,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #behf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #bb1 #bjag,mr4 ,carbajal introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to require an independent assessment and report of subversive activities of the ,russian ,federation1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reporting on ,influence and ,subversion by the ,kremlin ,act or ,,risk ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in #aihf1 an interagency working group issued a report assessing active measures by the former ,soviet ,union against the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,the working group concluded that there is a massive and highly organized effort by the ,soviet ,union and its proxies to influence world opinion4 7#c7 ,the working group further observed that this effort includes public diplomacy to enhance the ,soviet image abroad and ''' also includes a persistent1 widespread program of disinformation and deception designed to discredit the ,u4,s4 image abroad and disrupt ,u4,s4 policy objectives44 7#d7 ,active measures by the ,russian ,federation have shown no diminution since the last report issued by the working group in #aihg1 including-- 7,a7 to influence world opinion2 7,b7 to undercut democratic processes and institutions in the ,united ,states and partner nations2 7,c7 to challenge the international liberal order2 and 7,d7 to establish an unfettered sphere of influence4 7#e7 ,the ,director of ,national ,intelligence concluded in light of the ,russian ,federation's hacking of the #bjaf presidential election that ,russian efforts to influence the #bjaf ,u4,s4 presidential election represent the most recent expression of ,moscow's longstanding desire to undermine the ,u4,s4-led liberal democratic order44 7#f7 ,the ,russian ,federation is deploying an array of military1 cyber1 intelligence1 and economic tactics to weaken ,united ,states democratic institutions1 divide ,europe from the ,united ,states1 divide ,europe from within1 undermine organizations such as the ,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization and the ,european ,union1 and coerce partners to cooperate with ,russia4 7#g7 ,militarily1 ,russian ,president ,vladimir ,putin ordered the forcible and illegal occupation of ,crimea in ,march #bjad and the invasion of ,georgia in #bjjh4 7#h7 ,the ,russian military1 in which ,president ,putin has invested heavily1 continues to engage in acts of aggression and intimidation against ,united ,states allies across ,europe4 7#i7 ,the ,russian ,federation's subversive activities undermine trust in democratic systems1 giving rise to political instability4 #c4 ,assessment of subversive activities by the ,russian ,federation 7a7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to ,congress a report setting forth an assessment1 obtained by the ,secretary for purposes of the report1 of subversive activities by the ,russian ,federation4 7b7 ,independent assessment 7#a7 ,in general ,the assessment obtained for purposes of subsection 7a7 shall be conducted by a federally funded research and development center 7,,ffrdc71 or another appropriate independent entity with expertise in diplomatic and military developments in ,europe and the ,russian ,federation1 selected by the ,secretary for purposes of the assessment4 7#b7 ,use of previous studies ,the entity conducting the assessment may use and incorporate information from previous studies on matters appropriate to the assessment4 7c7 ,elements ,the assessment obtained for purposes of subsection 7a7 shall include the following3 7#a7 ,an assessment of disinformation and propaganda activities of the ,russian ,federation1 including an assessment of-- 7,a7 support for disinformation and propaganda activities with respect to the ,united ,states and foreign countries2 7,b7 the overall structure of the ,russian ,government's disinformation and influence apparatus1 including its intelligence agencies and propaganda outlets such as ,russia ,today2 and 7,c7 propaganda techniques1 including forgery1 use of media representatives and proxies1 use of front organizations1 and efforts to influence international organizations4 7#b7 ,an assessment of support by the ,russian ,federation for separatist activities and other aggressive actions aimed at undermining the sovereignty of foreign countries1 particularly in ,ukraine and the ,baltic countries4 7#c7 ,an assessment of cyber intrusions by the ,russian ,federation to influence the infrastructure and democratic processes in the ,united ,states and other countries4 7#d7 ,an assessment of-- 7,a7 the use of energy exports by the ,russian ,federation for purposes of political or economic coercion2 and 7,b7 significant investment in energy infrastructure1 including pipelines1 by the ,government of ,russia or ,russian-controlled entities4 7#e7 ,an assessment of the deterioration of democratic conditions in the ,russian ,federation1 including-- 7,a7 suppression of freedom of the press2 7,b7 detention1 beating1 and murder of political activists and opposition leaders2 7,c7 suppression of minority rights2 7,d7 suppression of human rights2 and 7,e7 efforts to undermine the ,russian nongovernmental organizations and ,russian civil society4 7d7 ,form ,the report required under subsection 7a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may include a classified annex4 #d4 ,countering ,russian ,influence ,fund 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,president is authorized to establish in the ,department of the ,treasury a fund to be known as the ,countering ,russian ,influence ,fund 7in this section referred to as the ,fund74 7b7 ,amounts in ,fund ,the ,fund shall consist of the following3 7#a7 ,amounts appropriated to carry out section #gjgj7;d7 of division ,c of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjag 7,public ,law #aae-ca74 7#b7 ,amounts otherwise available to the ,secretary of ,state to carry out this section4 7c7 ,purposes of ,fund ,amounts in the ,fund for any fiscal year are authorized to be made available to the ,secretary of ,state for bilateral assistance for countries in ,europe1 ,eurasia1 and ,central ,asia1 to counter the following activities in such countries carried out by the ,russian ,federation3 7#a7 ,support for disinformation and propaganda4 7#b7 ,interference in foreign elections4 7#c7 ,efforts to undermine financial transparency and governance4 7d7 ,civil society and other organizations ,amounts in the ,fund for any fiscal year may be made available to carry out the purposes of the ,fund under subsection 7c7 through civil society and other organizations that seek to mitigate the expansion of ,russian influence and aggression1 including through public awareness campaigns and exchange activities4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,president not less than #ajj1jjj1jjj to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,relation to certain other amounts ,such funds are in addition to any other amounts made available for bilateral assistance for countries in ,europe1 ,eurasia1 and ,central ,asia4 7#c7 ,rule of construction ,this section shall be considered to be an authorization of appropriations for purposes of section #gjgj7;d7 of division ,c of the ,consolidated ,appropriations ,act1 #bjag 7,public ,law #aae-ca74 7f7 ,report ,the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to ,congress a report for each fiscal year for which activities are undertaken pursuant to this section4