USA Freedom Support Act passes! So what does this mean? Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are now major non-NATO allies! Hopefully, peace will come more quickly. 2014 UKRAINE FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT PASSES BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS ON DECEMBER 11, 2014 Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014: * Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to designate Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova as major non-NATO allies for purposes of that Act and the Arms Export Control Act. * Provides assistance to Ukraine for: (1) the military, defense, energy, and civilian sectors; and (2) internally displaced persons. * Directs the Secretary of State to work with Ukrainian officials to help Ukraine reduce its dependence on natural gas imported from the Russian Federation. * Directs the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors to submit to Congress a plan for increasing the quantity of Russian-language broadcasting into the countries of the former Soviet Union in order to counter Russian Federation propaganda. * Requires such plan to prioritize broadcasting into Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova by the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. * Directs the President to impose sanctions under this Act on Gazprom if it is withholding significant natural gas supplies from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, or further withholds significant natural gas supplies from countries such as Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova. And more: It is the policy of the United States to further assist the Government of Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity to deter the Government of the Russian Federation from further destabilizing and invading Ukraine and other independent countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. That policy shall be carried into effect, among other things, through a comprehensive effort, in coordination with allies and partners of the United States where appropriate, that includes economic sanctions, diplomacy, assistance for the people of Ukraine, and the provision of military capabilities to the Government of Ukraine that will enhance the ability of that Government to defend itself and to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unlawful actions by the Government of the Russian Federation. Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 - Directs the President to impose three or more sanctions under this Act against: --any person that knowingly makes a significant investment in a special Russian crude oil project; or --any entity owned by the government of the Russian Federation or controlled by its nationals that transfers or brokers the transfer to, or manufactures or sells defense articles transferred to, Syria or into the territory of a specified country without its governments consent. Defines specified country as Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, or any other country of significant concern for purposes of this Act, such as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the Central Asia republics. Authorizes the President, through the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce or the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury, to impose additional licensing requirements or other restrictions on the export of items for Russias energy sector. Sets forth sanctions against a foreign person, including executive officers of an entity, relating to: --Export-Import Bank of the United States assistance, --executive agency procurement, --arms and dual-use item exports, --U.S. property transactions, --banking transactions, --investing in or purchasing equity or debt instruments, and --U.S. entry prohibition or visa revocation. Authorizes the President to waive the application of sanctions, or waive sanctions for a specific transaction, for purposes of U.S. national security, and with congressional notification.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 04:54:39 +0000
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