I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2586 
To require an independent assessment and report of subversive activities 
of the Russian Federation, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2017 
Mr. CARBAJAL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To require an independent assessment and report of subver-
sive activities of the Russian Federation, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reporting on Influence 
and Subversion by the Kremlin Act’’ or ‘‘RISK Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 1986, an interagency working group 
issued a report assessing ‘‘active measures’’ by the 
former Soviet Union against the United States. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2586.IH
H2586
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(2) The working group concluded that ‘‘there is 
a massive and highly organized effort by the Soviet 
Union and its proxies to influence world opinion’’. 
(3) The working group further observed that 
‘‘this effort includes public diplomacy to enhance the 
Soviet image abroad and . . . also includes a per-
sistent, widespread program of disinformation and 
deception designed to discredit the U.S. image 
abroad and disrupt U.S. policy objectives.’’. 
(4) Active measures by the Russian Federation 
have shown no diminution since the last report 
issued by the working group in 1987, including— 
(A) to influence world opinion; 
(B) to undercut democratic processes and 
institutions in the United States and partner 
nations; 
(C) to challenge the international liberal 
order; and 
(D) to establish an unfettered sphere of in-
fluence. 
(5) The Director of National Intelligence con-
cluded in light of the Russian Federation’s hacking 
of the 2016 presidential election that ‘‘Russian ef-
forts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election 
represent the most recent expression of Moscow’s 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2586.IH
H2586
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
longstanding desire to undermine the U.S.-led liberal 
democratic order.’’. 
(6) The Russian Federation is deploying an 
array of military, cyber, intelligence, and economic 
tactics to weaken United States democratic institu-
tions, divide Europe from the United States, divide 
Europe from within, undermine organizations such 
as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the 
European Union, and coerce partners to cooperate 
with Russia. 
(7) Militarily, Russian President Vladimir Putin 
ordered the forcible and illegal occupation of Crimea 
in March 2014 and the invasion of Georgia in 2008. 
(8) The Russian military, in which President 
Putin has invested heavily, continues to engage in 
acts of aggression and intimidation against United 
States allies across Europe. 
(9) The Russian Federation’s subversive activi-
ties undermine trust in democratic systems, giving 
rise to political instability. 
SEC. 3. ASSESSMENT OF SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES BY THE 
RUSSIAN FEDERATION. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
submit to Congress a report setting forth an assessment, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2586.IH
H2586
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
obtained by the Secretary for purposes of the report, of 
subversive activities by the Russian Federation. 
(b) INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The assessment obtained for 
purposes of subsection (a) shall be conducted by a 
federally funded research and development center 
(FFRDC), or another appropriate independent enti-
ty with expertise in diplomatic and military develop-
ments in Europe and the Russian Federation, se-
lected by the Secretary for purposes of the assess-
ment. 
(2) USE
OF
PREVIOUS
STUDIES.—The entity 
conducting the assessment may use and incorporate 
information from previous studies on matters appro-
priate to the assessment. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The assessment obtained for pur-
poses of subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of disinformation and propa-
ganda activities of the Russian Federation, including 
an assessment of— 
(A) support for disinformation and propa-
ganda activities with respect to the United 
States and foreign countries; 
(B) the overall structure of the Russian 
Government’s disinformation and influence ap-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2586.IH
H2586
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
paratus, including its intelligence agencies and 
propaganda outlets such as Russia Today; and 
(C) propaganda techniques, including for-
gery, use of media representatives and proxies, 
use of front organizations, and efforts to influ-
ence international organizations. 
(2) An assessment of support by the Russian 
Federation for separatist activities and other aggres-
sive actions aimed at undermining the sovereignty of 
foreign countries, particularly in Ukraine and the 
Baltic countries. 
(3) An assessment of cyber intrusions by the 
Russian Federation to influence the infrastructure 
and democratic processes in the United States and 
other countries. 
(4) An assessment of— 
(A) the use of energy exports by the Rus-
sian Federation for purposes of political or eco-
nomic coercion; and 
(B) significant investment in energy infra-
structure, including pipelines, by the Govern-
ment of Russia or Russian-controlled entities. 
(5) An assessment of the deterioration of demo-
cratic conditions in the Russian Federation, includ-
ing— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2586.IH
H2586
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
(A) suppression of freedom of the press; 
(B) detention, beating, and murder of po-
litical activists and opposition leaders; 
(C) suppression of minority rights; 
(D) suppression of human rights; and 
(E) efforts to undermine the Russian non-
governmental organizations and Russian civil 
society. 
(d) FORM.—The report required under subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
a classified annex. 
SEC. 4. COUNTERING RUSSIAN INFLUENCE FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President is authorized 
to establish in the Department of the Treasury a fund to 
be known as the Countering Russian Influence Fund (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Fund’’). 
(b) AMOUNTS IN FUND.—The Fund shall consist of 
the following: 
(1) Amounts appropriated to carry out section 
7070(d) of division C of the Consolidated Appropria-
tions Act, 2017 (Public Law 115–31). 
(2) Amounts otherwise available to the Sec-
retary of State to carry out this section. 
(c) PURPOSES OF FUND.—Amounts in the Fund for 
any fiscal year are authorized to be made available to the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2586.IH
H2586
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
Secretary of State for bilateral assistance for countries in 
Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia, to counter the fol-
lowing activities in such countries carried out by the Rus-
sian Federation: 
(1) Support for disinformation and propaganda. 
(2) Interference in foreign elections. 
(3) Efforts to undermine financial transparency 
and governance. 
(d) CIVIL SOCIETY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.— 
Amounts in the Fund for any fiscal year may be made 
available to carry out the purposes of the Fund under sub-
section (c) through civil society and other organizations 
that seek to mitigate the expansion of Russian influence 
and aggression, including through public awareness cam-
paigns and exchange activities. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the President not less than 
$100,000,000 to carry out this section. 
(2) RELATION TO CERTAIN OTHER AMOUNTS.— 
Such funds are in addition to any other amounts 
made available for bilateral assistance for countries 
in Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia. 
(3) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—This section 
shall be considered to be an authorization of appro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2586.IH
H2586
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS
priations for purposes of section 7070(d) of division 
C of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 
(Public Law 115–31). 
(f) REPORT.—The Secretary of State shall submit to 
Congress a report for each fiscal year for which activities 
are undertaken pursuant to this section. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:39 May 27, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2586.IH
H2586
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS