119-S-2934 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A bipartisan bill to keep U.S. courts from enforcing foreign court decisions or arbitration awards that penalize Americans and U.S. companies for following U.S. sanctions.

What It Does

S. 2934 (the “Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025”) bars people from using U.S. federal or state courts to recognize or enforce a foreign judgment or foreign arbitral award when the underlying dispute stems from someone’s good‑faith compliance with U.S. sanctions or export controls—or when the foreign court claimed jurisdiction because of those U.S. sanctions. If such a case is filed in a U.S. court, any defendant can move it to federal court, and the court must dismiss it.

The bill also clarifies what it does not change: it leaves intact the U.S. government’s enforcement powers; preserves the rights of U.S. victims of terrorism and similar serious offenses; and allows normal lawsuits or arbitrations in the United States if that’s what the contract requires. Although the title mentions Russia, the text applies to compliance with any U.S. sanctions or export controls.

Who’s For It

• Bipartisan Senate support: Passed the Senate without objection (unanimous consent) on April 28, 2026, signaling cross‑party agreement that U.S. sanctions compliance shouldn’t lead to penalties in U.S. courts.
• U.S. companies and financial institutions subject to sanctions and export‑control rules, who argue they need legal certainty when they pause or exit dealings to follow U.S. law.
• National security and sanctions‑enforcement advocates, who say the bill closes a back door that could weaken U.S. sanctions by letting foreign awards be cashed in inside the United States.

Who’s Against It

• No recorded opposition in the Senate vote; however, debate in the House has not yet occurred.
• Potential critics in the international arbitration and business‑law community may worry it could complicate cross‑border contract enforcement and comity with foreign courts.
• Foreign counterparties affected by U.S. sanctions (or by their own countries’ “counter‑measures”) may argue it deprives them of a venue to recover losses when U.S. partners halt performance because of sanctions.

What’s Next

Status as of May 2, 2026: The Senate passed the bill on April 28, 2026, and on May 1, 2026, it was formally messaged to the House of Representatives. Next, the House can refer it to committee, amend it, or bring it to the floor. If the House passes the bill (in the same form), it would go to the President for signature or veto.