Bills · S 1490
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 1490International Affairs
GHOST Act of 2025
INTRO APR 10· LAST ACTION APR 10
READING
14MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it aims to strengthen the enforcement of U.S. sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting its methods for evading these restrictions through activities like using "ghost ships." If passed, it could lead to more effective seizure of assets from entities violating sanctions, potentially disrupting illicit trade and funding sources for the Russian government. The bill also has a mechanism to direct excess funds from these enforcement actions towards reducing the U.S. national debt, which could offer a new, albeit modest, source of repayment.
Without this bill, the enforcement of Russian sanctions would continue under existing frameworks, potentially facing resource limitations for complex investigations and asset seizures. The bill provides a dedicated, self-sustaining fund for these operations, ensuring that the costs of enforcement are covered and that successful actions can directly contribute to the public debt. This could lead to a more robust and focused approach to countering Russian sanctions evasion, impacting global economic security and U.S. foreign policy objectives.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Establishes the "Russia Sanctions Enforcement Fund" in the U.S. Treasury within 15 days of the bill becoming law.
This creates a dedicated financial resource specifically for enforcing sanctions against Russia, ensuring resources are available for complex investigations and asset seizures.
PROVISION 02
Authorizes the use of the fund for various expenses related to seizing and forfeiting property from Russia or its merchant ships that violate U.S. sanctions.
This provision ensures that law enforcement and related agencies have the necessary financial support for investigations, maintenance of seized assets, and compensation for informers, which are critical for effective enforcement.
PROVISION 03
Prioritizes activities that result in the seizure and forfeiture of oil, petroleum products, or other commodities used to fund Russia's evasive actions.
This directs enforcement efforts towards key assets that fuel Russia's economy and military, potentially maximizing the impact of sanctions.
PROVISION 04
Requires any fund balance exceeding $500 million at the end of a fiscal year to be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury to pay down the U.S. public debt.
This provision creates a mechanism for successful enforcement efforts to directly contribute to reducing the national debt, providing a tangible benefit beyond sanctions enforcement.
PROVISION 05
Authorizes an initial appropriation of $150 million for the fund in fiscal year 2026, which must be repaid to the general fund by September 30, 2036.
This ensures the fund has an initial operating capital while establishing a requirement for its eventual repayment, aiming for self-sufficiency.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
R· Iowa
YRS IN OFFICE
11
BILLS LED
99
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSAPR 10
Introduced in Senate
APR 10
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 1490
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedApr 10, 2025
Last actionApr 10, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED APR 10, 2025
Senate BillS 1490International Affairs
GHOST Act of 2025
INTRODUCED APR 10, 2025· LAST ACTION APR 10, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
14 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
