House Passes Sanctions Bills on Georgian Democracy, Russia War Machine
The House of Representatives passed several sanctions bills late May 5, including one aimed at officials who undermine democracy in the Republic of Georgia (see 2501070037).
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The House approved the Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act by a 349-42 vote. Supporters of the legislation accused the Georgian government of rigging the country's October 2024 parliamentary elections and putting its political opponents in jail.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced the bill to the full Senate in early March (see 2503270032).
The House also re-approved the Economic Espionage Prevention Act, which would authorize sanctions on foreign adversaries that support Russia’s defense industrial base, violate U.S. export controls or steal U.S. intellectual property. "Enhancing U.S. export control enforcement with economic sanctions will help shut down China's massive support for Russia's defense industrial base," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., said of the bill, which cleared the chamber in the last Congress as well (see 2405160062 and 2409100024).
Other bills the House passed include:
- Falun Gong Protection Act, which would impose sanctions on foreign persons who engage in or facilitate forced organ harvesting in China (see 2502250056)
- Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act, which would require regular reports to Congress on where licensed dual-use goods are being sent abroad (see 2502180047)
- Solidify Iran Sanctions Act, which would repeal the 2026 sunset provision of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (see 2503050054).