Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The bill responds to Russia's war against Ukraine by forcing a state-sponsor-of-terrorism determination. It requires the Secretary of State to certify whether Russia has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism, provides a process for designating and later rescinding that status, and limits release of blocked or immobilized Russian sovereign assets. The sanctions effect would be strongest if the designation is made, because state-sponsor status triggers severe legal and financial consequences.
Who Benefits and How
Ukraine benefits because a terrorism designation would increase diplomatic and financial pressure on Russia. Ukrainian civilians benefit from congressional findings documenting attacks on children and other civilians. Congress benefits from a mandatory State Department report and rescission process before any designation is removed. Sanctions enforcement offices benefit from clearer statutory direction on Russian sovereign assets.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Russian Federation faces potential state-sponsor-of-terrorism designation and associated sanctions consequences. The Secretary of State must complete the certification and manage any rescission process. Russian sovereign asset holders face limits on asset release while designation and REPO asset rules apply. Financial institutions holding immobilized Russian assets must maintain compliance with blocked-asset restrictions.
Key Provisions
- Makes findings about Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians and children.
- Requires a State Department certification on whether Russia should be designated a state sponsor of terrorism.
- Directs designation if the statutory certification is made.
- Sets conditions and timing for rescinding the designation.
- Limits release of blocked or immobilized Russian sovereign assets.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Requires the Secretary of State to report on whether Russia meets state-sponsor-of-terrorism criteria, directs designation if the criteria are met, limits rescission, and protects immobilized Russian sovereign assets from release while the designation process is active.
Key Policy Areas
Foreign Affairs, Sanctions, Ukraine
Primary Purpose
Requires the Secretary of State to report on whether Russia meets state-sponsor-of-terrorism criteria, directs designation if the criteria are met, limits rescission, and protects immobilized Russian sovereign assets from release while the designation process is active.
Policy Domains
Bill provisions
Identified Gains
- Ukraine support programs
- Ukrainian civilian families
- Congressional foreign affairs committees
- Sanctions enforcement offices
Identified Costs
- Russian government officials
- Secretary of State
- Russian sovereign asset holders
- Financial institution compliance staff
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedReported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. …
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an …
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an …
Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Britt, and Ms. …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Russian Federation, Russian sovereign asset holders, Secretary of State
Positive-direction: Ukraine
Negative-direction: Russian Federation, Russian sovereign asset holders, Secretary of State
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "secretary"
- → Secretary of State
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology