Keeping Russian Entrapments Minimal and Limiting Intelligence Networks Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1617) to direct the Director of National Intelligence to submit intelligence assessments of the intentions of the political leadership of the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.

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Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1617, the Keeping Russian Entrapments Minimal and Limiting Intelligence Networks Act, or the KREMLIN Act.

The intelligence community is united in its assessment that Russia attempted to sabotage the 2016 U.S. election and that America is not alone in facing these dangers and attacks. In fact, recent reports indicate that Russia continues to engage in information warfare and political interference in the West that threatens the health of democratic institutions within member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, otherwise known as NATO.

Among many examples, the Russian Federation is linked to cybercrimes in Ukraine and Germany, disinformation campaigns here in the United States, intelligence support for pro-Russian Bulgarian candidates, and financing for pro-Russian parties in France.

The bipartisan KREMLIN Act which I introduced with my friend, Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah, acknowledges the active threat of foreign interference on the United States and our NATO allies.

Specifically, this legislation would require the Director of National Intelligence to submit three intelligence assessments to Congress. These assessments must analyze:

First, potential military action by Russia against members of NATO;

Second, potential responses by Russia to an enlarged U.S. or NATO presence in Eastern Europe;

Third, potential areas where the Russian Government could exploit weaknesses and divisions among the governments of NATO and her allies.

Most importantly, the KREMLIN Act recognizes that Russian meddling with our allied NATO countries constitutes a direct threat to the United States.

By providing the appropriate congressional committees with these comprehensive assessments, we will be better prepared to thwart efforts in the future that aim to weaken international democratic institutions.

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Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared to close.

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Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, for the health of our democracy, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan KREMLIN Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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