H.R. 8176

119 HR 8176 IH: Moldova Support Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-02
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8176  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 2, 2026   Mr. Keating  (for himself,  Mr. Lawler , and  Ms. Ross ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on  the Judiciary , 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   A BILL
To require the Secretary of State to facilitate strategic dialogue with Moldova and submit a report on support for Moldova, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Moldova Support Act of 2026  .
2.
Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that:
(1)
For more than 3 decades, the Republic of Moldova has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing democracy, strengthening civil society, furthering accession to the European Union, and deepening cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through the Partnership for Peace Program.
(2)
The Russian Federation’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has threatened the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova by destabilizing the country’s economy as well as its energy security.
(3)
The reelection of Moldovan President Maia Sandu further cements Moldova’s pro-European path and Moldova’s expedient accession to the European Union is in the direct interest of the United States.
(4)
Moldova represents a United States foreign assistance success story with United States foreign assistance to Moldova contributing to Moldova’s energy security, economic development, and democratic values as well as furthering the United States-Moldova bilateral relationship, all which benefit the people and businesses of the United States and strengthen the transatlantic relationship.
(5)
The United States-Moldova Strategic Dialogue is an important platform for strengthening the United States-Moldova bilateral relationship.
(6)
The Russian Federation has historically targeted Moldova, seeking to undermine its democratic institutions, weaponize energy supplies in Moldova (including through Transnistria), and use Moldova as a lynchpin of a wider campaign to expand its malign influence and promote broader instability across Europe and the world.
3.
United States-Moldova strategic dialogue
(a)
In general
The Secretary of State shall facilitate a strategic dialogue between the United States and the Republic of Moldova to—
(1)
advance bilateral priorities, including defense and security cooperation;
(2)
discuss Moldova’s progress towards European Union integration and ways the United States can facilitate, through foreign assistance, investment, and public-private partnership, Moldova’s process of accession to the European Union;
(3)
strengthen economic and energy ties between Moldova and the United States, including expanding United States Government support for the Straseni-Gutinas transmission line project that will provide opportunities for United States businesses, strengthen Moldova’s energy independence, and enhance Moldovan and European energy security;
(4)
reaffirm support for Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders;
(5)
expand support for the State Partnership Program between Moldova and North Carolina; and
(6)
expand and support State Department facilitated American Spaces in Moldova.
(b)
Frequency of dialogue
The Secretary, in partnership with the Government of Moldova, shall facilitate the strategic dialogue required in subsection (a) not less frequently than annually.
4.
Strategy to promote Moldova’s pro-European future
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate Congressional Committees a report that includes—
(1)
a 4-year strategy to—
(A)
bolster United States-Moldovan bilateral relations, including to advance the priorities outlined in the strategic dialogue required in section 3; and
(B)
support Moldova’s process of accession to the European Union and Moldova’s goal of becoming a member of the European Union by the year 2030, including through United States foreign assistance that avoids conflicts with Moldova’s obligations related to European Union accession or agreements with international financial institutions or other official creditors;
(2)
a description of actions taken by the Department of State to counter malign influence by the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in Moldova since January 20, 2025;
(3)
a list of active and cancelled foreign assistance programs in or related to Moldova since January 20, 2025; and
(4)
a description of actions taken by the Department to support the accession of Moldova to the European Union and expand, where appropriate and within the interests of both the United States and Moldova, Moldova’s cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
5.
Maintenance of certain sanctions
(a)
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any sanction imposed by the United States and in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act with respect to a person described in subsection (c) may not be terminated until the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury have, in addition to any other measure required by law—
(1)
submitted to the appropriate congressional committees a written certification that the person (or the immediate family member of such person, as appropriate) is no longer engaging in the behavior that caused the person to be subject to the sanction;
(2)
briefed the appropriate congressional committees regarding such certification; and
(3)
consulted with the appropriate congressional committees regarding such certification.
(b)
Ineligibility for entry
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including paragraph (3) of section 7031(c) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 ( 8 U.S.C. 1182  note), the Secretary may not waive or terminate the application of paragraph (1) of such section with respect to an individual described in subsection (c) unless the Secretary has—
(1)
submitted to the appropriate congressional committees a written certification that the individual (or the immediate family member of the individual, as appropriate) is no longer engaging in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights described in such section 7031(c)(1);
(2)
provided to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing regarding such certification; and
(3)
consulted with the appropriate congressional committees regarding such certification.
(c)
Persons described
A person described in this subsection is any of the following:
(1)
Former member of the Moldovan Parliament Ilan Shor.
(2)
The Shor Party.
(3)
Former member of the Moldovan Parliament Vlad Plahotniuc.
(4)
Igor Yuryevich Chayka.
(5)
Ivan Alesksandrovich Zavorotnyi.
(6)
Yuriy Igorevich Gudilin.
(7)
Olga Yurievna Grak.
(8)
Leonid Mikhailovich Gonin.
(9)
Aleksei Valeryevich Troshin.
(10)
Maksim Yakubets.
(11)
The National Engineering Corporation (commonly known as  NIK ).
(12)
Any person with respect to whom sanctions have been imposed by the United States due to the relationship between such person and an individual described in paragraphs (1) through (11).
6.
Congressional committees defined
In this Act, the term  appropriate congressional committees  means—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.