HR 8718 United States House · 119th Congress

Countering Russia’s Forced Recruitment and Kidnapping in Africa Act

This bill establishes a process to identify and sanction foreign individuals and governments involved in recruiting or trafficking African citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine. It requires the State Department to compile a list of these actors within 90 days, explicitly excluding those who were victims of fraud or coercion. Once the list is finalized, the President can impose severe penalties, including freezing assets, cutting off access to U.S. loans and contracts, and denying entry or revoking visas for the listed entities and their affiliates. The sanctions include specific exemptions for humanitarian aid and may be lifted if the President determines that doing so serves vital U.S. national interests. All sanctions imposed under this act will automatically expire five years after the bill is enacted.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced May 7, 2026 Last action May 7, 2026
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Committee
1
May 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government 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.
lower
May 7, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

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