H.R. 3278

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase penalties for certain computer fraud and related offenses that involve critical infrastructure, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · May 8, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Fallon

Table of contents

• H.R. 3278
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Fraud and related activity in connection with critical infrastructure
  • SEC. 3. Imposition of sanctions with respect to foreign persons that knowingly access critical infrastructure

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Act.

SEC. 2. Fraud and related activity in connection with critical infrastructure

• Section 1030(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
  • in paragraph (4)(G), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
    • a fine under this title and imprisonment for not less than 30 years or for life, in the case of an offense that involves critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 1016(e) of ()). Public Law 107–56; 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)
  • by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

SEC. 3. Imposition of sanctions with respect to foreign persons that knowingly access critical infrastructure

• (a) Imposition of sanctions
  • The President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to any foreign person that the President determines knowingly accesses or attempts to access critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 1016(e) of ()) for the purpose of harming— Public Law 107–56; 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)
    • the national security or defense of the United States; or
    • the safety and security of any United States citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
• (b) Sanctions described
  • (1) In general
    • The sanctions described in this subsection with respect to a foreign person determined by the President to be subject to subsection (a) are the following:
    • (A) Asset blocking
      • The President shall exercise of all powers granted to the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act () to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property of the foreign person if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person. 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.
    • (B) Inadmissibility of certain individuals
      • (i) In the case of a foreign person who is an individual, the foreign person is—
      • inadmissible to the United States;
      • ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and
      • otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (). 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.
      • (ii) Current visas revoked
        • In the case of a foreign person who is an individual, the visa or other documentation issued to the person shall be revoked, regardless of when such visa or other documentation is or was issued.
        • A revocation under subclause (I) shall—
        • take effect immediately; and
        • automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the person’s possession.
  • (2) Penalties
    • A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any regulation, license, or order issued to carry out paragraph (1)(A) shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act () to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section. 50 U.S.C. 1705
  • (3) Exception to comply with United Nations Headquarters Agreement
    • Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to a foreign person who is an individual if admitting the person into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations.
• (c) Waiver
  • The President may, on a case-by-case basis and for periods not to exceed 180 days, waive the application of sanctions imposed with respect to a foreign person under this section if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days before such waiver is to take effect that the waiver is vital to the national security interests of the United States.
• (d) Implementation authority
  • The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) for purposes of carrying out this section.
• (e) Regulatory authority
  • (1) In general
    • Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary for the implementation of this section.
  • (2) Notification to Congress
    • Not less than 10 days before the promulgation of regulations under paragraph (1), the President shall notify and provide to the appropriate congressional committees the proposed regulations and an identification of the provisions of this section that the regulations are implementing.
• (f) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The terms and have the meanings given those terms in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (). admitted,alien 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)
    • The term appropriate congressional committees means—
    • The term foreign person means a person that is not a United States person.
    • The term , with respect to conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the circumstance, or the result. knowingly
    • The term person means an individual or entity.
    • The terms and have the meanings given the terms and , respectively, in section 576.312 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act. property,interest in property,property,property interest
    • The term United States person means—