GHOST Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-1490
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced: 2025-04-10
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2025-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1490 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 10, 2025 Ms. Ernst (for herself and Mr. Blumenthal ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To establish and authorize funding for a Russia Sanctions Enforcement Fund to enforce United States sanctions with respect to the Russian Federation and its illegal ghost ship fleet to pay off the United States public debt and to codify the Export Enforcement Coordination Center.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Global Hunt for Offshore Smuggling and Trafficking Act of 2025 or the GHOST Act of 2025 . 2. Russia Sanctions Enforcement Fund (a) In general Not later than 15 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, there shall be established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the Russia Sanctions Enforcement Fund (in this section referred to as the Fund ), to pay expenses relating to seizures and forfeitures of property made with respect to violations by the Russian Federation and covered merchant ships of sanctions imposed by the United States. (b) Designation of administrator Not later than 15 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall appoint an administrator for the Fund (in this section referred to as the Administrator ). (c) Expenditures from the fund (1) In general The Administrator may authorize amounts from the Fund to be used, without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation, for payment of all proper expenses relating to a covered seizure or forfeiture, including the following: (A) Investigative costs incurred by a law enforcement agency of the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice. (B) Expenses of detention, inventory, security, maintenance, advertisement, or disposal of the property seized or forfeited, and if condemned by a court and a bond for such costs was not given, the costs as taxed by the court. (C) Costs of— (i) contract services relating to a covered seizure or forfeiture; (ii) the employment of outside contractors to operate and manage properties seized or forfeited or to provide other specialized services necessary to dispose of such properties in an effort to maximize the return from such properties; and (iii) reimbursing any Federal, State, or local agency for any expenditures made to perform the functions described in this subparagraph. (D) Payments to reimburse any covered Federal agency for investigative costs incurred leading to a covered seizure or forfeiture. (E) Payments for contracting for the services of experts and consultants needed by the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice to assist in carrying out duties related to a covered seizure or forfeiture. (F) Awards of compensation to informers for assistance provided with respect to a violation by the Russian Federation or a covered merchant ship of sanctions imposed by the United States that leads to a covered seizure or forfeiture. (G) Equitable sharing payments made to other Federal agencies, State and local law enforcement agencies, and foreign governments for expenses incurred with respect to a covered seizure or forfeiture. (H) Payment of overtime pay, salaries, travel, fuel, training, equipment, and other similar expenses of State or local law enforcement officers that are incurred in joint law enforcement operations with a covered Federal agency relating to covered seizure or forfeiture. (2) Authorization of use of fund for additional purposes The Secretary of Homeland Security may direct the Administrator to authorize the use of amounts in the Fund for the following: (A) Payment of awards for information or assistance leading to a civil or criminal forfeiture made with respect to a violation by the Russian Federation or a covered merchant ship of sanctions imposed by the United States and involving any covered Federal agency. (B) Purchases of evidence or information by a covered Federal agency with respect to a violation by the Russian Federation or a covered merchant ship of sanctions imposed by the United States that leads to a covered seizure or forfeiture. (C) Payment for equipment for any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft available for official use by a covered Federal agency to enable the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to assist in law enforcement functions relating to a covered seizure or forfeiture, and for other equipment directly related to a covered seizure or forfeiture, including laboratory equipment, protective equipment, communications equipment, and the operation and maintenance costs of such equipment. (D) Payment for equipment for any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft for official use by a State or local law enforcement agency to enable the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to assist in law enforcement functions relating to a covered seizure or forfeiture if the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft will be used in joint law enforcement operations with a covered Federal agency. (E) Reimbursement of individuals or organizations for expenses incurred by such individuals or organizations in cooperating with a covered Federal agency in investigations and undercover law enforcement operations relating to a covered seizure or forfeiture. (3) Prioritization of activities within the fund In allocating amounts from the Fund for the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2), the Administrator shall prioritize