Legislation

Establishing New Authorities for Business Laundering and Enabling Risks to Security (ENABLERS) Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Malinowski and Rep. Salazar

Cosponsors: Rep. Cohen and Rep. Wilson

"American adversaries ranging from China to Iran to Russia have taken advantage of the U.S. enablers of kleptocracy – unscrupulous lawyers, accountants, and others, to push their dirty money into our system, attempting to undermine our republic from within. If we are serious about fighting dictatorship, we need U.S. professionals to do the most basic due diligence – no American should be accepting money from Chinese Communist Party operatives, Iranian mullahs, Russian oligarchs or others. The ENABLERS Act is a critical national security measure.” Rep. Wilson

The ENABLERS Act will impose stronger due diligence requirements on such U.S.-based middlemen, to ensure that the United States never again facilitates the corruption and dictatorship we claim to oppose by giving kleptocrats and criminals a safe haven for the money they steal from their people. In turn, it would protect Americans from inflated real estate prices, job loss, human trafficking, and influence peddling.

Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Kaptur and Rep. Kinzinger

Cosponsors:  Rep. McCaul, Rep. Connolly, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Costa, Rep. Wilson, Rep. Malinowski, Rep. Chabot, Rep. Ruppersburger, Rep. Pfluger, Rep. Quigley, Rep. Turner, Rep. Gallego, Rep. Cole, Rep. Case, Rep. Meijer, Rep. Morelle, Rep. Tenney, Rep. Trone, Rep. Stefanik, Rep. Cohen, and Rep. Moulton.

"The United States and our allies are facing increasing threats from state-linked companies in China as they seek to infiltrate and undermine democratic institutions. These companies pose an especially dire risk as our European allies and partners work to build out their 5G infrastructure. 5G networks will serve as the backbone of transatlantic telecommunications infrastructure for years to come, fostering greater development of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. With those advances come immense national security and economic implications. That is why it is critical that these networks be kept safe from malign foreign  influence. This legislation will help our European allies and partners finance 5G infrastructure development through the U.S. Development Finance Corporation, which will provide a viable, transparent alternative to insecure telecommunication equipment and service providers." - Rep. Kaptur

The Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act seeks to increase resilience in countries in the region whose infrastructure deficit from the Soviet-era makes them especially vulnerable to malign Chinese influence, including among nations in the Three Seas Initiative. Additionally, this bill directs the Secretary of State and other relevant agency heads to prioritize diplomacy and project support for European allies and partners to develop 5G markets that are inclusive, transparent, economically viable, socially sustainable, and compliant with international law. Finally, this legislation ensures the United States is leading with our European allies to develop international 5G standards that favor democratic institutions, not further authoritarianism spread by China. 

Counter-Kleptocracy Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Cohen and Rep. Wilson

Cosponsors: Rep. Malinowski, Rep. Curtis, Rep. Cleaver, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Jackson Lee, Rep. Salazar, Rep. Kaptur, Rep. Hill Rep. Porter, Rep. Gonzalez, Rep. Spanberger, Rep. Hudson, Rep.  Phillips, Rep. Veasey, Rep. Gallego, and Rep. Moore.

"Kleptocracy threatens national security and human rights. It underpins every global challenge we face today. From climate change and COVID to organized crime and human trafficking, corruption either causes or exacerbates the problem." - Rep. Cohen

The Counter-Kleptocracy Act consolidates seven bipartisan counter-kleptocracy bills led by members of the Helsinki Commission and the Caucus against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy during the 117th Congress. 

Revealing and Explaining Visa Exclusions for Accountability and Legitimacy (REVEAL) Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Cohen and Rep. Chabot

Cosponsors: Rep. Jackson Lee, Rep. Curtis, Rep. Phillips, Rep. Crenshaw, Rep. Carson, Rep. Porter, and Rep. Kaptur

“Kleptocracy is a serious threat to democracy around the world. In order to preserve freedom of speech and civil society, our foreign policy must be transparent and allow our allies to have the information they need to protect themselves and their democracies from corrupt networks and politicians.” - Rep. Cohen

The REVEAL Act will allow the Secretary of State to publish the names of human rights abusers, like those responsible for the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, and kleptocrats barred from entry into the United States as a result of visa bans. Currently, the executive branch is required to keep the identities of these individuals confidential, preventing public “naming and shaming” that would increase the deterrent effect of visa sanctions.

Countering Russian and Other Overseas Kleptocracy (CROOK) Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Keating and Rep. Fitzpatrick

Cosponsors: Rep. Albio, Rep. Jackson, Rep. Vargas, Rep. Wilson, Rep. Titus, Rep. Crenshaw, Rep. Kim, Rep. Phillips, Rep. Cohen, Rep. Raskin, Rep. Norton, Rep. Meijer, Rep. Spanberger, Rep. Allred, Rep. Sherman, and Rep. Tenney

“As an FBI Supervisory Agent serving abroad, I know firsthand that the United States must take a whole-of-government approach to ensure that resources are being used effectively and that different US Government agencies are not acting at cross-purposes. I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation to bolster our anti-corruption efforts, which should always remain at the forefront of American foreign policy engagement.” - Rep. Fitzpatrick

The CROOK Act establishes an anti-corruption action fund to support international anti-corruption efforts, especially during historic windows of opportunity for reform in foreign countries. The bill would also streamline the US’s work internationally to strengthen the rule of law. This legislation reaffirms US policy to support key partners in promoting good governance and combatting corruption. 

