Sec. 302. Findings

302 words·~1 min read·/bill/115/s/94/is/section-302

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Congress makes the following findings: The Government of the Russian Federation has sought to exert influence throughout Europe and Eurasia, including in the former states of the Soviet Union, by overtly and covertly providing resources to political parties, think tanks, and civil society groups that sow distrust in democratic institutions and actors, promote xenophobic and illiberal views, and otherwise undermine European unity. The Government of the Russian Federation has also engaged in well-documented corruption practices as a means toward undermining and buying influence in those European countries.

The Government of the Russian Federation has largely eliminated a once vibrant Russian-language independent media sector, and severely curtails free and independent media within the borders of the Russian Federation. State-funded and controlled Russian-language media disseminated within and outside of the Russian Federation routinely traffic in anti-Western falsehoods and disinformation, while few independent, fact-based media sources provide objective reporting for Russian-speaking audiences inside or outside of the Russian Federation.

Multinational corporations headquartered in the United States and European countries, and their subsidiaries and local franchisees, advertise on media outlets controlled and funded by the Government of the Russian Federation and are known to routinely traffic in anti-Western falsehoods and disinformation. Acting Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Crimes Adam Szubin stated on January 25, 2016, regarding Vladimir Putin, We’ve seen him enriching his friends, his close allies, and marginalizing those who he doesn’t view as friends using state assets.

Whether that’s Russia’s energy wealth, whether it’s other state contracts, he directs those to whom he believes will serve him and excludes those who don’t. . Many of President Putin’s inner circle and their families hold investments in the West, including in the United States, use the United States financial system, and enjoy freedom of movement in the United States and around the world.