[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 183 (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H9341-H9346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1100
        HEZBOLLAH INTERNATIONAL FINANCING PREVENTION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the 
Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 2297) to prevent Hezbollah and 
associated entities from gaining access to international financial and 
other institutions, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendments is as follows:
  Senate amendments:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Hizballah 
     International Financing Prevention Act of 2015''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Statement of policy.

 TITLE I--PREVENTION OF ACCESS BY HIZBALLAH TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 
                         AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Sec. 101. Report on imposition of sanctions on certain satellite 
              providers that carry al-Manar TV.
Sec. 102. Sanctions with respect to financial institutions that engage 
              in certain transactions.

     TITLE II--REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS ON NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING AND 
       SIGNIFICANT TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF HIZBALLAH

Sec. 201. Report and briefing on narcotics trafficking by Hizballah.
Sec. 202. Report and briefing on significant transnational criminal 
              activities of Hizballah.
Sec. 203. Rewards for Justice and Hizballah's fundraising, financing, 
              and money laundering activities.
Sec. 204. Report on activities of foreign governments to disrupt global 
              logistics networks and fundraising, financing, and money 
              laundering activities of Hizballah.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Rule of construction.
Sec. 302. Regulatory authority.
Sec. 303. Termination.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It shall be the policy of the United States to--
       (1) prevent Hizballah's global logistics and financial 
     network from operating in order to curtail funding of its 
     domestic and international activities; and
       (2) utilize all available diplomatic, legislative, and 
     executive avenues to combat the global criminal activities of 
     Hizballah as a means to block that organization's ability to 
     fund its global terrorist activities.

 TITLE I--PREVENTION OF ACCESS BY HIZBALLAH TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 
                         AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

     SEC. 101. REPORT ON IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON CERTAIN 
                   SATELLITE PROVIDERS THAT CARRY AL-MANAR TV.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees and leadership a report 
     on the following:
       (1) The activities of all satellite, broadcast, Internet, 
     or other providers that have knowingly entered into a 
     contractual relationship with al-Manar TV, and any affiliates 
     or successors thereof.

[[Page H9342]]

       (2) With respect to all providers described in paragraph 
     (1)--
       (A) an identification of those providers that have been 
     sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 
     note; relating to blocking property and prohibiting 
     transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or 
     support terrorism); and
       (B) an identification of those providers that have not been 
     sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order 13224 and, with 
     respect to each such provider, any information indicating 
     that the provider has knowingly entered into a contractual 
     relationship with al-Manar TV, and any affiliates or 
     successors of al-Manar TV.
       (b) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) 
     shall be submitted in unclassified form to the greatest 
     extent possible, but may include a classified annex.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees and Leadership 
     Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
     congressional committees and leadership'' means--
       (1) the Speaker, the minority leader, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, and the 
     Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (2) the majority leader, the minority leader, the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of 
     the Senate.

     SEC. 102. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 
                   THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.

