No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign persons that knowingly participate in the construction, maintenance, or repair of a tunnel or bridge that connects the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula. The bill provides exceptions to these sanctions in certain circumstances (such as providing humanitarian assistance or to comply with international obligations). The President may also waive such sanctions on the basis of U.S. national security interests.
Impact
The bill outlines specific measures that the President must enact, including asset blocking for foreign entities participating in the construction projects related to the tunnel. Additionally, it stipulates that individuals found violating these sanctions will be rendered inadmissible to the U.S. and their existing U.S. visas will be revoked. Such provisions emphasize the serious international ramifications the U.S. seeks to enforce against anyone facilitating projects that support Russian geopolitical maneuvers in the region.
Summary
House Bill 476, titled the 'No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act', focuses on imposing sanctions against foreign individuals or entities involved in the construction, maintenance, or repair of a tunnel or bridge connecting the Russian mainland to Crimea. This reflects the U.S. government's ongoing strategy to counteract Russian aggression and assert its stance against illegal territorial claims, particularly the annexation of Crimea, which is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
Contention
Key points of contention could arise around the definition of 'foreign person' and the entities that might be affected by these sanctions, particularly regarding international business relations. Diplomatic discussions surrounding the legislation are likely to emphasize the need for clarity to avoid unintended consequences for non-state actors involved in legitimate infrastructure initiatives. Furthermore, there may be debates about the efficacy of such sanctions, questioning whether economic penalties will truly dissuade foreign involvement in these projects or if alternative diplomatic measures should be considered.
Supporting Mexico Against Corruption Act This bill directs the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions on foreign persons who are current or former officials of the Mexican government and who are responsible for acts of significant corruption. These sanctions shall also apply to foreign persons acting on behalf of such a government official. The sanctions shall not apply to acts related to U.S. intelligence activities. The President may waive application of the sanctions for U.S. national security interests or to prevent undue economic harm to the people of Mexico.
To direct the President to impose sanctions against foreign persons determined to have knowingly engaged in significant corruption in Mexico, and for other purposes.
Protecting Personal Data from Foreign Adversaries Act This bill authorizes sanctions and other prohibitions relating to software that engages in user data theft on behalf of certain foreign countries or entities. The President may regulate or prohibit transactions using software that engages in the theft or unauthorized transmission of user data and provides access to such data to (1) a communist country, (2) the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), (3) a foreign adversary, or (4) a state sponsor of terrorism. The President may also impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on developers and owners of software that makes unauthorized transmissions of user data to servers located in China that are accessible by China's government or the CCP. The Department of State shall report to Congress a determination regarding whether WeChat or TikTok fall within certain regulations and prohibitions, including those provided under this bill. (WeChat and TikTok are software programs developed by China-based companies.)
Hamas International Financing Prevention Act This bill imposes sanctions targeting Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and any affiliate or successor groups. The President must periodically report to Congress a list of each foreign person (individual or entity) that knowingly provides significant support or services to or is involved in a significant transaction with a senior member or supporter of the targeted groups. The President must impose two or more sanctions on the named persons. Specifically, the person may be (1) denied credit and services from the Export-Import Bank, (2) barred from purchasing certain controlled defense articles, (3) denied exports of items on the U.S. Munitions List, (4) prevented from receiving exports of certain goods or technology controlled for national security reasons, (5) prohibited from receiving financing of more than $10 million from any U.S. financial institution, or (6) subject to property-blocking restrictions. The President must periodically report to Congress a list of foreign governments that have repeatedly provided material support for the targeted groups' terrorist activities. The President shall bar these governments from receiving for one year (1) U.S. assistance, or (2) exports of controlled munitions. The Department of the Treasury must instruct U.S. leadership of international financial institutions to oppose providing assistance to an identified government for one year. The bill provides for certain exceptions and waivers, such as for transactions that would serve U.S. national interests. The President must report to Congress and periodically provide briefings on other specified topics related to the targeted groups, such as where these groups secure financing and surveillance equipment.
World Deserves To Know Act This bill requires sanctions on certain members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and officials of Chinese health agencies. It also addresses related issues. The President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on any foreign person who is a CCP official and who is knowingly responsible for or complicit in (1) the disappearances of whistleblowers and citizen journalists in China relating to COVID-19, or (2) limiting free speech and academic freedom in China relating to COVID-19. The President must also impose such sanctions on specified individuals who have leadership positions in China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention and China's National Health Commission (NHC). The authority to impose such sanctions shall end when the President certifies to Congress that an independent and unimpeded investigation into the potential origin of COVID-19 from the Wuhan Institute of Virology has taken place. The bill also bars federal funds and certain federal student assistance from going to institutions of higher education that enter into a contract with any element or China-based affiliate of the NHC. Federal funding to the National Academy of Sciences may not be used to enter into a contract with any element or China-based affiliate of the NHC. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress a review of all funds that the National Institutes of Health have made available to the NHC since FY2010. This report must also be publicly available.