YourVoice.Now Summary
Civil LibertiesCorporate BenefitsA foreign ruling against a firm that obeyed US sanctions could not be collected in US courts — even in pending cases.
Civil Liberties
Only the US government could still bring such a case. The bar also reaches rulings where a foreign court claimed the case because US sanctions existed.
The rule would reach cases filed before it passed, not just new ones. A defendant could move the case to federal court, and that court would have to dismiss it.
Corporate Benefits
A firm that broke a contract to follow US sanctions could not be made to pay a foreign ruling here. It could still be sued in a US court over the same events.
More about this bill
Most people would notice no change in daily life. The change is a courtroom rule for firms caught between US sanctions and a foreign court. A company might break a contract to obey US sanctions. A foreign court, or an arbitrator the two sides had agreed to use, might then order it to pay. That order could no longer be collected in a US court. Any defendant could move such a case to federal court. The judge would then have to throw it out. The block is narrower than it sounds. It stops one thing: collecting a foreign ruling here. People could still sue in US courts over the same events. Deals that call for US courts or US arbitration would still hold. Claims by US victims of terror, torture, or hostage taking stay open. So do cases brought by the US government. The short title names Russia, but the text never does. It reaches rulings tied to US sanctions or export controls against any country. Export controls are the rules on what US firms may ship abroad. Tariffs on imported goods would not count as sanctions here. The rule would also apply to lawsuits already filed.
Congressional Summary
Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025This bill generally prohibits private parties from filing civil claims in federal or state court to enforce certain judgments or arbitration awards issued by foreign courts. The prohibition applies if (1) the foreign judgment or arbitration award arose from a claim where actions to comply with U.S. sanctions impeded the performance of a contract, or (2) the foreign court or tribunal asserted jurisdiction based on the imposition of U.S. sanctions or export controls (or a foreign law enacted in response to U.S. sanctions or export controls).The bill provides an exception for the federal government, which may continue to file these claims.The general prohibition established by this bill applies to claims that are pending on or after this bill's date of enactment.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-11-20
- Date Added
- 2026-09-04
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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