       (a) Prohibitions and Conditions With Respect to Certain 
     Accounts Held by Foreign Financial Institutions.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall prescribe 
     regulations to prohibit, or impose strict conditions on, the 
     opening or maintaining in the United States of a 
     correspondent account or a payable-through account by a 
     foreign financial institution that the President determines, 
     on or after such date of enactment, engages in an activity 
     described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Activities described.--A foreign financial institution 
     engages in an activity described in this paragraph if the 
     foreign financial institution--
       (A) knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or 
     transactions for Hizballah;
       (B) knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or 
     transactions of a person identified on the list of specially 
     designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the 
     Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the 
     Treasury and the property and interests in property of which 
     are blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
     Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) for acting on behalf of 
     or at the direction of, or being owned or controlled by, 
     Hizballah;
       (C) knowingly engages in money laundering to carry out an 
     activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B); or
       (D) knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or 
     transactions or provides significant financial services to 
     carry out an activity described in subparagraph (A), (B), or 
     (C).
       (3) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections 
     (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency 
     Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person 
     that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 
     causes a violation of regulations prescribed under this 
     subsection to the same extent that such penalties apply to a 
     person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection 
     (a) of such section 206.
       (4) Procedures for judicial review of classified 
     information.--
       (A) In general.--If a finding under this subsection, or a 
     prohibition, condition, or penalty imposed as a result of any 
     such finding, is based on classified information (as defined 
     in section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act 
     (18 U.S.C. App.)) and a court reviews the finding or the 
     imposition of the prohibition, condition, or penalty, the 
     President may submit such information to the court ex parte 
     and in camera.
       (B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph shall 
     be construed to confer or imply any right to judicial review 
     of any finding under this subsection or any prohibition, 
     condition, or penalty imposed as a result of any such 
     finding.
       (b) Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--The President may waive, on a case-by-case 
     basis, the application of a prohibition or condition imposed 
     with respect to a foreign financial institution pursuant to 
     subsection (a) for a period of not more than 180 days, and 
     may renew the waiver for additional periods of not more than 
     180 days, on and after the date on which the President--
       (A) determines that such a waiver is in the national 
     security interests of the United States; and
       (B) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report describing the reasons for such determination.
       (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1)(B) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
     annex.
       (c) Special Rule To Allow for Termination of Sanctionable 
     Activity.--The President shall not be required to apply 
     sanctions to a foreign financial institution described in 
     subsection (a) if the President certifies in writing to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that--
       (1) the foreign financial institution--
       (A) is no longer engaging in the activity described in 
     subsection (a)(2); or
       (B) has taken and is continuing to take significant 
     verifiable steps toward terminating the activity described in 
     that subsection; and
       (2) the President has received reliable assurances from the 
     government with primary jurisdiction over the foreign 
     financial institution that the foreign financial institution 
     will not engage in any activity described in subsection 
     (a)(2) in the future.
       (d) Report on Foreign Central Banks.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the 
     Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report that--
       (A) identifies each foreign central bank that the Secretary 
     determines engages in one or more activities described in 
     subsection (a)(2)(D); and
       (B) provides a detailed description of each such activity.
       (2) Form of report.--Each report required by paragraph (1) 
     shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a 
     classified annex.
       (e) Implementation.--The President may exercise all 
     authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the 
     International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 
     and 1704) to carry out this section.
       (f) Definitions.--
       (1) In general.--In this section:
       (A) Account; correspondent account; payable-through 
     account.--The terms ``account'', ``correspondent account'', 
     and ``payable-through account'' have the meanings given those 
     terms in section 5318A of title 31, United States Code.
       (B) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
       (ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee 
     on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
       (C) Financial institution.--The term ``financial 
     institution'' means a financial institution specified in 
     subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), 
     (J), (K), (M), (N), (P), (R), (T), (Y), or (Z) of section 
     5312(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code.
       (D) Foreign financial institution.--The term ``foreign 
     financial institution'' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 1010.605 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations.
       (E) Hizballah.--The term ``Hizballah'' means--
       (i) the entity known as Hizballah and designated by the 
     Secretary of State as a foreign terrorist organization 
     pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); or
       (ii) any person--

       (I) the property or interests in property of which are 
     blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
     Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
       (II) who is identified on the list of specially designated 
     nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of 
     Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury as 
     an agent, instrumentality, or affiliate of Hizballah.

       (F) Money laundering.--The term ``money laundering'' 
     includes the movement of illicit cash or cash equivalent 
     proceeds into, out of, or through a country, or into, out of, 
     or through a financial institution.
       (2) Other definitions.--The President may further define 
     the terms used in this section in the regulations prescribed 
     under this section.

     TITLE II--REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS ON NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING AND 
       SIGNIFICANT TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF HIZBALLAH

     SEC. 201. REPORT AND BRIEFING ON NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING BY 
                   HIZBALLAH.

       (a) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees and leadership a report 
     on the activities of Hizballah related to narcotics 
     trafficking worldwide.
       (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form to the greatest extent 
     possible, but may include a classified annex.
       (b) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after the submission 
     of the report required by subsection (a), the President shall 
     provide to the appropriate congressional committees and 
     leadership a briefing on--
       (1) the report;
       (2) procedures for designating Hizballah as a significant 
     foreign narcotics trafficker under the Foreign Narcotics 
     Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.); and
       (3) Government-wide efforts to combat the narcotics 
     trafficking activities of Hizballah.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees and Leadership 
     Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
     congressional committees and leadership'' means--
       (1) the Speaker, the minority leader, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, the 
     Committee on the Judiciary, and the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; 
     and
       (2) the majority leader, the minority leader, the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on the 
     Judiciary, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
     Senate.