Combating Global Corruption Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Malinowski and Rep. Salazar

Cosponsors: Rep. Young, Rep. Merkley, Rep. Durbin, Rep. Wyden, Rep. Coons, Rep. Whitehouse, Rep. Sinema, and  Rep. Collins.

“For too long, anti-corruption has taken a backseat in U.S. foreign policy, even as dictators across our hemisphere like Castro, Maduro, and Ortega enriched themselves while ravaging their people. Congress is putting counter-kleptocracy at the center of U.S. foreign policy and I am proud to be part of this movement.”  - Rep. Salazar.

The Combating Global Corruption Act would require the State Department to identify corruption in countries and rank them in a public, three-tiered system with respect to levels of corruption in their governments, similar to the Department’s annual Trafficking-in-Persons Report.

Justice for Victims of Kleptocracy Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Malinowski and Rep. Curtis

Cosponsors: Rep. Cohen, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Jackson Lee, Rep. Kaptur, Rep. Keating, Rep. Meijer, Rep. Porter, Rep. Phillips, Rep. Salazar, Rep. Spanberger

“We must remember that the number one victims of the Putin regime are the Russian people. Corrupt officials raid pension funds and state coffers and then live the high-life on their tax dollars. We see this pattern in every dictatorship. In support of President Biden’s new anti-corruption plan, this bill will hold corrupt leaders like Putin accountable by making public exactly how much of their stolen money has been recovered by the United States and from whom it was stolen.” – Rep. Malinowski

The Justice for Victims of Kleptocracy Act directs the Department of Justice to create a public website listing the amount of money stolen from citizens of kleptocratic regimes and recovered by U.S. law enforcement. This bipartisan measure increases transparency by making known exactly how much stolen money has been recovered by the U.S., demonstrates U.S. commitment to rule of law, applies pressure to authoritarian regimes around the world, and sends a message that America stands on the side of those suffering under kleptocracies.

Foreign Corruption Accountability Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Malinowski and Rep. Curtis

Cosponsors: Rep. Cohen, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Jackson Lee, Rep. Kaptur, Rep. Meijer, Rep. Porter, Rep. Phillips, Rep. Salazar, Rep. Spanberger

“This legislation will provide critical protections against corruption by authorizing the President to revoke the visas of those engaging in corruption targeting Americans around the world. Many businesses, and especially small businesses, do not have the resources to combat this type of corruption overseas. This bill will provide certainty for small businesses to invest around the globe—benefitting our economy and developing markets abroad for U.S. producers.” – Rep. Curtis

The Foreign Corruption Accountability Act authorizes visa bans on foreign persons who demand bribers to fulfill, neglect, or violate their official duties. By addressing the demand-side of bribery, his bipartisan measure serves both Americans abroad and citizens under kleptocratic rule by holding corrupt officials accountable.

Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention (TRAP) Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Cohen and Rep. Wilson

“Using the legal system and INTERPOL to harass political opponents is becoming far too common. Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkey frequently issue meritless INTERPOL requests that violate key provisions of INTERPOL’s Constitution, subjecting international travelers to unnecessary inconvenience. The TRAP Act cracks down on the misuse of these tools to prevent autocrats from harassing their own citizens overseas.” - Rep. Cohen

The Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention (TRAP) Act responds to the emerging threat of transnational repression by establishing priorities for the U.S. in responding to INTERPOL abuse and promoting reform within INTERPOL; identifying areas for improvement in the U.S. government’s response to INTERPOL abuse; and protecting the U.S. judicial system from the influence of abusive INTERPOL notices. 

Foreign Extortion Prevention Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Jackson Lee and Rep. Curtis 

“Transnational kleptocrats pose a serious national security threat to the United States. They act as agents of U.S. adversaries, undermining the rule of law internationally and in their own countries, and accessing elite circles and levers of power in democracies through strategic graft and corruption. U.S. prosecutors have been able to indict such individuals under criminal statutes such as wire fraud, mail fraud, and the Travel Act; however, these laws were not designed to tackle the problem of transnational kleptocracy, and each contain deficiencies which make it less than ideal for prosecuting foreign extortion. We cannot leave our prosecutors without the legal tools they need to protect the rule of law.”  -  Rep. Jackson Lee.

The Foreign Extortion Prevention Act will criminalize extortion by foreign officials, enabling the Department of Justice to indict such officials for demanding bribes to fulfill, neglect, or violate their official duties. Currently, only paying or offering a bribe abroad is illegal under U.S. law.

Golden Visa Accountability Act

Introduced in the House by: Rep. Kinzinger and Rep. Malinowski

Cosponsors: Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Meijer, Rep. Phillips, Rep. Salazar, Rep. Spanberger, Rep. Cohen, Rep. Jackson Lee

“The national security of the United States rests on our ability to deny access to our shores to those who would do us harm. Working with our partners, we need to ensure that we close loopholes that allow foreign corrupt officials to abuse our visa process to live lavish lifestyles in the West. By sharing intelligence on the visa denials of these kleptocrats, we will not only ensure that these visas are reserved for honest investors but will also prevent criminals from freely spending their money in the United States.” - Rep. Kinzinger

The Golden Visa Accountability Act will direct the Department of State to create a database that highlights denials of investor visas on the grounds of corruption or human rights abuses. These visas, colloquially known as “golden visas,” are often used by corrupt officials to launder money and live lavish lifestyles in the West. By coordinating with the European Union and the countries of the Five Eyes, the United States would be leading the way to curb efforts by Chinese and Russian kleptocrats to shop for these visas in the West.