[Pages H6214-H6216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM RUSSIAN LITIGATION ACT OF 2024

  Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 9563) to amend title 28, United States Code, to limit the 
availability of civil actions affected by United States sanctions, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 9563

       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 ``Protecting Americans from 
     Russian Litigation Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States--
       (1) to ensure that United States persons are not 
     disadvantaged for actions or omissions undertaken to comply 
     with United States sanctions and export controls; and
       (2) to ensure that foreign persons, or those acting on 
     their behalf, cannot obtain compensation for any action 
     directly or indirectly related to United States persons 
     attempting in good faith to comply with their obligations 
     under United States sanctions.

     SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON CIVIL ACTIONS AFFECTED BY UNITED STATES 
                   SANCTIONS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 111 of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 1660. Limitation on civil actions affected by United 
       States sanctions

       ``(a) Limitation.--Notwithstanding any provision of law, a 
     person may not bring a civil action in Federal court to 
     obtain relief for a claim where--
       ``(1) the underlying conduct or circumstances giving rise 
     to the claim resulted from the imposition of United States 
     sanctions impeding the performance of a contract (whether 
     directly or indirectly, or in whole or in part); and
       ``(2) the United States sanctions described in paragraph 
     (1) went into effect after the date on which the contract was 
     executed.
       ``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to limit--
       ``(1) the authority of the President, or any delegate of 
     the President (including the Office of Foreign Asset Control 
     of the Department of the Treasury), to restrict or authorize 
     legal services, to enter into a settlement agreement, or to 
     enforce any lien, judgment, arbitral award, decree, or other 
     order through execution, garnishment, or other judicial 
     process; or
       ``(2) any right, remedy, or cause of action available to a 
     victim of international terrorism, torture, extrajudicial 
     killing, aircraft sabotage, or hostage taking, who is, or

[[Page H6215]]

     was at the time of the victim's injury, a national of the 
     United States, a member of the United States Armed Forces, an 
     employee of the United States Government, or an individual 
     performing a contract awarded by the United States Government 
     acting within the scope of their employment, or a family 
     member of any such victim, under any applicable State or 
     Federal law, including--
       ``(A) chapter 97 of this title;
       ``(B) chapter 113B of title 18; and
       ``(C) the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act 
     of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8701 et seq.), and any other laws 
     providing for the application of sanctions with respect to 
     Iran or Syria.
       ``(c) United States Sanctions Defined.--In this section, 
     the term `United States sanctions' means any prohibition, 
     restriction, or condition on transactions involving property 
     in which any foreign country or national thereof has an 
     interest that is imposed by the United States to address 
     threats to the national security, foreign policy, or economy 
     of the United States pursuant to--
       ``(1) section 203 of the International Emergency Economic 
     Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702); or
       ``(2) any other provision of law, including any export 
     controls.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Miller of West Virginia). Pursuant to 
the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hunt) and the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material on H.R. 9563.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 9563, the Protecting 
Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2024.
  The Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act is simple. It is 
about protecting American businesses that are being unfairly punished 
by our adversaries.
  U.S. sanctions are a vital tool of American foreign policy that 
safeguard peace and security, but there are times when U.S. sanctions 
can put American businesses in difficult situations. A U.S. business 
that sells goods in Russia, for example, may no longer be able to 
fulfill orders or complete contracts because of said sanctions.
  In such sanctions, their Russian customers have been known to go to 
Russian courts for breach of contract or other claims. Suffice it to 
say, American businesses aren't likely to be treated fairly in a 
Russian court these days.
  Russia is engaging in frivolous legal action against American 
companies because they divested out of their country after they invaded 
Ukraine.
  Whether it is Russia, China, Iran, or any of America's adversaries, 
we have an obligation to protect America's interests and America's 
businesses at home and abroad. This bill would protect U.S. businesses 
and ensure that they are not unfairly punished for simply complying 
with U.S. sanctions and export controls. Similar provisions protect 
European companies in the EU courts, and it is high time that Americans 
get the same protections.
  That is why this bill is so important in protecting American 
companies from unfair litigation. It will provide protection for U.S. 
companies by barring civil action against those who are forced to 
breach a contract because of compliance with U.S. sanctions and export 
controls. American companies shouldn't be forced to pay penalties for 
doing the right thing and complying with U.S. law.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to co-lead the Protecting Americans from 
Russian Litigation Act of 2024 with my colleague from Maryland, Mr. 
Glenn Ivey. I am also honored to have my fellow Judiciary Committee 
colleagues, Jerry Nadler, Darrell Issa, Scott Fitzgerald, Hank Johnson, 
and Laurel Lee, join as original cosponsors.
  Protecting our businesses from being targeted by adversaries is not a 
partisan issue, which is why this bill passed the Judiciary Committee 
with bipartisan support on a voice vote. This bill proves that even in 
a divided Congress, we can still work across the aisle in a bipartisan 
manner on the issues that matter to the United States the most.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9563. I commend 
all the bill's sponsors and the Judiciary Committee for their hard work 
on this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 9563, the Protecting Americans from Russian 
Litigation Act of 2024, is targeted legislation to eliminate a loophole 
in U.S. law that could allow Russian companies to take advantage of 
Americans in the United States Federal court system.
  Under the Biden-Harris administration, the United States has 
sanctioned thousands of Russians and Russian entities. Agencies across 
our government, including but not limited to the United States 
Treasury, the Department of Commerce, and the Office of Foreign Assets 
Control have worked to make foreign aggression unaffordable for the 
Russian war machine.
  Sanctioned Russian entities, for the most part, have little recourse. 
A Russian company, for example, cannot physically force U.S. software 
companies to license platforms or provide them with IT services.
  In some limited situations, however, sanctioned Russian entities 
could bring suit in the United States Federal court system. The 
legislation before us today would close that loophole.
  H.R. 9563 amends title 28 of the United States Code to ensure that 
U.S. individuals cannot be sued for good faith efforts to comply with 
U.S. sanctions and export controls. Good faith compliance can include 
refusal to perform on a purchase contract, the revocation of software 
credentials, or the freezing of funds of a sanctioned entity, to name a 
few.
  For example, under this provision, a Russian diamond mine could not 
sue an American company in Federal court for refusing to honor an 
importation contract because the U.S. issued diamond sanctions in March 
2022.
  Our businesses here at home should not be open to liability for 
complying with the law, but that is exactly what happened to J.P. 
Morgan earlier this year.
  Throughout 2024, J.P. Morgan has been embroiled in U.S. and Russian 
lawsuits with Russian bank VTB for complying with U.S. sanctions 
related to the war in Ukraine.
  I recognize there are some in this country who have praised Russia 
for its aggression, who have suggested that we should no longer provide 
aid to our ally Ukraine. As Russia's war continues unabated, however, 
it is important we remember that Russia's aggression is a destabilizing 
force in the region. An emboldened Russia, bolstered by North Korean 
military aid, represents a clear threat to the United States' interests 
abroad and to our NATO allies. We should not reward their behavior by 
letting them take advantage of U.S. companies in our courts.

