Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) has joined a bipartisan effort to reintroduce the HARM Act. The bill, titled the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act, urges the Secretary of State designate the Wagner Group, a Russia-based organization, as a foreign terrorist organization.
The bill was first introduced in the last congress, which included a companion measure that was led in the Senate by Maryland Senator Ben Cardin (D) and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker (R).
The Wagner Group is being targeted for its "predatory and terroristic activities" dating back to 2014 in countries like Mali, Sudan, Ukraine, and the Central African Republic according to a press release from Salazar's office. Its actions "have been characterized as deliberate violations of human rights and atrocities in the service of strategic goals of the Putin regime."
In a statement, Rep. Salazar argued that "the Wagner Group are ruthless mercenaries and terrorists that kill indiscriminately and do Putin's bidding." She added that the group's "reach goes well beyond Europe and Asia, helping dictators like Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela hold on to power at all costs."
Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen (D), one of several lawmakers joining Rep. Salazar in reintroducing the legislation, further commented that "where the Wagner Group operates, atrocities follow." "The HARM Act will identify Putin's private mercenary group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and let the world know that its activities are both malign and illegal," Cohen said, adding that "it's time to shine some light on this notorious group and give it the detestable reputation it deserves."
With the HARM Act, the Secretary of State would designate the Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act within 90 days of the legislation's enactment. Moreover, the proposal includes provisions that would apply foreign terrorist organization status to any successor or affiliated entity to the Wagner Group.
