Letters to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on Taking Additional Steps With Respect to the Russian Federation’s Harmful Activities

Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)

Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021, expanded by Executive Order 14066 of March 8, 2022, and relied on for additional steps taken in Executive Order 14039 of August 20, 2021, Executive Order 14068 of March 11, 2022, and Executive Order 14071 of April 6, 2022, with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States posed by specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation. 

The order amends Executive Order 14024 to authorize the imposition of sanctions on foreign financial institutions determined to have:  (i)  conducted or facilitated any significant transaction or transactions for or on behalf of any person designated for operating or having operated in certain Russian Federation military-industrial sectors; or (ii)  conducted or facilitated any significant transaction or transactions, or provided any service, involving Russia’s military-industrial base, including the sale, supply, or transfer, directly or indirectly, to the Russian Federation of any item or class of items as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce. 

The order also amends Executive Order 14068 to prohibit the importation and entry into the United States of additional products as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, that may include:  (i)  certain categories of fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; diamonds; and other products mined, extracted, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Russian Federation, or harvested in waters under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation or by Russia-flagged vessels, notwithstanding whether such products have been incorporated or substantially transformed into other products outside of the Russian Federation; (ii)  products containing such products; and (iii)  prohibited products that transited through or were exported from or by the Russian Federation.  The order authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Treasury, to prescribe rules and regulations to collect any documentation or information as may be necessary to enforce such additional prohibitions on importation as expeditiously as possible.

I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.
 
                             Sincerely,
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.