Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8433
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T08:06:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Countering Russia's War on Faith Act" (H.R. 8433) aims to document and respond to Russia's alleged persecution of religious freedoms in Ukraine and its temporarily occupied territories. It requires U.S. government reports on these actions and mandates sanctions (financial penalties like freezing assets and blocking transactions) on those responsible.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines evidence of Russia's restrictions on religion in occupied areas, including destruction of over 600 religious sites, killings or detentions of more than 50 religious leaders, forced closures of non-Russian Orthodox churches/mosques/synagogues, and support for the Russian Orthodox Church to dominate the region.
- Annual Report Requirement: Within 120 days of enactment and yearly for 3 years, the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense (with input from the Director of National Intelligence) must submit a report to key congressional committees covering:
- Descriptions of Russia's persecution of Christians, Jews, Muslims (including Crimean Tatars), and other non-Russian Orthodox groups.
- Lists of damaged, seized, or repurposed religious sites.
- Assessments of imprisonments, restrictions, forced affiliations with Moscow-based groups, and overall impact on religious freedom (including in Crimea and Sevastopol).
- Identification of responsible Russian officials, entities, or occupation authorities.
- Presidential Certification: Within 30 days of each report, the President must certify if there's reasonable evidence of misconduct by listed individuals/entities.
- Mandatory Sanctions: If certified, the President must apply existing sanctions under laws like the Global Magnitsky Act (targets human rights abusers), Ukraine/Russia sanctions, or Russian harmful activities sanctions.
- Waiver Option: Sanctions can be lifted if the President later determines the person/entity has stopped the conduct.
- Report Format: Unclassified, with optional classified sections.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces new mandatory reporting on Russia's religious persecution in Ukraine, which was not previously required.
- Compels the use of existing sanction authorities (e.g., asset freezes under federal regulations) specifically for certified religious freedom violators, rather than leaving it discretionary.
- No major overhaul of sanctions laws, but adds enforcement triggers tied to Ukraine-specific religious abuses.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for State, Defense, and Intelligence communities to produce detailed reports; binds the President to act on certifications.
- Citizens/Religious Groups: Could deter further attacks on Ukrainian religious minorities by targeting perpetrators' finances; provides U.S. leverage to protect non-Russian Orthodox communities.
- International Relations: Heightens U.S. pressure on Russia amid its invasion, signaling strong support for Ukraine's religious freedoms; may strain U.S.-Russia ties or prompt Russian retaliation.
Main Stakeholders
- U.S. Government: Secretaries of State and Defense, Director of National Intelligence, President, and congressional committees (Armed Services, Foreign Affairs/Relations, Intelligence).
- Religious Communities: Ukrainian Christians (Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox not aligned with Moscow), Jews, Muslims (Crimean Tatars), and other minorities in occupied areas.
- Russian Actors: Government officials, occupation authorities, and Russian Orthodox Church affiliates involved in persecutions.
- Ukraine: Benefits from documentation and sanctions supporting its sovereignty and religious rights.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on established sanction frameworks, ensuring enforceability without new mechanisms; reports must be evidence-based to trigger actions.
- Constitutional: Congress exercises oversight of executive foreign policy (common in sanctions laws) via mandatory reports and certifications, balancing powers.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Republicans and Democrats) reflects consensus on countering Russia; could influence U.S. aid to Ukraine or broader human rights strategies, but risks escalation if Russia views it as provocative.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (10)
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, 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.
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, 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.
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, 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.
- 2026-04-22: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-22: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Countering Russia’s War on Faith Act — issued 2026-04-22 — PDF (9 pages)