Protecting Americans From Russian Litigation Act of 2024
Floor Speech
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Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9563) to amend title 28, United States Code, to limit the availability of civil actions affected by United States sanctions, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 9563
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to ensure that United States persons are not disadvantaged for actions or omissions undertaken to comply with United States sanctions and export controls; and
(2) to ensure that foreign persons, or those acting on their behalf, cannot obtain compensation for any action directly or indirectly related to United States persons attempting in good faith to comply with their obligations under United States sanctions. SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON CIVIL ACTIONS AFFECTED BY UNITED STATES SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 111 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Sec. 1660. Limitation on civil actions affected by United
States sanctions
``(a) Limitation.--Notwithstanding any provision of law, a person may not bring a civil action in Federal court to obtain relief for a claim where--
``(1) the underlying conduct or circumstances giving rise to the claim resulted from the imposition of United States sanctions impeding the performance of a contract (whether directly or indirectly, or in whole or in part); and
``(2) the United States sanctions described in paragraph (1) went into effect after the date on which the contract was executed.
``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to limit--
``(1) the authority of the President, or any delegate of the President (including the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury), to restrict or authorize legal services, to enter into a settlement agreement, or to enforce any lien, judgment, arbitral award, decree, or other order through execution, garnishment, or other judicial process; or
``(2) any right, remedy, or cause of action available to a victim of international terrorism, torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, or hostage taking, who is, or was at the time of the victim's injury, a national of the United States, a member of the United States Armed Forces, an employee of the United States Government, or an individual performing a contract awarded by the United States Government acting within the scope of their employment, or a family member of any such victim, under any applicable State or Federal law, including--
``(A) chapter 97 of this title;
``(B) chapter 113B of title 18; and
``(C) the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8701 et seq.), and any other laws providing for the application of sanctions with respect to Iran or Syria.
``(c) United States Sanctions Defined.--In this section, the term `United States sanctions' means any prohibition, restriction, or condition on transactions involving property in which any foreign country or national thereof has an interest that is imposed by the United States to address threats to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States pursuant to--
``(1) section 203 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702); or
``(2) any other provision of law, including any export controls.''.
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Mr. HUNT. 9563.
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Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 9563, the Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2024.
The Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act is simple. It is about protecting American businesses that are being unfairly punished by our adversaries.
U.S. sanctions are a vital tool of American foreign policy that safeguard peace and security, but there are times when U.S. sanctions can put American businesses in difficult situations. A U.S. business that sells goods in Russia, for example, may no longer be able to fulfill orders or complete contracts because of said sanctions.
In such sanctions, their Russian customers have been known to go to Russian courts for breach of contract or other claims. Suffice it to say, American businesses aren't likely to be treated fairly in a Russian court these days.
Russia is engaging in frivolous legal action against American companies because they divested out of their country after they invaded Ukraine.
Whether it is Russia, China, Iran, or any of America's adversaries, we have an obligation to protect America's interests and America's businesses at home and abroad. This bill would protect U.S. businesses and ensure that they are not unfairly punished for simply complying with U.S. sanctions and export controls. Similar provisions protect European companies in the EU courts, and it is high time that Americans get the same protections.
That is why this bill is so important in protecting American companies from unfair litigation. It will provide protection for U.S. companies by barring civil action against those who are forced to breach a contract because of compliance with U.S. sanctions and export controls. American companies shouldn't be forced to pay penalties for doing the right thing and complying with U.S. law.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to co-lead the Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2024 with my colleague from Maryland, Mr. Glenn Ivey. I am also honored to have my fellow Judiciary Committee colleagues, Jerry Nadler, Darrell Issa, Scott Fitzgerald, Hank Johnson, and Laurel Lee, join as original cosponsors.
Protecting our businesses from being targeted by adversaries is not a partisan issue, which is why this bill passed the Judiciary Committee with bipartisan support on a voice vote. This bill proves that even in a divided Congress, we can still work across the aisle in a bipartisan manner on the issues that matter to the United States the most.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9563.
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Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. HUNT. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, Congressman Ivey, for cosponsoring this bill with me.
This is about putting the priorities of the American public first, and it is about protecting the companies in this country that have done the right thing because of the sanctions that we have placed on Russia.
Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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