     SEC. 202. REPORT AND BRIEFING ON SIGNIFICANT TRANSNATIONAL 
                   CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF HIZBALLAH.

       (a) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees and leadership a report 
     on the significant transnational criminal activities of 
     Hizballah, including human trafficking.
       (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form to the

[[Page H9343]]

     greatest extent possible, but may include a classified annex.
       (b) Briefing.--Not later than 30 days after the submission 
     of the report required by subsection (a), the President shall 
     provide to the appropriate congressional committees and 
     leadership a briefing on--
       (1) the report;
       (2) procedures for designating Hizballah as a significant 
     transnational criminal organization under Executive Order 
     13581 (75 Fed. Reg. 44,757); and
       (3) Government-wide efforts to combat the transnational 
     criminal activities of Hizballah.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees and Leadership 
     Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
     congressional committees and leadership'' means--
       (1) the Speaker, the minority leader, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, the 
     Committee on the Judiciary, and the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; 
     and
       (2) the majority leader, the minority leader, the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on the 
     Judiciary, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
     Senate.

     SEC. 203. REWARDS FOR JUSTICE AND HIZBALLAH'S FUNDRAISING, 
                   FINANCING, AND MONEY LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
     the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
     details actions taken by the Department of State through the 
     Department of State rewards program under section 36 of the 
     State Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2708) to 
     obtain information on fundraising, financing, and money 
     laundering activities of Hizballah and its agents and 
     affiliates.
       (b) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
     of State shall provide a briefing to the appropriate 
     congressional committees on the status of the actions 
     described in subsection (a).
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

     SEC. 204. REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO 
                   DISRUPT GLOBAL LOGISTICS NETWORKS AND 
                   FUNDRAISING, FINANCING, AND MONEY LAUNDERING 
                   ACTIVITIES OF HIZBALLAH.

       (a) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report that includes--
       (A) a list of countries that support Hizballah or in which 
     Hizballah maintains important portions of its global 
     logistics networks;
       (B) with respect to each country on the list required by 
     subparagraph (A)--
       (i) an assessment of whether the government of the country 
     is taking adequate measures to disrupt the global logistics 
     networks of Hizballah within the territory of the country; 
     and
       (ii) in the case of a country the government of which is 
     not taking adequate measures to disrupt such networks--

       (I) an assessment of the reasons that government is not 
     taking such adequate measures; and
       (II) a description of measures being taken by the United 
     States to encourage that government to improve measures to 
     disrupt such networks;

       (C) a list of countries in which Hizballah, or any of its 
     agents or affiliates, conducts significant fundraising, 
     financing, or money laundering activities;
       (D) with respect to each country on the list required by 
     subparagraph (C)--
       (i) an assessment of whether the government of the country 
     is taking adequate measures to disrupt the fundraising, 
     financing, or money laundering activities of Hizballah and 
     its agents and affiliates within the territory of the 
     country; and
       (ii) in the case of a country the government of which is 
     not taking adequate measures to disrupt such activities--

       (I) an assessment of the reasons that government is not 
     taking such adequate measures; and
       (II) a description of measures being taken by the United 
     States to encourage that government to improve measures to 
     disrupt such activities; and

       (E) a list of methods that Hizballah, or any of its agents 
     or affiliates, utilizes to raise or transfer funds, including 
     trade-based money laundering, the use of foreign exchange 
     houses, and free-trade zones.
       (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form to the greatest extent 
     possible, and may contain a classified annex.
       (3) Global logistics networks of hizballah.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``global logistics networks of 
     Hizballah'', ``global logistics networks'', or ``networks'' 
     means financial, material, or technological support for, or 
     financial or other services in support of, Hizballah.
       (b) Briefing on Hizballah's Assets and Activities Related 
     To Fundraising, Financing, and Money Laundering Worldwide.--
     Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of 
     State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of other 
     applicable Federal departments and agencies shall provide to 
     the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the 
     disposition of Hizballah's assets and activities related to 
     fundraising, financing, and money laundering worldwide.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Financial Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Select Committee 
     on Intelligence of the Senate.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 301. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act shall 
     apply to the authorized intelligence activities of the United 
     States.

