Bill > HR7415

This bill, known as the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries Act or HARM Act 2.0, aims to designate Russian-based paramilitary organizations and their successor entities as foreign terrorist organizations. It acknowledges that following the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the group's operations and personnel have been absorbed by the Russian Ministry of Defense and reorganized into successor entities like Africa Corps, Redut PMC, and Patriot PMC. The bill finds that these groups continue activities such as mercenary operations, human rights abuses, and supporting authoritarian regimes, posing a threat to international peace, human rights, and U.S. national security. The policy of the United States, as outlined in the bill, is to designate these successor and associated entities as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. To achieve this, the Secretary of State is required to report to Congress a list of these successor entities, individuals who control them, and any entities operating under the Russian Ministry of Defense that employ former Wagner personnel and conduct similar activities. This report will detail any conduct that could warrant designation as terrorist activity or support for terrorism. The Comptroller General will then review the accuracy of this report. Based on these reports, the Secretary of State, in coordination with other relevant officials, will determine if identified individuals or entities meet the criteria for designation, and if so, will apply relevant sanctions and prohibitions. The Secretary of State will also periodically review and update these designations and submit an annual report for five years detailing the international activities, human rights abuses, financial networks, and effectiveness of sanctions against these groups, with a specific focus on their presence in Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7415/all-info