Description:
H.R. 496 would declare it U.S. policy to deny visas and entry into the United States to officials of the Russian government, if those officials were responsible for violations of religious freedom in parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia. In addition, the bill would require the Department of State to consider those violations in determining whether to designate Russia as a country of concern in its annual reports on international religious freedom. Designated countries can face a range of consequences such as diplomatic condemnation of their actions and sanctions on trade and financial transactions. CBO estimates that enacting the bill would increase the number of people who would be denied visas by the Department of State and denied entry into the United States. Most visa fees are retained by the department and spent without further appropriation, but some fees are deposited in the Treasury as revenues. Denying foreign nationals entry into the United States would reduce direct spending for certain federal benefits for which they are eligible, such as emergency Medicaid or federal subsidies for health insurance.
