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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7415 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7415
To designate Russian-based paramilitary organizations and their
successor entities as foreign terrorist organizations, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 9, 2026
Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Lawler, Ms.
Salazar, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Fallon, and Mr. Nunn of Iowa) 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 designate Russian-based paramilitary organizations and their
successor entities as foreign terrorist organizations, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Holding Accountable Russian
Mercenaries Act'' or the ``HARM Act 2.0''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Following the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy
Prigozhin in August 2023, the organization's personnel,
operational infrastructure, and activities have been absorbed
into the Russian Ministry of Defense and reorganized under
various successor entities, including the Africa Corps, Redut
PMC, and Patriot PMC.
(2) These successor entities continue to conduct operations
consistent with the Wagner Group's historical activities,
including mercenary operations, human rights abuses, resource
extraction facilitation, and support for authoritarian regimes
in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
(3) The integration of Wagner-derived forces into Ministry
of Defense structures does not diminish their threat to
international peace and security, human rights, or United
States national security interests.
(4) The Wagner Group and its successor entities constitute
a ``terrorist group'' that engages in ``terrorism'' (as defined
in section 140(d) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
Fiscal Year 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656f(d))).
(5) The Wagner Group and its successor entities have
committed, or are credibly accused of committing, terrorist
activity (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B))) and ongoing
atrocities and human rights violations conducted by successor
entities operating under the Africa Corps, Redut PMC, Patriot
PMC, and other Ministry of Defense-affiliated formations in
Africa, the Middle East, and other regions in 2024 and 2025.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United
States to designate as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially
Designated Global Terrorists the successor and associated entities to
the Wagner Group.
SEC. 3. REPORTS REQUIRED AND DETERMINATION.
(a) Secretary of State Report.--The Secretary of State shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the following:
(1) A list of all successor and affiliated entities of the
organization formerly known as the Wagner Group, including
Africa Corps, Redut PMC, Patriot PMC, and any Ministry of
Defense-affiliated paramilitary formations that inherit Wagner
personnel, operations, or assets.
(2) A list of all individuals that order, control, or
otherwise direct the organizations described in paragraph (1).
(3) Any entity that--
(A) operates under the direction, control, or
coordination of the Russian Ministry of Defense;
(B) employs personnel previously associated with
the Wagner Group or its successor entities; and
(C) conducts operations consistent with Wagner
Group activities.
(4) A description of any conduct of the organizations or
individuals described in paragraphs (1) through (3) that--
(A) may be grounds for designation pursuant to
Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to
blocking property and prohibiting transactions with
persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support
terrorism); and
(B) may constitute terrorist activity (as defined
in section 212(a)(3)(B) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B))).
(b) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than 60 days after the
submission of the report required by subsection (a), the Comptroller
General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report evaluating the accuracy and
completeness of the report required by subsection (a), including an
assessment of the methodologies and data sources used in preparing such
report.
(c) Form.--The reports required by subsections (a) and (b) shall be
transmitted in an unclassified form, and may contain a classified
annex.
(d) Determination.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which the Comptroller General submits the report required by
subsection (b), the Secretary of State, in coordination with
the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the
Office of the Director of National Intelligence, shall
determine whether any person identified in the report under
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) meets the criteria
for designation under paragraph (4) of subsection (a).
(2) Effect of positive determination.--The Secretary of
State, the Secretary of Treasury, and the Attorney General (as
appropriate) shall apply the measures described in subsection
(a)(4) to each person with respect to which a positive
determination under paragraph (1) has been made.
(3) Periodic review and updates.--The Secretary of State
shall periodically review and update the designations under
this section to include any newly identified successor
entities, affiliates, or rebranded organizations that meet the
criteria specified in subsection (a)(4).
(e) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five
years, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence,
and the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on the
international activities of the Russian-based mercenary Wagner
Group and its successor entities that includes--
(A) a comprehensive assessment of the operations,
activities, and force disposition of the Wagner Group
and successor entities in Africa, Latin America,
Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and any other region;
(B) an analysis of the relationship between the
Wagner Group, its successor entities, and the Russian
Ministry of Defense, including command and control
structures, funding mechanisms, and operational
coordination;
(C) a detailed account of human rights abuses, war
crimes, and violations of international humanitarian
law committed by the Wagner Group and successor
entities;
(D) an assessment of the financial networks,
revenue sources, and economic activities supporting the
Wagner Group and successor entities, including resource
extraction operations;
(E) an evaluation of the effectiveness of sanctions
imposed against the Wagner Group and successor
entities;
(F) recommendations for additional legislative or
executive actions to counter the activities of the
Wagner Group and successor entities;
(G) an assessment of cooperation with international
partners in addressing threats posed by the Wagner
Group and successor entities; and
(H) specific information regarding the deployment,
activities, and objectives of Russian paramilitary
forces in Venezuela and throughout the Western
Hemisphere, including any threats to regional security
or United States interests.
(2) Form.--The report required by this subsection shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex.
(f) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of
the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives;
(4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(5) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
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