Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The "Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025" aims to limit civil actions that involve United States sanctions. It establishes a policy to ensure that United States persons are not disadvantaged when complying with sanctions or export controls. The Act prohibits individuals from bringing civil actions in Federal or State courts to enforce foreign judgments or arbitral awards if the underlying claim resulted from complying with U.S. sanctions. It also prevents enforcement if a foreign court asserted jurisdiction based on the imposition of those sanctions. Under this law, defendants can remove such actions to a U.S. district court for dismissal.
Yes
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides legal protection for businesses complying with U.S. sanctions, reducing their litigation risk.
- Scored +5
Does this strengthen ties with allied countries?
By protecting persons complying with U.S. sanctions, it strengthens the ability of the U.S. to execute its foreign policy tools.
- Scored +4
Does this give the federal government more power?
The act expands federal jurisdiction by allowing defendants to remove certain foreign-related actions to U.S. district courts.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The act restricts the ability of certain individuals to enforce foreign judgments in U.S. courts.
- Scored -3
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The act limits the ability of state courts to enforce certain foreign judgments and arbitral awards.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection for those following the law: The policy ensures that United States persons are not disadvantaged for actions or omissions taken to comply with United States sanctions or export controls (Section 2).
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Prevention of compensation for compliance: The Act seeks to ensure that foreign persons or those acting on their behalf cannot obtain compensation for actions related to United States persons attempting in good faith to comply with their obligations under sanctions or export controls (Section 2).
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Legal recourse for specific victims: The bill preserves the rights, remedies, or causes of action available to victims of international terrorism, torture, extrajudicial killing, aircraft sabotage, or hostage taking, provided they are U.S. nationals, members of the Armed Forces, or government employees/contractors (Section 3(c)(2)).
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Preservation of contractual rights: The Act does not limit rights or remedies arising from contractual rights where the parties agreed to resolve disputes through litigation or arbitration within the United States (Section 3(c)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limitation on enforcing foreign judgments: The Act prohibits persons from bringing civil actions in Federal or State court to enforce foreign judgments or arbitral awards if the claim resulted from actions taken to comply with United States sanctions (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Limitation on enforcing awards based on jurisdiction: The Act prohibits the enforcement of foreign judgments or awards if the issuing court or tribunal asserted jurisdiction based on the imposition of United States sanctions or export controls (Section 3(a)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides legal protection for businesses complying with U.S. sanctions, reducing their litigation risk.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — By protecting persons complying with U.S. sanctions, it strengthens the ability of the U.S. to execute its foreign policy tools.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The act expands federal jurisdiction by allowing defendants to remove certain foreign-related actions to U.S. district courts. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The act restricts the ability of certain individuals to enforce foreign judgments in U.S. courts. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The act limits the ability of state courts to enforce certain foreign judgments and arbitral awards.
- 5/4/2026
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 5/1/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 4/28/2026
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2073-2074; text: CR S2073-2074)
- 3/26/2026
- Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 367.
- 9/29/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California