# 119-hr-8718: Countering Russia’s Forced Recruitment and Kidnapping in Africa Act

119-hr-8718, Countering Russia’s Forced Recruitment and Kidnapping in Africa Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] (R-SC); status introduced (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8718
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8718
- Congress: 119
- Title: Countering Russia’s Forced Recruitment and Kidnapping in Africa Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-05-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] (R-SC)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**This bill would create a U.S. sanctions and listing regime to stop the forced recruitment and kidnapping of African nationals by Russia-backed actors.** It pairs a required list of foreign persons and governments with targeted financial, trade, and visa penalties while spelling out victim protections and humanitarian exceptions. - African nationals and their families: People determined to be victims of fraud, coercion, or deception would be excluded from the list and shielded from the bill's sanctions. - Listed foreign persons and governments: Designated actors would face asset-blocking under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, U.S. visa bans, and prohibitions on loans or credits above $10 million in any 12-month period except for humanitarian purposes. - U.S. finance and aid rules: The bill would bar Export-Import Bank approvals and U.S. development finance or agency support to listed entities and direct U.S. representatives to oppose international loans. It also creates a presidential national interest waiver and a process to lift sanctions, with a five-year sunset on measures.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2026-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] (R-OH), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Sanctions and list of recruiters: benefit, medium. If enacted, the State Department would make a list within 90 days naming foreign people and governments that recruit Africans to fight for Russia. The President would be able to impose sanctions within 30 days on each listed person or government. Sanctions could block property, cancel visas, bar U.…
- Presidential waiver and termination power: benefit, low. If enacted, the President would be able to waive or end sanctions for a listed person when doing so is vital to U.S. national interests or other statutory tests are met. To end sanctions, the President would have to notify the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees at least 1…
- Classified evidence in court reviews: cost, low. If enacted, courts reviewing determinations under this bill could be shown classified information in private (ex parte and in camera) when that information formed the basis for the decision. The bill would also say this procedure does not create a general right to judicial review.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2548: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8718 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8718)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-2548: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2548)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8718 (as of 2026-09-21).