Legis Daily

MEGOBARI Act

USA119th CongressS-868| Senate 
| Updated: 4/28/2025
Jeanne Shaheen

Jeanne Shaheen

Democratic Senator

New Hampshire

Cosponsors (3)
James E. Risch (Republican)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Pete Ricketts (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act," or MEGOBARI Act, seeks to bolster democracy and the rule of law in Georgia. Congress expresses concern over Georgia's recent democratic backsliding, its increasing embrace of ties with Russia and China, and its growing hostility towards independent civil society and Euro-Atlantic partners. The United States maintains a strong interest in safeguarding Georgia's democracy and its aspirations for integration with the European Union and NATO. The bill establishes a U.S. policy to support Georgia's constitutional goal of EU and NATO membership and to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity from Russian aggression. It urges Georgia's political parties to address the European Commission's reform plan transparently and inclusively, involving opposition and civil society. The United States will reevaluate its relationship and foreign assistance to Georgia if the government takes steps to reorient itself towards its Euro-Atlantic agenda and reflects the will of the Georgian people. Furthermore, the Act emphasizes the importance of contributing to international efforts against Russian aggression and reducing Georgia's trade ties with Russia. It commits the U.S. to supporting democratic values in Georgia, including free elections, an independent judiciary, and anti-corruption efforts, with swift consequences for those who undermine these standards. The bill also calls on the Georgian government to release politically motivated detainees and thoroughly investigate allegations from the recent national elections. To enhance oversight, the Act mandates a classified report on the penetration of Russian intelligence and Chinese influence in Georgia. It also requires a 5-year U.S. strategy for bilateral relations, assessing current ties, future investment, and continued support for civil society and independent media organizations in Georgia. A key provision of the Act authorizes sanctions against foreign persons, including Georgian officials and their immediate family members, who have knowingly engaged in significant corruption, violence, or intimidation related to blocking Euro-Atlantic integration. Sanctions may also be imposed on those undermining Georgia's peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity. These sanctions include inadmissibility to the United States and the blocking of property and interests in property. Additional U.S. assistance, such as enhanced people-to-people contacts, academic exchanges, and expanded military cooperation, including defensive equipment and training, is made conditional. This support will be provided only upon the President's certification that Georgia has demonstrated significant and sustained progress in reinvigorating its democracy and advancing its Euro-Atlantic integration. The Act is set to sunset five years after its enactment.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

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Timeline
Mar 5, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 5, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mar 27, 2025
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Apr 28, 2025
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch without amendment. Without written report.
Apr 28, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 55.
May 6, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-36
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 70.
  • March 5, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 5, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • March 27, 2025
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • April 28, 2025
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch without amendment. Without written report.


  • April 28, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 55.


  • May 6, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-36
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 70.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 119-36: MEGOBARI Act
AlliancesAsiaBooks and print mediaChinaCivil actions and liabilityCollective securityCongressional oversightCriminal procedure and sentencingDetention of personsDigital mediaElections, voting, political campaign regulationEuropeEuropean UnionFederal officialsForeign propertyGeorgia (Republic)Government ethics and transparency, public corruptionHuman rightsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationIranPolitical parties and affiliationPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsProtest and dissentRule of law and government transparencyRussiaSanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusVisas and passports

MEGOBARI Act

USA119th CongressS-868| Senate 
| Updated: 4/28/2025
The "Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia's Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act," or MEGOBARI Act, seeks to bolster democracy and the rule of law in Georgia. Congress expresses concern over Georgia's recent democratic backsliding, its increasing embrace of ties with Russia and China, and its growing hostility towards independent civil society and Euro-Atlantic partners. The United States maintains a strong interest in safeguarding Georgia's democracy and its aspirations for integration with the European Union and NATO. The bill establishes a U.S. policy to support Georgia's constitutional goal of EU and NATO membership and to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity from Russian aggression. It urges Georgia's political parties to address the European Commission's reform plan transparently and inclusively, involving opposition and civil society. The United States will reevaluate its relationship and foreign assistance to Georgia if the government takes steps to reorient itself towards its Euro-Atlantic agenda and reflects the will of the Georgian people. Furthermore, the Act emphasizes the importance of contributing to international efforts against Russian aggression and reducing Georgia's trade ties with Russia. It commits the U.S. to supporting democratic values in Georgia, including free elections, an independent judiciary, and anti-corruption efforts, with swift consequences for those who undermine these standards. The bill also calls on the Georgian government to release politically motivated detainees and thoroughly investigate allegations from the recent national elections. To enhance oversight, the Act mandates a classified report on the penetration of Russian intelligence and Chinese influence in Georgia. It also requires a 5-year U.S. strategy for bilateral relations, assessing current ties, future investment, and continued support for civil society and independent media organizations in Georgia. A key provision of the Act authorizes sanctions against foreign persons, including Georgian officials and their immediate family members, who have knowingly engaged in significant corruption, violence, or intimidation related to blocking Euro-Atlantic integration. Sanctions may also be imposed on those undermining Georgia's peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity. These sanctions include inadmissibility to the United States and the blocking of property and interests in property. Additional U.S. assistance, such as enhanced people-to-people contacts, academic exchanges, and expanded military cooperation, including defensive equipment and training, is made conditional. This support will be provided only upon the President's certification that Georgia has demonstrated significant and sustained progress in reinvigorating its democracy and advancing its Euro-Atlantic integration. The Act is set to sunset five years after its enactment.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Mar 5, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 5, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mar 27, 2025
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Apr 28, 2025
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch without amendment. Without written report.
Apr 28, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 55.
May 6, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-36
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 70.
  • March 5, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 5, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • March 27, 2025
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.


  • April 28, 2025
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch without amendment. Without written report.


  • April 28, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 55.


  • May 6, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-36
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 70.
Jeanne Shaheen

Jeanne Shaheen

Democratic Senator

New Hampshire

Cosponsors (3)
James E. Risch (Republican)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Pete Ricketts (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 119-36: MEGOBARI Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AlliancesAsiaBooks and print mediaChinaCivil actions and liabilityCollective securityCongressional oversightCriminal procedure and sentencingDetention of personsDigital mediaElections, voting, political campaign regulationEuropeEuropean UnionFederal officialsForeign propertyGeorgia (Republic)Government ethics and transparency, public corruptionHuman rightsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationIranPolitical parties and affiliationPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsProtest and dissentRule of law and government transparencyRussiaSanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusVisas and passports