Georgia has contributed substantially to the 
Euro-Atlantic peace and security through participa-
tion in the International Security Assistance Force 
(ISAF) and Resolute Support Missions in Afghani-
stan as one of the largest troop contributors. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that United States assistance to Georgia under 
chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
and section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act should 
be increased. 
(c) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It shall be the policy 
of the United States, in consultation with the Government 
of Georgia, to enhance Georgia’s deterrence, resilience, 
and self-defense, including through appropriate assistance 
to improve the capabilities of Georgia’s armed forces. 
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SEC. 102. UNITED STATES CYBERSECURITY COOPERATION 
WITH GEORGIA. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of State should take the following 
actions, commensurate with United States interests, to as-
sist Georgia to improve its cybersecurity: 
(1) Provide Georgia such support as may be 
necessary to secure government computer networks 
from malicious cyber intrusions, particularly such 
networks that defend the critical infrastructure of 
Georgia. 
(2) Provide Georgia support in reducing reli-
ance on Russian information and communications 
technology. 
(3) Assist Georgia to build its capacity, expand 
cybersecurity information sharing, and cooperate on 
international cyberspace efforts. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions of the Senate a report on United States cybersecu-
rity cooperation with Georgia. Such report shall also in-
clude information relating to the following: 
(1) United States efforts to strengthen Geor-
gia’s ability to prevent, mitigate, and respond to 
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cyber incidents, including through training, edu-
cation, technical assistance, capacity building, and 
cybersecurity risk management strategies. 
(2) The potential for new areas of collaboration 
and mutual assistance between the United States 
and Georgia in addressing shared cyber challenges, 
including cybercrime, critical infrastructure protec-
tion, and resilience against automated, distributed 
threats. 
(3) NATO’s efforts to help Georgia develop 
technical capabilities to counter cyber threats. 
SEC. 103. ENHANCED ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT RUSSIAN 
DISINFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA. 
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It shall be the policy 
of the United States to enhance the capabilities of Georgia 
to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda cam-
paigns intended to undermine the sovereignty and demo-
cratic institutions of the country, while promoting the 
freedom of the press. 
(b) REQUIRED STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of State, in consultation with the heads of 
other appropriate United States departments and 
agencies, shall submit to Congress a report outlining 
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a strategy to implement the policy described in sub-
section (a). 
(2) COMPONENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A detailed assessment of Russian 
disinformation and propaganda efforts across 
all media platforms targeting Georgia. 
(B) An assessment of the Government of 
Georgia’s capabilities to deter and combat such 
Russian efforts and to support the freedom of 
the press. 
(C) A detailed strategy coordinated across 
all relevant United States departments and 
agencies to enhance the Government of Geor-
gia’s capabilities to deter and combat such Rus-
sian efforts. 
(3) FORM.—The report required by paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 
contain a classified annex. 
SEC. 104. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FREE TRADE AGREE-
MENT WITH GEORGIA. 
It is the sense of Congress that the United States 
Trade Representative should make progress toward nego-
tiations with the Government of Georgia to enter a bilat-
eral free trade agreement with Georgia. 
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TITLE II—SANCTIONS 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 
201. 
IMPOSITION 
OF 
SANCTIONS 
ON 
PERSONS 
COMPLICIT IN OR RESPONSIBLE FOR SERI-
OUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, INCLUDING 
RIGHT TO LIFE IN GEORGIAN REGIONS OF 
ABKHAZIA AND TSKHINVALI REGION/SOUTH 
OSSETIA OCCUPIED BY RUSSIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose with 
respect to a foreign person the sanctions described in sub-
section (b) if the President determines, based on credible 
information, that such foreign person, on or after the date 
of enactment of this Act— 
(1) is responsible for, complicit in, or respon-
sible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing 
the commission of serious human rights abuses in 
Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Re-
gion/South Ossetia forcibly occupied by the Russian 
Federation; 
(2) is materially assisting, sponsoring, or pro-
viding significant financial, material, or technological 
support for, or goods or services to, a foreign person 
described in paragraph (1); or 
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(3) is owned or controlled by a foreign person, 
or is acting on behalf of a foreign person described 
in paragraph (1). 
(b) SANCTIONS
DESCRIBED.—The sanctions de-
scribed in this subsection are the following: 
(1) ASSET BLOCKING.—The exercise of all pow-
ers granted to the President by the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 
et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit 
all transactions in all property and interests in prop-
erty of a person determined by the President to be 
a person described in subsection (a) if such property 
and interests in property are in the United States, 
come within the United States, or are or come with-
in the possession or control of a United States per-
son, including by taking any of the actions described 
in paragraph (1) of section 203(a) of such Act (50 
U.S.C. 1702(a)) with respect to regions of Abkhazia 
and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly occu-
pied by the Russian Federation. 
(2) EXCLUSION
FROM
THE
UNITED
STATES 
AND REVOCATION OF VISA OR OTHER DOCUMENTA-
TION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an alien 
determined by the President to be a person de-
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