     SEC. 302. REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

       (a) In General.--The President shall, not later than 120 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate 
     regulations as necessary for the implementation of this Act 
     and the amendments made by this Act.
       (b) Notification to Congress.--Not less than 10 days before 
     the promulgation of regulations under subsection (a), the 
     President shall notify the appropriate congressional 
     committees of the proposed regulations and the provisions of 
     this Act and the amendments made by this Act that the 
     regulations are implementing.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

     SEC. 303. TERMINATION.

       This Act shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after 
     the date on which the President certifies to Congress that 
     Hizballah--
       (1) is no longer designated as a foreign terrorist 
     organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); and
       (2) is no longer designated for the imposition of sanctions 
     pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; 
     relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions 
     with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support 
     terrorism).
         Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to prevent 
     Hizballah and associated entities from gaining access to 
     international financial and other institutions, and for other 
     purposes.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include any extraneous material on this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure.
  In particular, I want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. 
Mark Meadows, for being an early leader on this issue, focusing on 
Hezbollah and on this legislation.
  I also want to thank Congressman David Scott of Georgia. He served 
for 8 years on the Foreign Affairs Committee as vice chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.
  I would just mention that, as chairman of the NATO Parliamentary 
Assembly Committee that researched and wrote the report on Iran's 
nuclear weapons program, he has unique insights with respect to the 
threat posed by Hezbollah--not just to Israel, but to the West. We 
thank them both for their work on this measure.
  I also want to thank Senators Rubio and Shaheen for recognizing the 
urgency of this problem and working in a bipartisan way to ensure that 
this legislation was able to pass the Senate so that today we can send 
it to the President's desk.
  And, most importantly, I want to thank my good friend and colleague, 
the gentleman from New York, Mr. Eliot Engel, for his work to push back 
against Iran and its proxies that threaten the United States and 
threaten our allies globally.
  Now, I will say that this day is overdue. This past May, the House 
passed this bill by a vote of 423-0. In fact, last Congress the House 
also passed legislation spearheaded by Mr. Meadows in the 113th 
Congress 404-0, which the

[[Page H9344]]