activities that result in the seizure and forfeiture of oil or petroleum products or other commodities or methods of exchange that fund the efforts of the Russian Federation or a covered merchant ship to carry out evasive or deceptive acts. (d) Management of fund The Fund shall be managed and invested in the same manner as a trust fund is managed and invested under section 9602 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (e) Funding (1) Initial funding (A) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended. (B) Repayment of initial funding (i) In general Not later than September 30, 2036, the Administrator shall transfer from the Fund into the general fund of the Treasury an amount equal to $150,000,000, as adjusted pursuant to paragraph (3). (ii) Rule of construction The repayment of amounts under clause (i) shall not be construed as a termination of the authority for the operation of the Fund. (2) Maximum end-of-year balance (A) In general If, at the end of a fiscal year, the amount in the Fund exceeds the amount specified in subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall transfer the amount in excess of the amount specified in subparagraph (B) to the general fund of the Treasury for the payment of the public debt of the United States. (B) Amount specified The amount specified in this subparagraph is— (i) in fiscal year 2026, $500,000,000; and (ii) in any fiscal year thereafter, $500,000,000, as adjusted pursuant to paragraph (3). (3) Adjustments for inflation (A) In general The amounts described in paragraphs (1)(B)(i) and (3)(B)(ii) shall be adjusted, at the beginning of each of fiscal years 2027 through 2036, to reflect the percentage (if any) of the increase in the average of the Consumer Price Index for the preceding 12-month period compared to the Consumer Price Index for fiscal year 2025. (B) Consumer price index defined In this paragraph, the term Consumer Price Index means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. (f) Prohibition on transfer of funds (1) In general Any expenditure of amounts in the Fund, or transfer of amounts from the Fund, not authorized by this section is prohibited. (2) Acts by congress Any Act of Congress to remove money from the Fund shall be reported in the Federal Register not later than 10 days after the enactment of the Act. (g) Report Not later than September 1, 2026, and annually thereafter through September 1, 2036, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on— (1) all activities supported by the Fund during the fiscal year during which the report is submitted and the preceding fiscal year; (2) a list of each covered seizure or forfeiture supported by the Fund during those fiscal years and, with respect to each such seizure or forfeiture— (A) the goods seized; (B) the current status of the forfeiture of the goods; (C) an assessment of the impact on the national security of the United States of the seizure or forfeiture, including the estimated loss of revenue to the person from which the goods were seized; and (D) any anticipated response or outcome of the seizure or forfeiture; (3) the financial health and financial data of the Fund as of the date of the report; (4) the amount transferred to the general fund of the Treasury under subsection (e) or (h); (5) (A) the amount paid to informants for information or evidence under subsection (c); (B) whether the information or evidence led to a seizure; and (C) if so, the cost of the goods seized; (6) the amount remaining to be transferred under subsection (e)(2) and an estimated timeline for transferring the full amount required by that subsection; and (7) (A) any instances during the fiscal years covered by the report of a covered seizure or forfeiture if, after amounts were expended from the Fund to support the seizure or forfeiture, the seizure or forfeiture did not occur as a result of a policy decision made by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the President, or any other official of the United States; and (B) a description of the costs incurred and reasons the seizure or forfeiture did not occur. (h) Failure To report or utilize the fund (1) Effect of failure to submit report If a report required by subsection (g) is not submitted to the appropriate congressional committees by the date that is 180 days after the report is due under subsection (g), the Administrator shall transfer an amount equal to 5 percent of the amounts in the Fund to the general fund of the Treasury for the payment of the public debt of the United States. For each 90-day period thereafter during which the report is not submitted, the Administrator shall transfer an additional amount, equal to 5 percent of the amounts in the Fund, to the general fund of the Treasury for that purpose. (2) Effect of failure to use fund If a report submitted under subsection (g) indicates that amounts in the Fund have not been used for any seizure or forfeiture activity during the fiscal years covered by the report, the Fund shall be terminated and any amounts in the Fund shall transferred to the general fund of the Treasury for the payment of the public debt of the United States. (3) Waiver of termination of fund for national security purposes (A) In general If the President determines that it is in the national security interests of the United States not to terminate the Fund as required by paragraph (2), the President may waive the requirement to terminate the Fund. (B) Report required If the President exercises the waiver authority under subparagraph (A), the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the factors considered in determining that it is in the national security interests of the United