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Bill
Notes

H.R. 4686 — what changed

Cambodia Democracy Act of 2021

From Introduced in House to Engrossed in House. 5 sections amended and 1 added between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.

Sec. 2 Findings

added Congress finds the following:

(a)
removed Designation of persons responsible for undermining democracy in Cambodia—
(1)
removed In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall designate and transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of—
(A)
removed each senior official of the government, military, or security forces of Cambodia who the President determines has directly and substantially undermined democracy in Cambodia;
(B)
removed each senior official of the government, military, or security forces of Cambodia who the President determines has committed or directed serious human rights violations associated with undermining democracy in Cambodia; and
(C)
removed entities owned or controlled by senior officials of the government, military, or security forces of Cambodia described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(2)
removed Imposition of sanctions— The President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) on each foreign person designated pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)
removed Updates— The President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees updated lists under paragraph (1) as new information becomes available.
(1)
changed Sanctions described— The sanctions described Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in this subsection are power in Cambodia since 1985 and is the following:longest-serving leader in Southeast Asia. Despite decades of international attention and assistance to promote a pluralistic, multi-party democratic system in Cambodia, the Government of Cambodia continues to be undemocratically dominated by the ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP), which controls every agency and security apparatus of the state.
(1)
removed Asset blocking— The President shall exercise all of the powers granted to the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property of a foreign person designated under subsection (a) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.
(2)
removed Inadmissibility for visas, admission, or parole—
(A)
removed Visas, admission, or parole— A foreign person designated under subsection (a) is—
(i)
removed inadmissible to the United States;
(ii)
removed ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii)
removed otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B)
removed Current visas revoked— A foreign person designated under subsection (a) is subject to the following:
(i)
removed In general— The foreign person is subject to revocation of any visa or other entry documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is or was issued.
(ii)
removed Immediate effect— A revocation under clause (i) shall—
(I)
removed take effect immediately; and
(II)
removed automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the foreign person’s possession.
(C)
removed Exception to comply with international obligations— Sanctions under this paragraph shall not apply with respect to a foreign person if admitting or paroling the person into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations.
(3)
removed Penalties— The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a foreign person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of paragraph (1) to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of such section 206.
(2)
changed Implementation— The President may exercise all authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 Government of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 Cambodia has taken several measures, particularly since 2017 and 1704) during the COVID–19 pandemic, to carry out this section.restrict Cambodia’s space for civil society and media environment, especially through politicized tax investigations against independent media outlets.
(3)
changed Waiver— The President may waive On September 3, 2017, Kem Sokha, the application President of sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to a person designated under subsection (a) if the President determines Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested on politically motivated charges and certifies faces up to 30 years in prison. On November 16, 2017, Cambodia’s Supreme Court dissolved the appropriate congressional committees that such waiver CNRP, eliminating the primary opposition party. While Kem Sokha is no longer in the national interest of prison, his movements are restricted, he is prohibited from engaging in political activity, and his charges remain pending. The CNRP’s previous leader, Sam Rainsy, remains in unofficial exile, and has been prevented from returning to the United States.country.
(4)
added Since the CNRP’s dissolution, the Government of Cambodia has arrested, imprisoned, or brought politically motivated charges against CNRP leaders and activists. Starting in November 2020, the Government of Cambodia has held a series of mass trials for over 100 individuals affiliated with the CNRP.
(5)
added Since 1991, the elections that have taken place in Cambodia were conducted in circumstances that were not free, fair, and credible or were marked by fraud, intimidation, violence, and the government’s misuse of legal mechanisms to weaken opposition candidates and parties.
(6)
added The United States is committed to promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Cambodia. The United States continues to urge the Government of Cambodia to immediately drop charges against Kem Sokha, reinstate the political status of the CNRP and restore its elected seats in the National Assembly, and support electoral reform efforts in Cambodia with free, fair, and credible elections monitored by international observers.
(e)
removed Exception relating to importation of goods—
(1)
removed In general— The authorities and requirements to impose sanctions authorized under this Act shall not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
(2)
removed Good defined— In this subsection, the term “good” means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.