other body failed to take up. Thankfully, this year is different 
because right now, Iran is on a roll.
  Last week we learned the regime test-fired another ballistic missile 
in violation of two U.N. resolutions. Meanwhile, Iran continues to hold 
American hostages. And its terrorist proxy--which is Hezbollah--is 
wreaking havoc throughout the Middle East.
  Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we confront this kind of aggression. 
We cannot stand by while the Iranian regime exports violence and 
exports its revolutionary ideology. That is why this legislation 
targeting Hezbollah is so important.
  Prior to September 11, 2001, Hezbollah was responsible--before that 
attack by al Qaeda--for more American deaths than any other terrorist 
organization on this planet. In 1983, Hezbollah suicide bombers struck 
the U.S. marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 American servicemen, 
and in a similar attack in 1996, in Saudi Arabia, killed 19 American 
servicemen.
  Hezbollah continues to serve as Iran's frontline against Israel, with 
100,000 rockets pointed at our ally. The terrorist group also plays a 
key role in Iran's effort to prop up Syria's murderous Assad regime. 
Thousands of Hezbollah fighters freely cross the border between Lebanon 
and Syria to join the fight.
  Unfortunately, the threat posed by Hezbollah and other Iranian 
proxies is poised to become even more dangerous.
  Iran is Hezbollah's primary benefactor, giving the Lebanese political 
party and militant group some $200 million a year in addition to 
weapons, training, intelligence, and logistical assistance as well.
  Over the past few years, Iran has been forced to cut back its 
financial support to Hezbollah due to the international sanctions 
regime that the Obama administration will dismantle in the coming 
months.
  As a result of the sanctions relief due to Tehran under the Iran 
deal, Hezbollah will see additional funding come its way, a boost that 
will benefit Hezbollah's regional and international operations.
  With more money, Hezbollah will step up its aid to Shia militias in 
Iraq and Yemen in cooperation with Iran. It will increase its presence 
in Syria, and, most significantly, it is going to increase its threat 
to Israel.
  Finally, increased funding will help Hezbollah rebuild its 
capabilities beyond the Middle East. A newly enriched Hezbollah will be 
more aggressive at home and abroad, boosting its destabilizing 
activities inside and outside of Lebanon.
  Yet, this is not a foregone conclusion. This legislation represents 
an important first step in pushing back against Iran and Hezbollah and 
repairing the damage that the administration's sanctions relief for 
Tehran has done to our national security.
  Hezbollah is worried, as this bill puts Hezbollah's sources of 
financing under additional scrutiny, particularly those resources 
outside of Lebanon, given that many Lebanese banks have stepped up 
their game now to prevent money laundering.
  It will also promote the application of advanced antiterrorism and 
antimoney laundering methods to both financial institutions and 
business enterprises operating as financial institutions, such as those 
adopted by regional banks, including many in Lebanon.
  In addition to targeting the terrorist organization's diverse 
financial network, the legislation also requires the U.S. Government to 
focus on Hezbollah's global logistics network and its transnational 
organized criminal enterprises, including its drug smuggling 
operations, key areas of expansion for that terrorist organization.
  How do I know they are worried? Because they said so in their own 
words. After the Senate passage of this legislation, Hezbollah issued a 
formal statement condemning the Senate vote and describing it as a 
``crime'' against Hezbollah. With their international networks, 
particularly their most lucrative networks outside of Lebanon in Africa 
and Latin America, in our crosshairs, they should be worried. They 
should be worried.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this critical measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of the Hezbollah International Financing 
Prevention Act.
  The House first passed this bipartisan legislation on May 14 by a 
vote of 423-0. That is as bipartisan as you can get. On November 17, 
the Senate sent the bill back to us with a number of very modest 
changes. By passing it again today, we send it to the President's desk.
  I want to commend my friend, Chairman Royce, for being the driving 
force behind this very, very important bill. When Chairman Royce 
introduced the bill, I was glad to join as an original cosponsor.
  I also want to acknowledge Representatives Deutch, Meadows, and Meng 
for their had work on this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, over a decade ago, I authored the Syria Accountability 
and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, which is now law. My partner, 
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, and I pushed very hard for many years 
to get this bill finally passed by both Houses and signed into law by 
the President.
  This measure aimed to end Syrian support for terrorism, including 
support to groups such as Hezbollah. Since then, Hezbollah has found 
new ways to siphon resources and expand its reach, all the while 
working toward the same goal: to undermine Lebanese political 
independence and support Iran's dangerous agenda throughout the region.
  It is a bit ironic that the group that really controls Lebanon today 
is not really the Lebanese Government, but it is Hezbollah, which 
really has the same type of duplication, but they are stronger 
militarily than the Lebanese Government. That is a shame for Lebanon. 
It really is.
  We know the aggregation that Hezbollah has had with Lebanon's wars 
against Israel and being Iran's proxy in Syria and doing all kinds of 
things that are detrimental to the world. Our laws to crack down on 
this group of Hezbollah need to keep pace. Again, their goal is to 
undermine Lebanese political independence and support Iran's dangerous 
goals. We need to be one step ahead of them.
  Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Let's not 
forget that. While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Quds 
Force spread instability throughout the region, Iran's most destructive 
terrorist tool has been Hezbollah.
  Among other things, this heinous group was behind the bombings of the 
U.S. Embassy and marine barracks in Lebanon and the Israel embassy and 
Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  Hezbollah's nefarious activities are not limited to terrorism. The 
group has put down roots in drug trafficking and other forms of 
transnational crime. Hezbollah has become a sophisticated and complex 
terrorist organization, and we need a response adequate to meet this 
challenge.
  This legislation will move the ball forward by sanctioning foreign 
banks for knowingly doing business with Hezbollah. We need to send a 
clear message to companies getting tangled up with this terrorist 
group. That message is: Walk away or face the consequences of the 
United States of America.
  The bill would also shine a bright light on Al-Manar, Hezbollah's 
television station, itself a specially designated terrorist group. 
Chairman Royce and I, working together through the years, especially 
listen to what is being broadcast.
  During the cold war, when we had Radio Free America and television 
broadcasts, we felt that the message that the United States was getting 
to these countries was very important. And we believed--both of us--
that it did, in fact, play a major role in the collapse of the Soviet 
Union because they were fed the truth by us. We are strong supporters 
of continuing that kind of thing.
  Hezbollah uses Al-Manar for logistical propaganda and fundraising 
purposes. It defies reason that this station is still carried by the 
satellite providers all over the world. Can you imagine that?
  Let me say that again. This legislation shines a bright light on Al-
Manar, which is Hezbollah's television station--itself, a specially 
designated terrorist group--and Hezbollah uses this station for 
logistical propaganda and fundraising purposes. It is outrageous that 
this station is still carried by satellite providers all over the 
world.

