[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 75 (Friday, May 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HEZBOLLAH INTERNATIONAL FINANCING PREVENTION ACT OF 2015

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2015

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2297, 
the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act.
  The aim of the bill is to curtail the funding of Hezbollah's domestic 
and international terrorist activities by disrupting its logistics and 
financial network. The bill proposes diplomatic, legislative, and 
executive strategies to combat Hezbollah including directing the 
Treasury Department to prohibit or impose strict restrictions on the 
activities of financial institutions that knowingly facilitate 
transactions for the terrorist group.
  Some of the world's most powerful banks are suspected of knowingly 
helping Hezbollah fund its terror operations by concealing billions of 
dollars in transactions with its Iranian sponsor. This bill will help 
to curb those activities.
  H.R. 2297 is largely the same bill as that which passed the House 
unanimously last July. The only differences are minor and include the 
stripping of the findings clauses and the removal of the section on 
conflict minerals.
  Hezbollah's global logistics and financial network is a lifeline to 
the organization that strengthens its power to consolidate within 
countries such as Lebanon and Syria.
  I encourage my colleagues join me again in supporting the bill.

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