,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dfbe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bj1 #bjbd,mr4 ,graham 7for himself and ,mr4 ,blumenthal7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the designation of the ,russian ,federation as a state sponsor of terrorism4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,designating the ,russian ,federation as a ,state ,sponsor of ,terrorism ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,united ,states law authorizes the designation of countries as state sponsors of terrorism if they have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism4 7#b7 ,the ,republic of ,cuba1 the ,democratic ,people's ,republic of ,korea1 the ,islamic ,republic of ,iran1 and the ,syrian ,arab ,republic are currently designated as state sponsors of terrorism4 7#c7 ,at the direction of ,president ,vladimir ,putin1 the ,government of the ,russian ,federation has promoted1 and continues to promote1 acts of international terrorism against political opponents1 foreign nationals1 and nation states4 7#d7 ,under the orders of ,president ,vladimir ,putin1 the ,government of the ,russian ,federation engaged in a campaign of terror that utilized brutal force to target civilians and civilian centers1 such as ,grozny 7the capital of ,chechnya7 during the ,second ,chechen ,war1 which left countless innocent men1 women1 and children dead or wounded4 7#e7 ,in #bjjd1 agents of the ,government of the ,russian ,federation allegedly poisoned then candidate for ,president of ,ukraine and informal opposition coalition leader1 ,viktor ,yushchenko1 with #b1c1g1h-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 7commonly known as ,,tcdd74 7#f7 ,in #bjjf1 agents of the ,government of the ,russian ,federation allegedly poisoned a former officer of the ,federal ,security ,service of the ,russian ,federation1 ,alexander ,litvinenko1 with the rare and highly toxic radionuclide polonium-#baj while ,mr4 ,litvinenko was in ,london4 7#g7 ,in #bjad1 the ,russian ,federation illegally seized and annexed the ,crimean ,peninsula from ,ukraine by military force4 7#h7 ,in #bjad1 the ,wagner ,group1 a private military company1 was established following the ,russian ,federation's illegal seizure and annexation of the ,crimean ,peninsula and has since-- 7,a7 been subject to ,united ,states ,government sanctions for its involvement in the ,russian ,federation's initial invasion of ,ukraine2 7,b7 been added to the ,department of ,commerce's ,entity ,list set forth in ,supplement ,no4 #d to part #gdd of the ,export ,administration ,regulations for violating international law and fueling the conflict in eastern ,ukraine2 7,c7 been identified by the ,department of the ,treasury as a designated ,russian ,ministry of ,defense proxy force2 7,d7 been redesignated by the ,office of ,foreign ,assets ,control of the ,department of the ,treasury pursuant to ,executive ,order #aceha for being a foreign person that constitutes a significant transnational criminal organization1 due to the ,wagner ,group's ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity1 including mass executions1 rape1 child abductions and physical abuse2 and 7,e7 had additional sanctions placed on individuals who have directly or indirectly acted on behalf of the ,wagner ,group1 even after the death of the former head of the ,wagner ,group1 ,yevgeny ,prigozhin4 7#i7 ,since #bjad1 the ,government of the ,russian ,federation has supported separatists engaging in acts of violence against ,ukrainian civilians in the ,donbas region4 7#aj7 ,on ,july #bg1 #bjad1 the ,government of the ,russian ,federation supplied the surface-to-air missile used by pro-,russian rebels in eastern ,ukraine to shoot down ,malaysia ,airlines ,flight #ag1 which resulted in the deaths of #bih innocent men1 women1 and children4 7#aa7 ,in ,september and ,october #bjaf1 an aerial bombing campaign launched by the ,russian-,syrian coalition against the city of ,aleppo1 ,syria killed at least #dcj people and struck civilian targets1 including the al-,sakhour ,medical ,center4 7#ab7 ,in #bjah1 intelligence assessments by the ,united ,states ,government concluded that ,president ,vladimir ,putin ordered the poisoning of former ,russian military officer and double agent for ,british intelligence agencies ,sergei ,skripal and his daughter1 ,yulia ,skripal1 in the ,united ,kingdom4 7#ac7 ,the ,government of the ,russian ,federation has entered into trade deals with the ,republic of ,cuba1 a nation that is currently designated a state sponsor of terrorism1 with the intent to continue to increase bilateral trade between the two countries1 which reached #dej1jjj1jjj in #bjbb1 which was a #bjj percent increase in the value of trade between the two countries compared to #bjba4 7#ad7 ,the ,government of the ,russian ,federation has received diplomatic support from the ,democratic ,people's ,republic of ,korea1 another nation that is currently designated a state sponsor of terrorism1 and a nation that has recognized the ,russian ,federation's illegal annexation of ,donetsk1 ,kherson1 ,luhansk1 and ,zaporizhzhia as legitimate4 7#ae7 ,the ,government of the ,russian ,federation has provided and continues to provide military and technical support to the ,islamic ,republic of ,iran1 a third nation that is currently designated a state sponsor of terrorism1 in return for weapons1 including unmanned aerial vehicles1 which the ,russian ,federation has used extensively in ,ukraine1 including against civilian targets4 7#af7 ,the ,government of the ,russian ,federation provides material support to the ,syrian ,arab ,republic1 a fourth nation that is currently designated a state sponsor of terrorism and a nation that has targeted innocent civilians with attacks on civilian markets1 medical facilities1 and schools4 7#ag7 ,on ,february #be1 #bjbb1 the day after ,russia launched its full scaled invasion of ,ukraine1 and pursuant to ,executive ,order #adjbd 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja note71 which authorizes sanctions against ,russia for its harmful foreign activities1 including violating well-established principles of international law such as respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states1 the ,united ,states imposed sanctions on-- 7,a7 the ,president of the ,russian ,federation1 ,vladimir ,putin2 7,b7 the ,minister of ,foreign ,affairs of the ,russian ,federation1 ,sergei ,lavrov2 7,c7 the ,chief of the ,general ,staff of the ,armed ,forces of the ,russian ,federation1 ,valery ,gerasimov2 and 7,d7 the ,minister of ,defense of the ,russian ,federation1 ,sergei ,shoigu4 7#ah7 ,on ,february #be1 #bjbb1 following the imposition of sanctions1 the ,department of the ,treasury released a statement that reads1 in part1 ,president ,putin and ,minister ,lavrov are directly responsible for ,russia's unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of ,ukraine1 a democratic sovereign state4 ,it is exceedingly rare for ,treasury to designate a head of state2 ,president ,putin joins a very small group that includes despots such as ,kim ,jong ,un1 ,alyaksandr ,lukashenka1 and ,bashar al-,assad44 7#ai7 ,on ,march #a1 #bjbb1 ,jason ,blazakis1 former ,director of the ,counterterrorism ,finance and ,designations ,office1 ,bureau of ,counterterrorism1 ,department of ,state1 wrote ,russia provides sanctuary to a ,u4,s4-designated terrorist group1 the ,russian ,imperial ,movement1 which operates with impunity in ,russian territory44 7#bj7 ,on ,march #ad1 #bjbb1 ,chairperson-in-,office of the ,organization for ,security and ,co-operation in ,europe1 ,zbigniew ,rau1 stated that actions of the ,government of the ,russian ,federation in ,ukraine against innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure is state terrorism4 7#ba7 ,on ,march #ag1 #bjbb1 ,ukrainian ,president ,volodymyr ,zelensky called for the world to acknowledge the ,russian ,federation as a terrorist state4 7#bb7 ,in ,july #bjbb1 it was reported that between #bjac and #bjba the ,governments of the ,russian ,federation and the ,syrian ,arab ,republic had carried out at least #eh double-tap air strikes in residential areas in the ,syrian ,arab ,republic outside of government-held territory that targeted rescue personnel responding to assist civilian casualties caused by the initial air strikes4 7#bc7 ,on ,july #bg1 #bjbb1 during the #aagth ,congress1 the ,senate unanimously passed a resolution calling on the ,secretary of ,state to designate the ,russian ,federation as a state sponsor of terrorism4 7#bd7 ,on ,november #bc1 #bjbb1 the ,european ,parliament designated the ,russian ,federation as a state sponsor of terrorism for its military strikes on civilian targets1 including energy infrastructure1 hospitals1 schools and shelters4 7#be7 ,as of ,december #ba1 #bjbb1 four ,,nato allies have formally declared that the ,russian ,federation is a state sponsor of terrorism4 7#bf7 ,on ,december #ba1 #bjbb1 ,president ,zelensky1 speaking before a joint meeting of the ,united ,states ,congress1 called on the ,united ,states to let the terrorist state of ,russia be held responsible for its terror and aggression towards ,ukraine4 7#bg7 ,on ,march #ag1 #bjbc1 ,pre-,trial ,chamber ,,ii of the ,international ,criminal ,court issued arrest warrants for the ,president of the ,russian ,federation1 ,vladimir ,putin1 and the ,commissioner for ,children's ,rights in the ,office of the ,president1 ,maria ,alekseyevna ,lvova-,belova1 for the war crime of unlawful deportation of children and the unlawful transfer of children