[[Page H9345]]

  


                              {time}  1115

  We need to expose this puppet organization for what it is. Our 
government needs new powers provided in this legislation, and I am 
pleased that the House and Senate worked together to get the bill 
across the finish line.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation; and I, 
again, thank Chairman Royce for pushing this, for being the driving 
force of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), a member of the House Committee on Armed 
Services.
  Mrs. WALORSKI. I thank the chairman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2297, legislation that 
will impose sanctions on international financial institutions that 
knowingly engage in business with Hezbollah.
  Hezbollah is one of the world's largest, most dangerous, well-funded 
terrorist organizations. Trained, funded, and deployed as a proxy of 
the Iranian Government, with operations spanning several continents, 
the Shiite group has effectively taken over the Lebanese Government and 
has launched thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians.
  There is no question that Hezbollah is stronger than ever. They have 
murdered Americans, Israelis, Syrians, and citizens of other nations. 
They have amassed an arsenal of advanced weaponry, including 150,000 
rockets and missiles; have made technological advances; and have gained 
battlefield experience in Syria, all which have helped turn Hezbollah 
into what could be Israel's most dangerous enemy in a generation.
  The bill also requires that President Obama report to Congress on 
Hezbollah's involvement in its drug business, money laundering, and 
other criminal activities--all of which are critical to funding its 
terrorism.
  We cannot jeopardize our national security and continue to ignore the 
serious threat that Hezbollah poses to our country and to our allies, 
including Israel. While this bill is not a silver bullet, it is a huge 
step in the right direction.
  I thank the chairman and the committee for their work on this 
important measure.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. David Scott), who serves on the Financial Services 
Committee, who was a valued member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, 
who has served as vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation, and Trade. Congressman Scott is also a member of the 
NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He does such a fine job, and I want 
everyone to know he grew up in my district.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and 
really appreciate that.
  I, certainly, want to thank Chairman Royce for his very kind remarks 
that he gave to me concerning our work.
  Ladies and gentlemen of the House and ladies and gentlemen of 
America, we have before us, perhaps, the most singular, significant 
bill and thing that we can do right now to send a bold, powerful 
message to the world that we are going to finally begin that really 
intricate process, with determination, to dismantle one of the single 
most horrific terrorist groups on this Earth--Hezbollah.
  Now, why do I say that?
  I don't say that just to get up and say a few words. I have spent 12 
years on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and I have served as chairman 
of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. For 3 hard years, we 
did the research, and we wrote the report specifically on getting the 
real truth out about Iran's nuclear weapons program. In the process of 
doing that, we discovered the intricals, the tunnels and all of the 
different things that gave support to Hezbollah by Iran. This is why 
this is so important.
  Let me just tell you that almost the single, solitary, main purpose 
for Hezbollah is to destroy Israel. Make no mistake about it. Right 
now, they have already got hundreds of missiles pointed toward Israel.
  How can we do something right now to address this?
  It is with this bill. You always follow the money, and the money 
trails are so complex. You have corporations; you have dummy companies; 
you also have individuals and third and fourth parties that our work 
found out that Iran works through.
  The language in this bill clearly points to and gives the President 
of the United States the authority. As a matter of fact, it is almost 
like a very strong demand and request from us in the Congress. It is 
the executive branch that has investigative power. The CIA, Special 
Ops, and the entire military are at its disposal, including the FBI.
  We are the single most powerful nation in the world, and it is about 
time we stood up and showed the world that we are no longer going to 
tolerate Hezbollah and that we are no longer going to tolerate Iran's 
working through these third parties to make the people of Israel suffer 
and live under the conditions under which they are living.
  Let me get to the other crux of this matter.
  It is as I said on CNN, in my commentary, that I was fighting very 
strongly against--and I talked with the President--and fighting as to 
how weak the position the Iranian agreement has put us in. Sure, they 
are going to get a nuclear weapon, probably within the next 9 years. 
That worries us.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. But the real Achilles' heel in this 
Iranian agreement is where we simultaneously lift up the sanctions on 
their economy--and they are thriving now--and also unleash $150 billion 
right away--cash. At the same time, we know that, with this cash, 
already both Russia and China have signed agreements to get the most 
sophisticated weapons there are.
  This bill will help us because, in section 201, it very clearly 
states that the President shall identify any country that is helping to 
finance the terrorism coming out of Hezbollah. We will be able to track 
this. We are sending a powerful message with this. Once Iran has this 
cash, there is no boundary as to what they can use it for. I guarantee 
you, because Hezbollah is an arm--a very terroristic arm--of Iran, they 
will channel money there, and that will help us.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has again expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Finally, in my few minutes, ladies and 
gentlemen, we can't stop there, because Israel, as I said, is a target, 
and we have got to put forth a new memorandum of understanding. We need 
to do this, Members of the House, and we need to do it right away. The 
President and the executive branch need to go to work and start 
identifying these people who are providing this support.
  There is another step we have got to go through right away. We 
support Israel with a memorandum of understanding in the form of 
military aid. Right now, it is at $3.1 billion annually; but, ladies 
and gentlemen, given the circumstances, we need to increase that to $5 
billion annually.
  Now, why do I say that?
  I hope that my previous remarks will give support to that. At no time 
has Israel needed our help as they need it now. This was, in my humble 
opinion, a weak Iranian agreement. A lot was made out of it as to the 
United States and Israel. We need to send a powerful, strong message 
that there is no light between the United States and Israel and that we 
are going to send $5 billion.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has again expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. The other point is that our current 
appropriations for Israel end in 2017. I want to repeat that because I 
don't think the people of America know the aid they will get. Where 
would Israel be? It could have been blown away if they hadn't had the 
Iron Dome; but it is because we had an understanding--a memorandum--and 
because we are giving them $3.1 billion.
  With all of this upsurge of terrorism all around the world now--right 
here in California just last week, in Paris, and all over--we may not 
think we are

