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Holding Countries Accountable for Negligent Chemical and Biological Programs Act

USA117th CongressHR-5046| House 
| Updated: 8/17/2021
Randy Feenstra

Randy Feenstra

Republican Representative

Iowa

Foreign Affairs Committee, Financial Services Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Holding Countries Accountable for Negligent Chemical and Biological Programs Act This bill authorizes initial, intermediate, and final sanctions against countries that act grossly negligent (i.e., knew or should have known that an act or acts would harm another foreign state) with respect to a chemical or biological weapons program. Before imposing initial sanctions, the President must determine that a country acted with gross negligence. Following such a determination, the President must impose the initial sanctions (e.g., suspending scientific cooperative programs and restricting U.S. government contracting with entities operating in chemical or biological sectors of a sanctioned country). Within 120 days of imposing initial sanctions, the President must determine whether the country has taken adequate steps to redress its sanctionable conduct. If the country has not taken adequate steps, the President must impose intermediate sanctions (e.g., terminating financial assistance and prohibiting arms transactions). Within 210 days of imposing intermediate sanctions, the President must again determine whether the country has taken adequate steps to redress its sanctionable conduct. If the country has not taken adequate steps, the President must impose final sanctions (e.g., prohibiting certain transactions in foreign exchange or transfers of credit or payment). The sanctions may be removed after 12 months if the President certifies a country adequately redressed the sanctionable conduct. The bill also authorizes waivers of the sanctions, subject to certain restrictions. Furthermore, the President must determine and report to Congress about whether China meets the criteria for gross negligence with respect to its chemical or biological weapons program.
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Timeline
Aug 17, 2021
Introduced in House
Aug 17, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • August 17, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • August 17, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4792: Countering Communist China Act
Arms control and nonproliferationAsiaChemical and biological weaponsChinaCongressional oversightForeign aid and international reliefForeign and international corporationsGovernment liabilityInternational organizations and cooperationLicensing and registrationsMilitary assistance, sales, and agreementsSanctionsTechnology transfer and commercializationTrade restrictions

Holding Countries Accountable for Negligent Chemical and Biological Programs Act

USA117th CongressHR-5046| House 
| Updated: 8/17/2021
Holding Countries Accountable for Negligent Chemical and Biological Programs Act This bill authorizes initial, intermediate, and final sanctions against countries that act grossly negligent (i.e., knew or should have known that an act or acts would harm another foreign state) with respect to a chemical or biological weapons program. Before imposing initial sanctions, the President must determine that a country acted with gross negligence. Following such a determination, the President must impose the initial sanctions (e.g., suspending scientific cooperative programs and restricting U.S. government contracting with entities operating in chemical or biological sectors of a sanctioned country). Within 120 days of imposing initial sanctions, the President must determine whether the country has taken adequate steps to redress its sanctionable conduct. If the country has not taken adequate steps, the President must impose intermediate sanctions (e.g., terminating financial assistance and prohibiting arms transactions). Within 210 days of imposing intermediate sanctions, the President must again determine whether the country has taken adequate steps to redress its sanctionable conduct. If the country has not taken adequate steps, the President must impose final sanctions (e.g., prohibiting certain transactions in foreign exchange or transfers of credit or payment). The sanctions may be removed after 12 months if the President certifies a country adequately redressed the sanctionable conduct. The bill also authorizes waivers of the sanctions, subject to certain restrictions. Furthermore, the President must determine and report to Congress about whether China meets the criteria for gross negligence with respect to its chemical or biological weapons program.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Aug 17, 2021
Introduced in House
Aug 17, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • August 17, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • August 17, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Randy Feenstra

Randy Feenstra

Republican Representative

Iowa

Foreign Affairs Committee, Financial Services Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4792: Countering Communist China Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Arms control and nonproliferationAsiaChemical and biological weaponsChinaCongressional oversightForeign aid and international reliefForeign and international corporationsGovernment liabilityInternational organizations and cooperationLicensing and registrationsMilitary assistance, sales, and agreementsSanctionsTechnology transfer and commercializationTrade restrictions