from occupied areas of ,ukraine to the ,russian ,federation4 7#bh7 ,on ,february #af1 #bjbd1 ,aleksey ,navalny1 a ,russian opposition leader and vocal critic of ,president ,vladimir ,putin1 was reported dead after ,russian officials announced he died from sudden death syndrome4 7#bi7 ,on ,february #af1 #bjbd1 following reports of the death of ,aleksey ,navalny1 ,president ,biden stated ,make no mistake3 ,putin is responsible for ,navalny's death4 ,what has happened to ,navalny is more proof of ,putin's brutality1 which built on his earlier comments that the consequences of ,navalny's death would be devastating for ,russia44 7#cj7 ,on ,march #e1 #bjbd1 ,pre-,trial ,chamber ,,ii of the ,international ,criminal ,court issued arrest warrants for the ,commander of the ,long-,range ,aviation of the ,aerospace ,force1 ,sergei ,ivanovich ,kobylash1 and ,commander of the ,black ,sea ,fleet1 ,viktor ,nikolayevich ,sokolov1 for the war crime of directing attacks at civilian objects1 the war crime of causing excessive incidental harm to civilians and damage to civilian objects1 and the crime against humanity of inhumane acts4 7#ca7 ,the ,verkhovna ,rada of ,ukraine has appealed to ,congress to encourage the ,department of ,state to designate the ,russian ,federation as a state sponsor of terrorism1 noting that the ,russian ,federation has for years supported and financed terrorist regimes and terrorist organizations1 including being the main supplier of weapons to the ,assad regime in ,syria and supporting terrorists in the ,middle ,east and ,latin ,america1 organizing acts of international terrorism1 including the poisoning of the ,skripal family in the ,united ,kingdom of ,great ,britain and ,northern ,ireland1 the downing of a civilian ,malaysian airliner and other acts of terrorism44 7#cb7 ,while those who oppose designating the ,russian ,federation as a state sponsor of terrorism claim such designation would prevent diplomatic engagement between the ,russian ,federation and the ,united ,states1 section #aab;b of title #a1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,case-,zablocki ,act7 does not prohibit the ,president of the ,united ,states nor the ,secretary of ,state from engaging diplomatically and entering into international agreements with any foreign government that is designated as a state sponsor of terrorism4 7#cc7 ,the ,united ,states has previously engaged diplomatically and entered into agreements with governments designated as state sponsors of terrorism1 including-- 7,a7 in #aihd1 #aiid1 and #aiie when the ,united ,states and the ,republic of ,cuba negotiated a number of joint communiqus and joint statements related to migration procedures2 7,b7 in #aiif1 when the ,united ,states entered into three agreements with the ,islamic ,republic of ,iran related to the resolution of claims before the ,iran-,united ,states ,claims ,tribunal and the ,international ,court of ,justice2 7,c7 in #bjaj1 when the ,united ,states held security talks with the ,president of the ,syrian ,arab ,republic2 7,d7 in #bjac and #bjae1 when the ,united ,states and the ,islamic ,republic of ,iran participated in and signed the multinational ,joint ,plan of ,action and the ,joint ,comprehensive ,plan of ,action1 respectively2 7,e7 in #bjah and #bjai1 when the ,president of the ,united ,states held a series of bilateral meetings with the ,supreme ,leader of the ,democratic ,people's ,republic of ,korea2 and 7,f7 by maintaining ,united ,states ,embassy or interest section operations in the ,republic of ,cuba and the ,syrian ,arab ,republic while the respective countries were designated as state sponsors of terrorism4 7#cd7 ,the ,united ,states has a range of tools available-- 7,a7 to hold the ,russian ,federation accountable2 7,b7 to reduce the ,russian ,federation's war machine2 and 7,c7 to isolate the ,russian ,federation economically and diplomatically1 including-- 7i7 by designating the ,russian ,federation a state sponsor of terrorism2 and 7ii7 by imposing corresponding sanctions4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,agricultural commodity ,the term agricultural commodity has the meaning given such term in section #ajb of the ,agricultural ,trade ,act of #aigh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #efjb74 7#b7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 7,d7 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate2 7,e7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7,f7 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate2 7,g7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7,h7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,i7 the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,j7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,k7 