STAND for Ukraine Act

Bill: 114-s-3543
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2016-12-09 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Congressional oversight
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Foreign property
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
Licensing and registrations
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Russia
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Trade restrictions
U.S. and foreign investments
Ukraine
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2016-12-09
text: 
S
tability 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. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2016-12-09
text: Introduced in Senate