Summary#
This bill would create a new Russia Sanctions Enforcement Fund and set rules for how it is run. The fund is intended to pay expenses tied to seizures and forfeitures of property related to violations of U.S. sanctions by the Russian Federation and certain merchant ships (including ships tied to entities such as Gazprom). The Department of Homeland Security (in consultation with Treasury) must appoint an Administrator for the Fund. The bill also codifies and sets up the Export Enforcement Coordination Center inside Homeland Security Investigations to coordinate export enforcement among many federal agencies.
What it means for you#
- A dedicated fund would be available to pay investigative, detention, security, contracting, equipment, informer, and reimbursement costs for seizures and forfeitures tied to covered sanctions violations. These amounts could be used without further annual appropriation.
- The Department of Homeland Security will appoint an Administrator to manage the Fund and report yearly on Fund activity through 2036.
- An Export Enforcement Coordination Center would be formally placed within Homeland Security Investigations, with a Director, two Deputy Directors (from Commerce and Justice), and liaisons from many federal agencies to coordinate export-control enforcement.
Expenses#
- The bill authorizes $150,000,000 to be appropriated to the Russia Sanctions Enforcement Fund for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended.
- The Administrator must transfer $150,000,000 (adjusted for inflation) from the Fund to the general fund of the Treasury by September 30, 2036.
- If the Fund balance at the end of any fiscal year exceeds $500,000,000 (adjusted for inflation after 2026), the excess must be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury for payment of the public debt.
- The Fund may be used, without further appropriation or fiscal year limits, for specified costs tied to covered seizures or forfeitures (investigative costs, detention, maintenance, contract services, reimbursements, equipment, awards to informants, equitable sharing, and related items). The Secretary of Homeland Security may direct additional authorized uses listed in the bill.
- If required annual reports are late, the Administrator must transfer 5% of amounts in the Fund to the general fund; repeated delays trigger additional 5% transfers. If the Fund is not used for any seizure or forfeiture activity during the covered years, the Fund is to be terminated and remaining amounts transferred to the general fund unless the President waives termination for national security and reports why.
Proponents' View#
The text frames the bill as a way to strengthen enforcement of U.S. sanctions against the Russian Federation and covered merchant ships (including those working for or receiving support from Russian entities such as Gazprom), to prioritize seizures of oil, petroleum products, or other commodities that fund Russian activities, to provide a dedicated funding stream for enforcement costs, and to codify a governmentwide export-enforcement coordination center.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.