the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,l7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,m7 the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,n7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,medical device ,the term medical device has the meaning given the term device in section #bja7;h77#a7 of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cba7;h77#a774 7#d7 ,medicine ,the term medicine has the meaning given the term drug in section #bja7;g77#a7 of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cba7;g77#a774 #d4 ,designation of the ,russian ,federation as a state sponsor of terrorism 7a7 ,designation ,upon the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall designate the ,russian ,federation a state sponsor of terrorism pursuant to-- 7#a7 section #aged7;c7 of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjai 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #dhac7;c772 7#b7 section #dj of the ,arms ,export ,control ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bghj72 7#c7 section #fbj;,a of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcga72 and 7#d7 any other relevant provision of law4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendments ,section #afje;,a7h77#f7 of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting ,congress or before the ,secretary of ,state2 and 7#b7 by striking section #f7;j7 of the ,export ,administration ,act of #aigi 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 ,app4 #bdje7;j7714 #e4 ,exceptions 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,license requirement ,notwithstanding any other provision of this ,act1 the export of agricultural commodities1 medicine1 or medical devices to the ,russian ,federation may only be made pursuant to a #b-year license issued by the ,united ,states ,government for contracts entered into during the #b-year license period and shipped during the #b-year period beginning on the date on which the contract is signed4 7#b7 ,certain transactions in support of nongovernmental organizations' activities ,the designation of the ,russian ,federation as a state sponsor of terrorism pursuant to section #d7;a7 shall not impact certain transactions in support of nongovernmental organizations' activities in ,ukraine set forth in paragraph 7b7 of ,general ,license ,number #bc1 which was issued by the ,office of ,foreign ,assets ,control of the ,department of the ,treasury on ,march #aa1 #bjbb4 7#c7 ,other requirements ,except as provided in paragraph 7#d71 the requirements under a #b-year license issued pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 may not be more restrictive than license exceptions administered by the ,department of ,commerce or general licenses administered by the ,department of the ,treasury4 7#d7 ,denial of license to certain entities ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall establish procedures to deny licenses for exports to the ,russian ,federation4 7b7 ,quarterly reports ,the applicable department or agency of the ,federal ,government shall submit a quarterly report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes any activities undertaken pursuant to subsection 7a7 during the most recently concluded calendar quarter4 7c7 ,biennial reports ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and biennially thereafter1 the applicable department or agency of the ,federal ,government shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the operation of the licensing system required under this section during the preceding #b-year period1 which shall include-- 7#a7 the number and types of licenses for which applications were submitted2 7#b7 the number and types of licenses that were approved2 7#c7 the average amount of time elapsed between the date on which the license application was filed and the date on which the license was approved2 7#d7 the extent to which the licensing procedures were effectively implemented2 and 7#e7 a description of comments received from interested parties about the extent to which the licensing procedures were effective1 after the applicable department or agency holds a public #cj-;day comment period4 #f4 ,conditions for removing the state sponsor of terrorism designation from the ,russian ,federation ,the ,president may remove the designation required under section #d7;a7 on the date that is #cj days after the date on which the ,president certifies to the appropriate congressional committees1 the majority leader and minority leader of the ,senate1 and the ,speaker and minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives1 that-- 7#a7 the ,russian ,federation is no longer supporting acts of international terrorism2 and 7#b7 removing such designation is in the national security interest of the ,united ,states4