Sec. 3 Sanctions relating to undermining democracy in Cambodia

(a)
added Designation of persons responsible for undermining democracy in Cambodia—
(1)
added In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall designate and transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of—
(A)
added each senior official of the government, military, or security forces of Cambodia who the President determines has directly and substantially undermined democracy in Cambodia;
(B)
added each senior official of the government, military, or security forces of Cambodia who the President determines has committed or directed serious human rights violations associated with undermining democracy in Cambodia; and
(C)
added entities owned or controlled by senior officials of the government, military, or security forces of Cambodia described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(a)
removed Suspension— The sanctions described in section 3 may be suspended for up to 1-year upon certification by the President to the appropriate congressional committees that Cambodia is making meaningful progress toward the following:
(2)
changed Imposition of sanctions— Ending government efforts The President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) on each foreign person designated pursuant to undermine democracy.paragraph (1).
(3)
changed Updates— Ending human rights violations associated with undermining democracy.The President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees updated lists under paragraph (1) as new information becomes available.
(3)
removed Conducting free and fair elections which allow for the active participation of credible opposition candidates.
(b)
changed Renewal of suspension—Sanctions described— The suspension described in subsection (a) may be renewed for additional, consecutive-day periods if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Cambodia is continuing to make meaningful progress towards satisfying the conditions sanctions described in such this subsection during are the previous year.following:
(1)
added Asset blocking— The President shall exercise all of the powers granted to the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property of a foreign person designated under subsection (a) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.
(2)
added Inadmissibility for visas, admission, or parole—
(A)
added Visas, admission, or parole— A foreign person designated under subsection (a) is—
(i)
added inadmissible to the United States;
(ii)
added ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii)
added otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B)
added Current visas revoked— A foreign person designated under subsection (a) is subject to the following:
(i)
added In general— The foreign person is subject to revocation of any visa or other entry documentation regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is or was issued.
(ii)
added Immediate effect— A revocation under clause (i) shall—
(I)
added take effect immediately; and
(II)
added automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the foreign person’s possession.
(C)
added Exception to comply with international obligations— Sanctions under this paragraph shall not apply with respect to a foreign person if admitting or paroling the person into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations.
(3)
added Penalties— The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a foreign person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of paragraph (1) to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of such section 206.
(c)
added Implementation— The President may exercise all authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this section.
(d)
added Waiver— The President may waive the application of sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to a person designated under subsection (a) if the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such waiver is in the national interest of the United States.
(e)
added Exception relating to importation of goods—
(1)
added In general— The authorities and requirements to impose sanctions authorized under this Act shall not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
(2)
added Good defined— In this subsection, the term “good” means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.

Sec. 4 Suspension of sanctions

(a)
added Suspension— The sanctions described in section 3 may be suspended for up to 1-year upon certification by the President to the appropriate congressional committees that Cambodia is making meaningful progress toward the following:
(1)
added Ending government efforts to undermine democracy.
(2)
added Ending human rights violations associated with undermining democracy.
(3)
added Conducting free and fair elections which allow for the active participation of credible opposition candidates.
(b)
added Renewal of suspension— The suspension described in subsection (a) may be renewed for additional, consecutive-day periods if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Cambodia is continuing to make meaningful progress towards satisfying the conditions described in such subsection during the previous year.

removed The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled “Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation” for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Sec. 5 Determination of budgetary effects

changed This Act shall terminate on The budgetary effects of this Act, for the date that is 5 years after purpose of complying with the date Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the enactment latest statement titled “Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation” for this Act.Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Sec. 6 Sunset

changed In This Act shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act:Act.

(1)
removed Appropriate congressional committees— The term “appropriate congressional committees” means the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
(2)
removed Person—
(A)
removed In general— The term “person” means—
(i)
removed a natural person; or
(ii)
removed a corporation, business association, partnership, society, trust, financial institution, insurer, underwriter, guarantor, and any other business organization, any other nongovernmental entity, organization, or group, and any governmental entity operating as a business enterprise or any successor to any entity described in this clause.
(B)
removed Application to governmental entities— The term “person” does not include a government or governmental entity that is not operating as a business enterprise.
(3)
removed United states person— The term “United States person” means—
(A)
removed a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States; or
(B)
removed an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction of the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.

Sec. 7 Definitions

added

added In this Act:

(1)
added Appropriate congressional committees— The term “appropriate congressional committees” means the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
(2)
added Person—
(A)
added In general— The term “person” means—
(i)
added a natural person; or
(ii)
added a corporation, business association, partnership, society, trust, financial institution, insurer, underwriter, guarantor, and any other business organization, any other nongovernmental entity, organization, or group, and any governmental entity operating as a business enterprise or any successor to any entity described in this clause.
(B)
added Application to governmental entities— The term “person” does not include a government or governmental entity that is not operating as a business enterprise.
(3)
added United states person— The term “United States person” means—
(A)
added a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States; or
(B)
added an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction of the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.