WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 36 · 119th Congress

MEGOBARI Act

Passed HouseInternational Affairs
IntroducedJan 3, 2025
Passed HouseMay 5, 2025
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed House. Latest step, May 6, 2025: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 70. The House passed it 349–42. All 4 of Iowa's representatives voted yes in the House. It would change 0 sections of existing law and would add 6 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 36 doesn't change any existing section of law. It would create 6 new provisions of its own. Read from the bill text as placed on the Senate calendar (May 6, 2025).

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 2 Definitions
  • Sec. 4 Statement of policy
  • Sec. 5 Reports and briefings
  • Sec. 6 Sanctions
  • Sec. 7 Additional assistance with respect to Georgia
  • Sec. 8 Sunset
What the words would change: every change, in place (0)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

    From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

    What it does

    Sourced

    Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Act or the MEGOBARI Act

    This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on certain foreign persons, including Georgian government officials, who are undermining Georgia's security or stability.

    Specifically, the bill requires the President to impose visa-blocking sanctions and authorizes the President to impose property-blocking sanctions on any foreign person the President determines is involved with actions or policies to undermine Georgia's security or stability. Immediate family members of a sanctioned individual are also subject to these sanctions if they benefited from the sanctioned individual's conduct.

    The bill also requires the President to impose visa-blocking sanctions on the following foreign persons if the President determines such persons knowingly engaged in significant acts of corruption or acts of violence or intimidation in relation to the blocking of Euro-Atlantic integration in Georgia:

    • any individual who served as a member of the Georgian parliament or as a senior official of a Georgian political party on or after January 1, 2014;

    • any individual who is serving as an official in a leadership position on behalf of the Georgian government; and

    Read the whole official summary (251 words, about 1 min)

    • any immediate family member of such officials who benefited from their conduct.

    Additionally, for the purpose of potential imposition of sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the President must determine whether there are foreign persons who, on or after the bill's enactment, have engaged in (1) significant corruption in Georgia, or (2) acts to undermine Georgia's security or stability.

    Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 3, 2025).

    Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

    What has happened

    Sourced
    1. May 6, 2025Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 70.Senate
    2. May 5, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
    3. May 5, 2025On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 349 - 42 (Roll no. 116). (text: CR H1824-1826) Roll call recordHouse floor actions
    4. May 5, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 349 - 42 (Roll no. 116). (text: CR H1824-1826) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
    5. May 5, 2025Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1840-1841)House floor actions
    6. May 5, 2025At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.House floor actions
    7. May 5, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 36.House floor actions
    8. May 5, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1823-1828)House floor actions
    9. May 5, 2025Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.House floor actions
    10. Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary.House floor actions
    11. Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary.House floor actions
    12. Jan 3, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
    13. Jan 3, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

    Show key steps only

    Recorded votes

    Sourced
    1. May 5, 2025 · HousePassed 349–42
      Iowa: Randy Feenstra yes, Ashley Hinson yes, Mariannette Miller-Meeks yes, Zachary Nunn yes
      On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · needed two-thirds
      R 168 yes, 34 noD 181 yes, 8 noEach member · Record

    Cosponsors

    • Robert B. Aderholt R-AL-4
    • Emanuel Cleaver D-MO-5
    • Steve Cohen D-TN-9
    • Rep. Gerald E. Connolly D-VA-11
    • Jim Costa D-CA-21
    • Lloyd Doggett D-TX-37
    • Mike Haridopolos R-FL-8
    • Richard Hudson R-NC-9
    • William R. Keating D-MA-9
    • Michael Lawler R-NY-17
    • James C. Moylan R-GU-At Large
    • Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
    Show 6 more cosponsors
    • Gary J. Palmer R-AL-6
    • Jimmy Panetta D-CA-19
    • David Rouzer R-NC-7
    • Michael R. Turner R-OH-10
    • Marc A. Veasey D-TX-33
    • Eugene Simon Vindman D-VA-7