HR476-119

What This Bill Does

The No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act responds to Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, Russia's use of Crimea in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and reports that Russian and Chinese business officials discussed a tunnel from the Russian mainland to occupied Crimea. The President must impose sanctions on any foreign person who knowingly participates in construction, maintenance, or repair of a tunnel or bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean peninsula. Sanctions include blocking and prohibiting transactions in property or property interests in the United States or within U.S. possession or control under International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorities. Covered aliens are inadmissible, ineligible for visas or other entry documentation, ineligible for admission or parole, and ineligible for other Immigration and Nationality Act benefits; already issued visas or entry documents must be revoked immediately and revocation cancels other valid entry documents. Exceptions preserve U.S. obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement, agricultural commodities, food, medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, humanitarian finance, humanitarian transport, and authorized intelligence, law enforcement, or national security activities. Classified information may be submitted ex parte and in camera during judicial review, without creating a right to judicial review. IEEPA penalties apply to violations, and the President may waive sanctions with 15 days advance certification to foreign affairs committees that the waiver is important to U.S. national security.

Who Benefits and How

Ukraine benefits from U.S. sanctions aimed at blocking infrastructure that would deepen Russia's connection to occupied Crimea. U.S. sanctions enforcement agencies benefit from clear mandatory authority against foreign tunnel or bridge participants. Crimea-related accountability advocates benefit from sanctions covering construction, maintenance, and repair actors. Humanitarian organizations benefit from exceptions for food, medicine, medical devices, and humanitarian assistance.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Foreign construction firms participating in a Russia-Crimea tunnel or bridge face property blocking and visa consequences. Foreign executives involved in covered projects may become inadmissible and lose visas or entry documents. President, State Department, Homeland Security, and Treasury must identify covered persons, impose sanctions, manage exceptions, and handle waivers. U.S. persons must avoid prohibited transactions with sanctioned foreign persons.

Key Provisions

• Requires sanctions on foreign persons participating in Russia-Crimea tunnel or bridge construction, maintenance, or repair.
• Blocks property and transactions under IEEPA authorities.
• Requires visa inadmissibility and immediate revocation for covered aliens.
• Provides exceptions for humanitarian activity, UN obligations, and authorized U.S. intelligence or law-enforcement activity.
• Authorizes national-security waivers with 15 days advance congressional certification.