Title: Georgia Support Act
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Georgia Support Act
This bill directs the Department of State to report to Congress on various topics related to Georgia. The reports shall cover (1) U.S. security assistance to Georgia and an assessment of threats to the country's independence and its ability to defend itself, (2) cybersecurity cooperation between the United States and Georgia, and (3) a strategy to help Georgia expand its capabilities to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda.
The President shall impose entry and property-blocking sanctions against foreign persons responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia that are occupied by Russia. The President shall also report to Congress every 180 days on such foreign persons.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 598 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 598

To support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of 
                    Georgia, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 16, 2019

 Mr. Connolly (for himself and Mr. Kinzinger) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in 
addition 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 
                          committee 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 Representatives 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.
                     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 
                            propaganda.
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 serious human rights 
                            abuses, including right to life in Georgian 
                            regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/
                            South Ossetia occupied by Russia.

SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States to--
            (1) support continued development of democratic values in 
        Georgia, including free and fair elections, public sector 
        transparency and accountability, the rule of law, and 
        anticorruption efforts;
            (2) support Georgia's sovereignty, independence, and 
        territorial integrity within its internationally recognized 
        borders;
            (3) support the right of the people of Georgia to freely 
        determine their future and make independent and sovereign 
        choices on foreign and security policy, including regarding 
        their country's relationship with other nations and 
        international organizations, without interference, 
        intimidation, or coercion by other countries;
            (4) support Georgia's Euro-Atlantic and European 
        integration;
            (5) not recognize territorial changes effected by force, 
        including the illegal invasions and occupations of Georgian 
        regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia by the 
        Russian Federation;
            (6) condemn ongoing detentions, kidnappings, and other 
        human rights violations committed in the Georgian regions of 
        Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly occupied 
        by the Russian Federation, including the recent killings of 
        Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria, and 
        Davit Basharuli; and
            (7) support peaceful conflict resolution in Georgia, 
        including by urging the Russian Federation to fully implement 
        the European Union-mediated ceasefire agreement of August 12, 
        2008, and supporting 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.

                     TITLE I--ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS

SEC. 101. UNITED STATES-GEORGIA SECURITY ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) In fiscal year 2018, the United States provided 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 international 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-aspirant country.
            (3) Georgia has contributed substantially to Euro-Atlantic 
        peace and security through participation in the International 
        Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Resolute Support Missions 
        in Afghanistan as one of the largest troop contributors.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress 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 Georgia, to enhance Georgia's deterrence, 
resilience, and self-defense, including through appropriate assistance 
to improve the capabilities of Georgia's armed forces.
    (d) Review of Security Assistance to Georgia.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
        consultation with the heads of other appropriate United States 
        departments and agencies, shall submit to the Committee on 
        Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report reviewing 
        United States security assistance to Georgia.
            (2) Components.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) A detailed review of all United States security 
                assistance to Georgia from fiscal year 2008 to the date 
                of the submission of such report.
                    (B) An assessment of threats to Georgian 
                independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
                    (C) An assessment of Georgia's capabilities to 
                defend itself, including a five-year strategy to 
                enhance Georgia's deterrence, resilience, and self-
                defense capabilities.
            (3) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
        submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 
        annex.

SEC. 102. UNITED STATES CYBERSECURITY COOPERATION WITH GEORGIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of State should take the following actions, commensurate with 
United States interests, to assist 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 reliance 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 Relations of the Senate a report on United States 
cybersecurity cooperation with Georgia. Such report shall also include 
information relating to the following:
            (1) United States efforts to strengthen Georgia's ability 
        to prevent, mitigate, and respond to cyber incidents, including 
        through training, education, 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 to address 
        shared cyber challenges, including cybercrime, critical 
        infrastructure protection, 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 campaigns intended to undermine the 
sovereignty and democratic institutions of Georgia, 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 Secretary of State, in 
        consultation with the heads of other appropriate United States 
        departments and agencies, shall submit to the Committee on 
        Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report outlining 
        a strategy to implement the policy described in subsection (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 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 Georgia's capabilities to deter and combat such 
                Russian 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 AGREEMENT WITH GEORGIA.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States Trade 
Representative should make progress toward negotiations with Georgia to 
enter a bilateral free trade agreement with Georgia.

                     TITLE II--SANCTIONS PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON PERSONS COMPLICIT IN OR 
              RESPONSIBLE FOR SERIOUS 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 on a foreign person the 
sanctions described in subsection (b) if the President determines, 
based on credible information, that such foreign person, on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act--
            (1) is responsible for, complicit in, or responsible for 
        ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing the commission of 
        serious human rights abuses in Georgian regions of Abkhazia and 
        Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly occupied by the 
        Russian Federation;
            (2) is materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing 
        significant financial, material, or technological support for, 
        or goods or services to, a foreign person described in 
        paragraph (1); or
            (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 described in this 
subsection are the following:
            (1) Asset blocking.--The exercise of all powers 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 
        property 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 within the possession or control of a 
        United States person, including by taking any of the actions 
        described in paragraph (1) of section 203(a) of such Act (50 
        U.S.C. 1702(a)).
            (2) Exclusion from the united states and revocation of visa 
        or other documentation.--
                    (A) In general.--In the case of an alien determined 
                by the President to be a person described in subsection 
                (a), denial of a visa to, and exclusion from the United 
                States of, such alien, and revocation in accordance 
                with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality 
                Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), of any visa or other 
                documentation of such alien.
                    (B) Exception to comply with united nations 
                headquarters agreement and law enforcement 
                objectives.--Sanctions under subparagraph (A) shall not 
                apply to an individual if admitting such individual 
                into the United States would further important law 
                enforcement objectives or is necessary to permit the 
                United States to comply with the Agreement regarding 
                the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake 
                Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 
                21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United 
                States, or other applicable international obligations 
                of the United States.
    (c) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of sanctions 
under subsection (b) with respect to a person if the President 
determines that such a waiver is important to the national interests of 
the United States.
    (d) Implementation; Penalties.--
            (1) Implementation.--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 and 1704) to carry out subsection (b)(1).
            (2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to 
        violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of 
        subsection (b)(1) or any regulation, license, or order issued 
        to carry out such subsection shall be subject to the penalties 
        specified in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the 
        International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to 
        the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act 
        described in subsection (a) of such section.
    (e) Report Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and at least once every 180 days thereafter for a 
period not to exceed two years, the President, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury, shall transmit to Congress a detailed report 
with respect to persons that have been determined to have engaged in 
activities described in subsection (a).
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