  Madam Speaker, I thank my friends, Congressman Hunt and Congressman 
Ivey, for their work on this bill. I am glad to join them as a 
cosponsor in this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to support 
H.R. 9563.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ivey), my friend.
  Mr. IVEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 9563, the Protecting 
Americans from Russian Litigation Act.
  I am proud to partner with my co-lead and my friend from Texas, 
Congressman Wesley Hunt, on this important legislation.
  I also thank Ranking Member Nadler and Representatives Issa, 
Fitzgerald, Lee, and Johnson for their support, as well.
  In response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the 
United States imposed numerous sanctions and export controls on Russia.
  The Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act would protect 
American companies that are targeted by Russian litigants seeking 
damages resulting from good faith compliance with these sanctions.
  Unlike the United Kingdom and the European Union, the U.S. Federal 
law

[[Page H6216]]

does not currently protect companies complying with U.S. sanctions and 
export controls from litigation. Because of this, some Russian entities 
subjected to sanctions have sued American companies in Russian courts, 
resulting in significant financial penalties to American businesses in 
certain cases.
  This bill would prevent Russian entities from seeking relief for 
these claims in Federal court, thereby ensuring American companies are 
not punished for their good faith compliance with U.S. sanctions.
  Additionally, this bill does not interfere with or limit the rights, 
remedies, or causes of action available to victims of international 
terrorism.
  This commonsense legislation would protect American companies and 
ensure Russia is held accountable for its illegal invasion of Ukraine.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support passage of this bill.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, Russian companies should not 
be able to use U.S. Federal law to punish U.S. entities for good faith 
compliance with American sanctions.
  H.R. 9563 would ensure that Russia and Russian entities cannot 
exploit loopholes in our laws to punish United States businesses.
  Because of the ongoing threat posed by Russia, U.S. sanctions are as 
important today as they were when the war began nearly 3 years ago. 
Making compliance easier on American companies is an important way to 
ensure the U.S. remains strong in its resolve to defend and support 
Ukraine.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, Congressman Ivey, for 
cosponsoring this bill with me.
  This is about putting the priorities of the American public first, 
and it is about protecting the companies in this country that have done 
the right thing because of the sanctions that we have placed on Russia.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hunt) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 9563.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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