Russia is a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act

Key Points

• This bill would officially designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, putting it alongside Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria. This triggers a wide range of legal consequences including export controls, arms sale restrictions, and limits on foreign aid.
• The designation activates sanctions under multiple existing laws, including the Export Control Reform Act, the Foreign Assistance Act, and the Arms Export Control Act, severely restricting what can be sold or sent to Russia.
• Frozen Russian government assets in the U.S. are protected from private lawsuits. Instead of letting individuals seize those assets through court judgments, the bill keeps them under executive branch control for use in supporting Ukraine and rebuilding efforts.
• The bill carves out an exception for humanitarian needs, making sure that exporting Ukrainian farm products and delivering humanitarian aid in Ukraine are not blocked by the new sanctions.
• The designation has a built-in sunset clause. It ends either when Russia and Ukraine enter into peace negotiations or after five years, whichever comes first, giving Russia a clear path to have the label removed.