Text of Senate Amendment 6715

On 2026-07-29, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6715" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6715

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 124 (Wednesday, July 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 124 (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4346-S4348] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6715. Mr. PAUL (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Kim, and Mrs. Murray) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 6711 submitted by Mrs. Britt (for Ms. Graham (for herself and Mr. Blumenthal)) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 5334, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood educators [[Page S4347]] to take the educator expense deduction, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: Strike sections 113 through 117 of the amendment and insert the following: SEC. 113. EXCEPTIONS. (a) Exception for Humanitarian Assistance.-- (1) In general.--Sanctions and other measures under this title shall not apply to-- (A) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or for humanitarian purposes; or (B) transactions that are necessary for, or related to, the activities described in subparagraph (A). (2) Rule of interpretation.--This subsection should be interpreted to apply to an entity carrying out any internationally recognized agreement with the Government of Ukraine for the sale or provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices to and from Ukraine unless the President determines that the agreement is being used to evade sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or the Group of 7. (3) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural commodity'' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602). (B) Medical device.--The term ``medical device'' has the meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321). (C) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the meaning given the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321). (b) Exception for Intelligence and Law Enforcement Activities.--This title shall not apply with respect to activities subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) or to carry out or assist any authorized intelligence or law enforcement activities of the United States. (c) Exception To Comply With International Obligations.-- Sanctions under this title shall not apply to the admission or parole of an alien into the United States if such admission or parole is necessary to comply with United States obligations under the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, or under the Convention on Consular Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into force March 19, 1967, or other international obligations. (d) Exception To Comply With Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreements.--This title shall not apply to activities carried out under an agreement for cooperation between the United States and the Russian Federation entered into under section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2153). (e) Exception for Certain Imports of Low-Enriched Uranium for Nuclear Reactors.--This title shall not apply with respect to imports into the United States of low-enriched uranium described in paragraph (1) of section 3112A(d) of the USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h-10a(d)) or medical isotopes for which a waiver has been issued under paragraph (2) of that section. (f) Exception for Official Government Business.--This title shall not apply to transactions for the conduct of official business of the United States Government (including transactions necessary for the operation of the United States embassy or United States consulates in the Russian Federation) or the United Nations (including its specialized agencies, programs, funds, and related organizations) by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof. (g) Exception for Non-Russian Oil That Transits Russian Territory.--This title shall not apply to oil originating in a country other than the Russian Federation that transits the territory of the Russian Federation, or to any entity that transports such oil, for export to international markets. (h) General Licenses.-- (1) In general.--This title shall not apply with respect to a United States person that is operating under the terms of a general license issued by the Department of the Treasury before the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to affect the terms of a general license described in paragraph (1), the authority of United States persons to continue to operate under such a license, or the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to extend or issue new general licenses. (i) Exception for Winddown Operations.--During the 270-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, sanctions under this title shall not apply with respect to-- (1) an activity related to the winddown or divestiture of operations in the Russian Federation by an entity located in the Russian Federation that is not owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a Russian person; or (2) an entity located in the Russian Federation that is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a United States person if that United States person is engaged in good faith efforts to winddown or divest operations in the Russian Federation, including providing ongoing operational support to wind down or divest operations. (j) Exception for Safety of Vessels and Crew.--Sanctions under this title shall not apply with respect to a person providing provisions to a vessel otherwise subject to sanctions under this title if such provisions are intended-- (1) for the safety and care of the crew aboard the vessel; (2) for the protection of human life aboard the vessel; or (3) to avoid any environmental or other significant damage. (k) Exception Relating to Activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.-- (1) In general.--This title shall not apply with respect to activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize the imposition of any sanction or other condition, limitation, restriction, prohibition, or other measure, that directly or indirectly impedes the supply by any entity of the Russian Federation of any product or service, or the procurement of such product or service by any contractor or subcontractor of the United States or any other entity, relating to or in connection with any space launch conducted for-- (A) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; or (B) any other non-Department of Defense customer. SEC. 114. WAIVER. (a) In General.--The President may, subject to subsection (b), waive the application of any sanctions provision with respect to a foreign person, any restriction with respect to a person, or any duty under this title. (b) Reports Required.-- (1) In general.--Before issuing a waiver under subsection (a), the President shall submit to Congress-- (A) a certification in writing that the issuance of the waiver is in the national interests of the United States; and (B) a report explaining the basis for the certification. (2) Consolidation of reports.--If the President is issuing more than one waiver of a section of this title, the President may include, in one report submitted under paragraph (1), the certifications and explanations required by that paragraph with respect to each such waiver, as long as all of such certifications and explanations relate to a waiver of the same section of this title. (3) Form of report.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. SEC. 115. SANCTIONS IMPLEMENTATION AND PENALTIES. (a) Implementation.--The President may exercise all authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out sections 102 through 111. (b) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to any person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any prohibition under any of sections 102 through 111, or an order or regulation prescribed under any of such sections, to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section. SEC. 116. TERMINATION. (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the President may terminate the application of any sanction with respect to a foreign person, any restriction with respect to a person, or any duty under this title, if the President submits to Congress a report-- (1) certifying in writing that-- (A) in the case of the termination of the application of a sanction, restriction, or duty with respect to a Russian person or the Russian Federation, the Russian Federation has-- (i) signed a peace agreement that is accepted by the free and independent Government of Ukraine; and (ii) ceased all military hostilities against and any activities to overthrow, dismantle, and subvert the Government of Ukraine; or (B) in the case of the termination of the application of a sanction or restriction with respect to any foreign person or foreign country (other than a Russian person or the Russian Federation)-- (i) the foreign person or the government of the foreign country, a