Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-3488
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2022-01-12 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Asia
Bank accounts, deposits, capital
China
Coal
Collective security
Computer security and identity theft
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Estonia
Europe
European Union
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Foreign and international corporations
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Germany
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Human rights
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Latvia
Lithuania
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military command and structure
Military education and training
Military operations and strategy
Mining
News media and reporting
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Rule of law and government transparency
Russia
Sanctions
Securities
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2022-01-12
text: 

Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022

 
This bill authorizes security assistance for Ukraine, requires sanctions against Russia if it escalates hostilities in or against Ukraine, and addresses related issues.
 
The bill (1) authorizes the Department of Defense to use various authorities to provide and expedite the delivery of defense articles to support Ukraine's armed forces, (2) allows the President to exercise drawdown authority to provide defense articles to Ukraine, and (3) authorizes the Department of State to provide International Military Education and Training assistance to Ukraine. 
 
The President must periodically determine whether Russia's government is significantly escalating hostilities in or against Ukraine and whether such an escalation has the aim or effect of undermining Ukraine's government or interfering with Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity. If the President determines that Russia's government has engaged in such escalation, the President must impose sanctions on (1) certain government officials, including Russia's president and prime minister; (2) certain Russian financial institutions; (3) entities involved in certain transactions involving Russian debt; (4) entities (and corporate officers of such entities) involved in constructing or operating Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline; and (5) certain entities involved in Russian resource extraction industries. 
 
The President may terminate such sanctions after certifying to Congress that Russia's government has taken certain actions, such as entering into an agreed settlement with Ukraine's legitimate democratic government.
 
The bill also authorizes Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to explore opening new bureaus to reach new audiences on Russia's periphery.
 
The State Department must establish an initiative to deepen and foster ties with the Baltic states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-01-18
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 251.
action_date: 2022-01-12
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2022-01-12
text: Introduced in Senate