H.R. 476: No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act

This bill, titled the No Russian Tunnel to Crimea Act, aims to impose sanctions on foreign individuals or entities involved in the construction, maintenance, or repair of any tunnel or bridge connecting the Russian mainland to the Crimean peninsula. It is primarily a response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its subsequent military actions in Ukraine.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The bill includes several significant provisions:

1. Purpose and Findings

The bill states that:

• In 2014, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea, which is recognized as part of Ukraine.
• Russia built the Kerch Strait Bridge to link the Crimean peninsula with its mainland.
• In 2022, Russia expanded its military activities in Ukraine, which included utilizing Crimea as a military base.
• There have been discussions between Russian and Chinese officials regarding plans to construct a new tunnel to Crimea.

2. Sanctions Overview

The President of the United States is required to impose sanctions on any foreign person who knowingly participates in activities related to the tunnel or bridge project. These sanctions include:

• Asset Blocking: The President can block and prohibit all transactions involving the property and interests of the foreign person within the United States.
• Visa Restrictions: Individuals identified under this sanction will be ineligible for visas, admission, or parole into the United States, and any existing visas will be revoked immediately.

3. Exceptions to Sanctions

There are exceptions provided in the bill:

• Sanctions will not apply if admitting an individual is necessary to comply with U.S. international obligations or for humanitarian assistance, including the provision of food, medicine, and medical devices.
• Sanctions do not impede U.S. intelligence, law enforcement, or national security activities.

4. Implementation and Penalties

The bill allows the President to use authorities granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to enforce these provisions effectively. Violation of these sanctions could lead to penalties that align with existing laws on similar violations.

5. Presidential Waiver

The President can waive the application of sanctions if deemed important for national security, provided that the waiver is communicated to Congress at least 15 days prior to taking effect.

Definitions

Key definitions included in the bill clarify terms such as “foreign person” and “U.S. person,” ensuring that the scope of the sanctions is clearly understood.

Relevant Companies

• Chinese Companies (e.g., China Communications Construction, 1798.HK): This company could be affected if it participates in the construction of the proposed tunnel, as U.S. sanctions would apply to its operations.
• China Railway Group, 1880.HK: If this company engages in building the tunnel connection for Russia, it could face sanctions, blocking its access to U.S. markets.