[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9374 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9374
To direct the Secretary of State to develop and submit to Congress a
strategy and implementation plan outlining United States efforts to
counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian Federation
and its proxies in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and other
regions as appropriate, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 1, 2022
Mr. Meeks introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of State to develop and submit to Congress a
strategy and implementation plan outlining United States efforts to
counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian Federation
and its proxies in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and other
regions as appropriate, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Countering Malign Russian Activities
Globally Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States--
(1) should regularly assess the scale and scope of the
Russian Federation's influence and activities that undermine
United States objectives and interests in Africa, Latin
America, and the Middle East, each of which is experiencing
such influence and activities to varying degrees, and other
regions as appropriate; and
(2) determine how--
(A) to address and counter such influence and
activities effectively, including through appropriate
United States foreign assistance programs; and
(B) to hold accountable the Russian Federation and
other foreign governments and their officials who are
complicit in aiding such malign influence and
activities.
SEC. 3. REGIONAL STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN; ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) Strategy and Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State
shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
regional strategy and implementation plan outlining United States
efforts to counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian
Federation and its proxies in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East,
and other regions as appropriate, including programs and other
initiatives designed to--
(1) strengthen democratic institutions, improve government
transparency and accountability, improve standards related to
human rights, labor, anti-corruption initiatives, fiscal
transparency, monitor the use and beneficiaries of natural
resources and extractive industries, and other tenets of good
governance; and
(2) monitor and report on Russian political influence and
disinformation operations and the activities of Russian,
Russia-connected, or Russian-funded private military
contractors.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years,
the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other
relevant Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on
the regional strategy and implementation plan required by
subsection (a) and related efforts to counter the malign
influence and activities of the Russian Federation and its
proxies in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and other
regions as appropriate.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) An assessment of the scope and nature of the
Russian Federation's malign influence and activities
and related diplomatic, economic, and security
priorities and strategic objectives of such engagement
in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and other
regions as appropriate, including influence and
activities that involve Russian proxies, such as
Russian oligarchs, Russian-funded private military
contractors, and other individuals and entities
directly or indirectly employed by or financially or
politically associated with Russia and its officials,
who are involved in or aid activities to, among other
things--
(i) manipulate foreign governments and
their policies, as well as the public opinions
and voting preferences of their respective
populations and diaspora groups, including
those in the United States; and
(ii) invest in, engage, or otherwise
control strategic sectors in identified
regions, including mining and other forms of
natural resource extraction and exploitation,
military basing and other security cooperation
agreements, and information and communications
technology.
(B) A detailed account of United States foreign
assistance and other initiatives developed and
implemented during the preceding 3 fiscal years to
address Russia's malign influence and activities in
Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and other
regions as appropriate, including the objectives and
details of planned programs and initiatives set out in
the strategy required by subsection (a).
(C) An analysis of policy and programmatic
limitations, gaps, and resource requirements to
effectively counter Russia's malign influence and
activities in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East,
and other regions as appropriate.
(D) An overview of other initiatives and assistance
programs funded by other international donors and
partner countries to counter Russia's malign influence
and activities in Africa, Latin America, the Middle
East, and other regions as appropriate.
(E) An identification of governments and government
officials in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East,
and other regions as appropriate, Russian government
officials, and other individuals and entities that have
facilitated payments and other prohibited activities
that benefit United States-sanctioned individuals and
entities tied to Russia, including in violation of the
Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act
(subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114-328; 22
U.S.C. 2656 note), the Countering America's Adversaries
Through Sanctions Act (Public Law 115-44; 22 U.S.C.
9401 et seq.), Executive Order 14024 (86 Fed. Reg.
20249; relating to blocking property with respect to
specified harmful foreign activities of the Government
of the Russian Federation), and Executive Order 13848
(83 Fed. Reg. 46843; relating to imposing certain
sanctions in the event of foreign interference in a
United States election), and a detailed overview of
United States efforts to hold such governments,
officials, and other individuals and entities complicit
in violating or facilitating the evasion of United
States sanctions against Russia and its proxies
accountable through sanctions or other restrictions.
(F) An identification of foreign companies and
persons that have provided transportation, logistical,
administrative, border crossing, or money transfer
services to Russian mercenaries or armed forces
operating on behalf of the Russian Government in Libya,
and an analysis of whether such entities meet the
criteria for imposition of sanctions under section 1(a)
of Executive Order 13726 (81 Fed. Reg. 23559; relating
to blocking property and suspending entry into the
United States of persons contributing to the situation
in Libya).
(3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified
annex.
SEC. 4. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
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