A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the SRBIJA Act. It addresses concerns about democratic backsliding, corruption, and foreign ties in Serbia. The legislation calls for reports and a strategy regarding Russian, Chinese, and Iranian influence in Serbia. It outlines U.S. policy to place financial and visa sanctions on malign actors and corrupt individuals in the Western Balkans. The bill conditions participation in the U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue on addressing specific democratic and human rights issues. It also authorizes additional assistance to Serbia if the country makes verifiable progress toward democratic accountability and rule of law.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support for Democratic Governance and Rule of Law: Section 4 states that U.S. policy is to support the aspirations of Serbian citizens for transparent and democratic governance and to push for rule of law. This could benefit ordinary people by promoting a fairer and more accountable government.
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Accountability for Human Rights Abuses and Corruption: Section 4 mandates financial and visa sanctions on individuals who engage in corruption, serious human rights abuses, or threaten regional stability in the Western Balkans. This holds bad actors accountable and targets corruption that harms communities.
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Investigation into Disasters: Section 3 expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should press the Serbian government to permit independent investigations into the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse that killed 16 people, as well as allegations of excessive force against protesters. This helps seek justice for victims and their families.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strained Bilateral Relations and Potential Burdens: Section 6 requires the Secretary of State to stop participating in the U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue unless specific tough conditions and certifications regarding Serbia's foreign relations and domestic policies are met. If relations sour or funding ceases for these talks as outlined in Section 6(c), everyday citizens could lose out on the benefits of diplomatic and economic cooperation between the nations.
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Sanctions Impact: Section 4 imposes financial and visa sanctions on certain foreign persons involved in destabilizing the Western Balkans or supporting Russian harmful activities. While aimed at bad actors, broad sanctions can sometimes create economic friction or burdens that unintentionally affect the broader business and local environment for citizens.
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.
No significant interests or groups are affected by this bill.
- 9/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 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.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut