House Passes Wagner Dayton Peace Agreement Legislation

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the House passed her Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act:

“The Dayton Accords are a symbol of American leadership and commitment.  If we let them collapse, then we risk seeing violence return to Bosnia. Adversaries like Russia and China would welcome these upheavals and solidify a stronger economic and security foothold. My bill, the Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act, will impose and codify sanctions against bad actors like Milorad Dodik in Bosnia who continue their agenda of secessionism, corruption, and destabilization.  I appreciate the strong support of my colleagues today, and I hope the Senate takes swift action so the tens of thousands of Bosnians in the St. Louis region know we have their backs and support a safe, unified, and sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Background
The Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act mandates sanctions on foreign persons who undermine the Dayton Peace Agreement or otherwise threaten the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Similar legislation introduced by Rep. Wagner passed the House in 2022.  The Department of Treasury sanctioned three individuals this month for supporting Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and his attempts to undo the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina, following Rep. Wagner’s lead.

In the post-war climate of the 1990s, thousands of Bosnian refugees resettled in the St. Louis region.  Today they are an integral part of the local St. Louis community, and with families and loved ones remaining in the Balkan region, are deeply concerned about the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.