House Passes Iran & Hizballah Sanctions Bills

Source: Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ, 9th)

Washington, D.C. - October 30, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09) voted for the passage of three bills to take on the growing global threat of the Iranian missile program and the Hizballah terrorist organization. Rep. Pascrell was co-sponsor of all three bills, H.R.1698, H.R.3329, and H.Res.359 (details below).

“We must continue sending a strong signal that the United States is serious about combating the growing threat Iran poses in the region," Rep. Pascrell said. "By clamping down on the financial support terrorist groups receive and additional sanctions targeting Iran’s ballistic missile program, we can pressure Iran to change course and take steps to reduce threats in the region. We cannot do this alone, so I hope our allies will join us in designating Hizballah as a terrorist organization and increase pressure on it and its members to cease and desist. These concrete steps will allow us to work towards a safer region and a safer world."

BACKGROUND

H.R.1698 - Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act

This bill expands sanctions against Iran with respect to the ballistic missiles program of Iran. This bill would use targeted sanctions to try and halt Iran’s ballistic missile program. This bill would require the President to identify and sanction individuals and entities contributing to Iran’s ballistic missile program. In addition, the bill would require the executive branch to determine if Iran’s ballistic missile tests violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which “calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons,” and to determine whether responsible parties should be subject to sanctions
H.R.3329 - Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017                             

The Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act would impose new sanctions against foreign individuals and companies that knowingly assist, sponsor, or provide significant financial, material, or technological support to entities known to fundraise or recruit on behalf of the agents and affiliates of Hizballah. This legislation also requires the president to report to Congress whether the foreign financial institutions of Iran and other state sponsors of terrorism are facilitating transactions on behalf of Hizballah, and therefore should have additional sanctions imposed against them pursuant to U.S. law. In addition, the legislation would impose blocking sanctions against Hizballah for conducting narcotics trafficking and other significant transnational criminal activities, and strengthen reporting requirements on Hizballah’s racketeering activities and efforts by foreign governments to disrupt Hizballah’s global logistics networks and fundraising, financing and money laundering activities. To further expose the foreign terrorist organization’s rampant corruption, it also requires a report on the estimated net worth of senior Hizballah members and any individuals determined by the president to be senior foreign political figures of Hizballah.
H.Res.359

Urges the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization and increase pressure on it and its members.