States not to terminate the Fund. (C) Form The report required by subparagraph (B) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (i) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the requirements of subsection (e) of the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act ( 34 U.S.C. 20144 ) or the operation of the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund under that subsection. (j) Definitions In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives. (2) Covered federal agency The term covered Federal agency means any Federal agency specified in section 3(b). (3) Covered merchant ship The term covered merchant ship means a flag ship transporting oil subject to sanctions imposed by the United States for the Russian Federation or an organization that works on behalf of, or receives financial or material support from, the Government of the Russian Federation, including Gazprom. (4) Covered seizure or forfeiture The term covered seizure or forfeiture means a seizure or forfeiture of property made with respect to a violation by the Russian Federation or a covered merchant ship of sanctions imposed by the United States. 3. Establishment of Export Enforcement Coordination Center (a) Establishment The Secretary of Homeland Security shall operate and maintain, within Homeland Security Investigations, the Export Enforcement Coordination Center, as established by Executive Order 13558 ( 50 U.S.C. 4601 note) (in this section referred to as the Center ). (b) Purposes The Center shall serve as the primary center for Federal Government export enforcement efforts among the following agencies: (1) The Department of State. (2) The Department of the Treasury. (3) The Department of Defense. (4) The Department of Justice. (5) The Department of Commerce. (6) The Department of Energy. (7) The Department of Homeland Security. (8) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence. (9) Such other agencies as the President may designate. (c) Coordination authority The Center shall— (1) serve as a conduit between Federal law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community (as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) )) for the exchange of information related to potential violations of United States export controls; (2) serve as a primary point of contact between enforcement authorities and agencies engaged in export licensing; (3) coordinate law enforcement public outreach activities related to United States export controls; (4) serve as the primary deconfliction and support center to assist law enforcement agencies to coordinate and enhance investigations with respect to export control violations; (5) establish integrated, governmentwide statistical tracking and targeting capabilities to support export enforcement; and (6) carry out additional duties as assigned by the Secretary of Homeland Security regarding the enforcement of United States export control laws. (d) Administration The Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security Investigations shall— (1) serve as the administrator of the Center; and (2) maintain documentation that describes the participants in, funding of, core functions of, and personnel assigned to, the Center. (e) Director; deputy directors (1) Director The Center shall have a Director, who shall be— (A) a member of the Senior Executive Service (as defined in section 2101a of title 5, United States Code) and a special agent within Homeland Security Investigations; and (B) designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security. (2) Deputy directors The Center shall have 2 Deputy Directors, as follows: (A) One Deputy Director, who shall be— (i) a full-time employee of the Department of Commerce; and (ii) appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. (B) One Deputy Director, who shall be— (i) a full-time employee of the Department of Justice; and (ii) appointed by the Attorney General. (f) Liaisons from other agencies (1) Intelligence community liaison An intelligence community liaison shall be detailed to the Center. The liaison shall be— (A) a full-time employee of an element of the intelligence community; and (B) designated by the Director of National Intelligence. (2) Liaisons from other agencies (A) In general A liaison shall be detailed to the Center by each agency specified in subparagraph (B). Such liaisons shall be special agents, officers, intelligence analysts, or intelligence officers, as appropriate. (B) Agencies specified The agencies specified in this subparagraph are the following: (i) Homeland Security Investigations. (ii) U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (iii) The Office of Export Enforcement of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce. (iv) The Federal Bureau of Investigation. (v) The Defense Criminal Investigative Service. (vi) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (vii) The National Counterintelligence and Security Center of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. (viii) The Department of Energy. (ix) The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury. (x) The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of the Department of State. (xi) The Office of Export Administration of the Bureau of Industry and Security. (xii) The Office of Enforcement Analysis of the Bureau of Industry and Security. (xiii) The Office of Special Investigations of the Air Force. (xiv) The Criminal Investigation Division of the Army. (xv) The Naval Criminal Investigative Service. (xvi) The Defense Intelligence Agency. (xvii) The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. (xviii) Any other agency, at the request of the Secretary of Homeland Security.