H.R. 1288 — Holding Countries Accountable for Negligent Chemical and Biological Programs Act

This bill authorizes initial, intermediate, and final sanctions against countries that act grossly negligent (i.e., knew or should have known that an act or acts would harm another foreign state) with respect to a chemical or biological weapons program. If the President determines that a country acted with gross negligence, the President must impose the initial sanctions (e.g., suspending scientific cooperative programs and restricting U.S. government contracting with entities operating in chemical or biological sectors of a sanctioned country) within 30 days. Within 120 days of making the determination of gross negligence, the President must determine whether the country has taken adequat...