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H.R. 496: To oppose violations of religious freedom in Ukraine by Russia and armed groups commanded or otherwise supported by or acting on behalf of Russia.

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The text of the bill below is as of Apr 22, 2022 (Preprint (Suspension)).

G:\M\17\SUSPENSION\H496_SUS.XMLXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX4/22/2022 7:37XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 837964|2 [Discussion Draft] Suspend the Rules and Pass the Bill, H.R. 496, with Amendments (The amendments strike all after the enacting clause and insert a new text and a new title) XXXXXX (Original Signature of Member) [DISCUSSION DRAFT]

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 496

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 28, 2021

(for himself, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Hudson, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Bilirakis, Ms. Eshoo, and Mr. Harris) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To oppose violations of religious freedom in Ukraine by Russia and armed groups commanded by Russia.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act.

2.

Statement of policy

It is the policy of the United States—

(1)

to never recognize the illegal, attempted annexation of Crimea by the Government of the Russia or the separation through the use of military force or recognition of independence of any portion of Ukrainian territory; and

(2)

to consider any alien who, while serving as an official of the Government of Russia, was responsible for or directly carried out particularly severe violations of religious freedom in the sovereign territory of Ukraine that Russia illegally occupies, controls, or recognizes as independent, including through non-state armed groups and illegal entities it commands or otherwise supports or which act on Russia’s behalf, to have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom for purposes of applying section 212(a)(2)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(G)) with respect to any such alien.

3.

Designation of Russia as a country of particular concern for religious freedom

For purposes of making a determination of whether to designate Russia as a country of particular concern for religious freedom under section 402 of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442), the President shall consider any particularly severe violation of religious freedom in the territory of Ukraine that Russia illegally occupies, controls, or recognizes as independent, including through non-state armed groups and illegal entities it commands or otherwise supports or which act on Russia’s behalf, during the period of time that is the basis for the determination and designation, to be a particularly severe violation of religious freedom that the Government of Russia has engaged in or tolerated.

4.

Determination of budgetary effects

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Amend the title so as to read: A bill to oppose violations of religious freedom in Ukraine by Russia and armed groups commanded or otherwise supported by or acting on behalf of Russia..