That the Senate—
strongly urges the President—
to examine intelligence information regarding the cyber intrusions and attacks of the Government of the Russian Federation against democratic elections and systems around the world; and
to designate for the imposition of sanctions any persons found to have knowingly engaged in conduct that violates section 224 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9524; relating to sanctions with respect to activities of the Russian Federation undermining cybersecurity);
urges the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State to fully implement section 9 of the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8908), as amended by section 227 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (relating to sanctions with respect to significant corruption in the Russian Federation), taking into account information provided in the report mandated under section 241 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (Public Law 115–44; 131 Stat. 922) and other credible information available as a basis for potential additional sanction designations;
calls on the President to immediately exercise sanctions authorities provided for under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act to impose sanctions on relevant Russian individuals and entities found to have knowingly engaged in sanctionable conduct, including under—
section 4 of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8923), as amended by section 225 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (relating to sanctions relating to special Russian crude oil products);
section 5 of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8924), as amended by section 226 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (relating to sanctions with respect to Russian and other foreign financial institutions);
section 10 of the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 8909), as added by section 228 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (relating to sanctions with respect to certain transactions with foreign sanctions evaders and serious human rights abusers in the Russian Federation);
section 233 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9527; relating to sanctions with respect to investment in or facilitation of privatization of state-owned assets by the Russian Federation); and
section 234 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 9528; relating to sanctions with respect to the transfer of arms and related materiel to Syria);
urges the President—
to publicly acknowledge the ongoing threat posed by the Government of the Russian Federation to democratic values and processes in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere;
to prioritize the development of a coordinated, whole-of-government response to that urgent threat; and
to work with Congress to provide for the funding and implementation of that response as soon as possible before the 2018 elections;
urges the President—
to vigorously implement section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525; relating to sanctions with respect to persons engaging in transactions with the intelligence or defense sectors of the Government of the Russian Federation);
to continue to work diplomatically to encourage substantial reductions in significant transactions with the intelligence and defense sectors of the Government of the Russian Federation; and
to ensure that sanctions are imposed under such section 231 in the event that a significant transaction with a person that is part of, or operates for or on behalf of, the intelligence or defense sectors of the Government of the Russian Federation, as defined in guidance issued by the Department of State, takes place;
supports efforts to expose and publicize threats posed by the malign influence and disinformation efforts of the Government of the Russian Federation, as the United States intelligence community did in January 2017, including through efforts by social media platforms, independent media, State and local governments primarily responsible for elections management and oversight, and other governmental and civil society actors; and
calls on the President to take specific measures to ensure the protection of United States democratic institutions in advance of the 2018 elections, including the provision of cyber security defensive measures to election administrators at the State and local level that request assistance and to political parties and candidates.