Ted Lieu proposes measure to classify Russia as state sponsor of terrorism in House

A legislative proposal by Rep. Ted Lieu in the U.S. House seeks to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and enhance U.S. policy actions in response, according to the U.S. Congress.

Known as H.R.8696, the bill was filed on May 7, 2026, during the 119th Congress’s regular 2026 session. Below is a summary drawn from the bill text, and includes background for clarity on its contents.

This legislation would officially classify the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism as soon as it becomes law. It alleges that the Russian government, led by President Vladimir Putin, has a documented history of supporting international terrorism, referencing the Second Chechen War and ongoing events in Ukraine that have caused extensive civilian harm. The measure recounts incidents such as the reported abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children and support for terrorist groups, notably the regime of Bashar Al Asad in Syria. It is designed to utilize current U.S. policy and legal infrastructure to enforce sanctions on Russia, permitting exceptions for transactions involving agriculture and humanitarian aid related to Ukraine. The designation would remain in place until either five years after enactment or when the U.S. Secretary of State determines that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have started.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Ted Lieu (Democrat – CA-36th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen (Democrat – CA-9th District) and Rep. Joe Wilson (Republican – CA-2nd District).

Rep. Lieu has introduced 34 other bills since the current session began.

Congressional bills may start in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for those dealing with revenue, which must originate in the House. After being introduced, bills are referred to committees, where they undergo review, hearings, possible amendments, and debate before reaching a vote. If both chambers adopt the same version, the bill is sent to the president, who can approve or veto it. Each Congress serves a two-year term, divided into two yearly sessions, and each term is numbered in sequence. Congress.gov is the official platform for legislative records.

Ted Lieu represents California in Congress, having served since Jan. 3, 2015, as a Democrat in the One Hundred Fourteenth and each subsequent Congress. Before Congress, he served on the Torrance City Council, spent time in the California State Assembly and State Senate, and ran for California State Attorney General in 2010.

Lieu earned both a B.A. and a B.S. from Stanford University in 1991 and a J.D. from Georgetown University in 1994. His military service includes active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1995 to 1999 and subsequent years in the Air Force Reserve through 2021, along with time as a judicial clerk and in private legal practice.

Information for this article comes from the U.S. Congress. Source data is available here.