Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023
Floor Speech
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6015) to require the President to prevent the abuse of financial sanctions exemptions by Iran, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6015
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. REGULATIONS REQUIRED.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the President shall issue regulations to ensure that each transaction described under section 1244(e) or 1247(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (22 U.S.C. 8803(e) or 8806(c)) or section 1245(d)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8513a(d)(2)) does not facilitate, directly or indirectly--
(1) support for acts of international terrorism; or
(2) the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
(b) Report.--Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date on which the President issues regulations pursuant to subsection (a), and every 2 years thereafter for 6 years, the President shall submit to the Congress a report that evaluates the efficacy of the regulations issued by the President pursuant to subsection (a).
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in section 1244(e) or 1247(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (22 U.S.C. 8803(e) or 8806(c)) or section 1245(d)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8513a(d)(2)) may be construed to prohibit the imposition of sanctions with respect to a transaction if the President finds, consistent with the regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a), that such transaction would facilitate, directly or indirectly--
(1) support for acts of international terrorism; or
(2) the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
(d) Voice and Vote.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States Executive Director at the World Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose the provision of financial assistance to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(2) Sunset.--This subsection shall have no force or effect on the date that is the earlier of--
(A) the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this section;
(B) the date that is 30 days after the date that the Secretary of the Treasury reports to Congress that reasonable grounds do not exist for concluding that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern; or
(C) the date that is 30 days after the date that the President finds and reports to the Congress that the government of Iran has ceased to provide support for acts of international terrorism.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6015, the Iran Sanctions Accountability Act, sponsored by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer). Mr. Luetkemeyer is the chair of the National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions Subcommittee of the Financial Services Committee but could not be here today to articulate his support and the bill that he has constructed.
The United States' sanctions regime for Iran is designed to deprive Tehran of the resources it needs to pursue international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and other objects that undermine our national security and global stability.
As with other sanctions programs, our measures against Iran include commonsense exemptions for humanitarian aid and humanitarian trade. To be clear, it is the country's dictatorship that we seek to punish, not the ordinary Iranian folks forced to suffer under the ayatollahs. At the same time, we must ensure that humanitarian trade involving Iran isn't misused for illicit purposes. There is bipartisan support here for that.
For example, last September, the Biden administration issued a waiver authorizing the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds. While the President offered assurances that proceeds could only be used for humanitarian purchases, Members on both sides of the aisle have questioned whether this would actually be the case. These concerns are understandable, and Mr. Luetkemeyer's legislation addresses that concern head-on.
Under this bill, the President will be required to issue regulations ensuring that humanitarian funds are not diverted to support terrorism or weapons proliferation. This may include an array of conditions, including specific transaction limits, enhanced due diligence procedures, and transparency requirements for Iranian counterparties.
Additionally, this bill would require these regulations to be evaluated. The President will have to report to Congress on their effectiveness in preventing funds from facilitating Iran's illicit activities.
I applaud Mr. Luetkemeyer's thoughtful approach to this legislation, which is based on the idea that well-designed sanctions rely on well- designed exceptions.
Mr. Speaker, this bill received unanimous support in the Financial Services Committee. I look forward to its passage today. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, April 14, 2024. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6015, the Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023, so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor. I agree that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 6015 at this time, you do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that you will be appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar legislation as it moves forward.
As discussed, I will seek to place a copy of our exchange of letters on this bill in the Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof. Sincerely, Patrick McHenry, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, April 14, 2024. Hon. Patrick McHenry, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McHenry: Thank you for consulting with the Foreign Affairs Committee on H.R. 6015, the Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023. I agree that the Foreign Affairs Committee may be discharged from further consideration so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House floor, subject to the understanding that this does not in any way diminish or alter the primary jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee over this measure, or affect the committee's jurisdictional prerogatives on similar legislation in the future.
I respectfully request that our letters on this bill be placed into the Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, April 14, 2024. Hon. Jason Smith, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6015, the Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023, so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. I agree that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 6015 at this time, you do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that you will be appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar legislation as it moves forward.
As discussed, I will seek to place a copy of our exchange of letters on this bill in the Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof. Sincerely, Patrick McHenry, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, April 15, 2024. Hon. Patrick McHenry, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McHenry: I am writing with respect to H.R. 6015, the ``Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023.'' As you noted, the Committee on Ways and Means was granted an additional referral on this bill. I agree to forego action on this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues that fall within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and requests your support for such request.
Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 6015. Sincerely, Jason Smith, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, April 14, 2024. Hon. James Comer, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Accountability, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Comer: Thank you for agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6015, the Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023, so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor. I agree that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 6015 at this time, you do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that you will be appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar legislation as it moves forward.
As discussed, I will seek to place a copy of our exchange of letters on this bill in the Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof. Sincerely, Patrick McHenry, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Washington, DC, April 15, 2024. Hon. Patrick McHenry, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McHenry: Thank you for consulting with the Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability agrees to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6015, the Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023, so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 6015 at this time, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability should be appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar legislation as it moves forward. I support your effort to represent the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on the conference committee if a conference on the bill becomes necessary.
As discussed, I appreciate your inclusion of a copy of our exchange of letters on this bill in the bill report filed by the Committee on Financial Services and in the Congressional Record during House floor consideration thereof. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this bill and look forward to future opportunities to work together on matters of shared jurisdiction. Sincerely, James Comer, Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
I applaud Mr. Luetkemeyer's thoughtful approach here. I think it is important to note this bill was passed with unanimous support out of the House Financial Services Committee, and I would expect similar unanimous support here on the House floor to make a strong statement that we want our sanctions to work, and when we say we are going to do something as a country, we follow through on that commitment.
I think this is a proper way to do that in light of the actions of the Iranian regime over the weekend. In particular, we want to make sure that all sanctions against the Iranian regime are appropriate and appropriately designed and carried out well.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. McHenry. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source