[[Page H9346]]

going to war, ladies and gentlemen, but war has been declared on the 
United States, on Israel, and on Europe. By George, it is time we 
declared war back on them. That is why we need to increase this 
memorandum of understanding to that $5 billion mark for that year, and 
that will send a powerful message as to how strong Israel and the 
United States' relationship is.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on 
Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International 
Organizations.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank the gentleman.
  First of all, let me thank our distinguished chairman for offering 
yet another important bill in the fight against terrorism, especially 
as it relates to Hezbollah. The Hezbollah International Financing 
Prevention Act of 2015, has been very adequately explained by both the 
chairman and the ranking member. I don't want to be redundant, but it 
is a very, very important bill that will make a difference.
  Hezbollah, as we all know, is a terrorist organization and is a proxy 
of the Iranian regime, which directly threatens our close ally Israel 
as well as ourselves. This bill would help hobble Hezbollah's ability 
to finance its terrorist activities, and it is strongly deserving of 
the support of every Member of this Chamber.
  This bill sends a message to the administration. It seeks to mitigate 
at least some of the damage that has been unleashed by President 
Obama's misguided policy towards Iran, and by an egregiously flawed 
nuclear arms deal that lifts sanctions that will free up billions of 
dollars for the regime in Tehran to finance anti-American and anti-
Israel terror groups, such as Hezbollah.
  Let's not forget that Hezbollah is an organization that has attacked 
Americans. It not only fires missiles unprovoked--like Hamas--into 
Israel, but it finances all sorts of terror and bombings, including of 
U.S. Embassies. Many of the terrorists associated with Hezbollah were 
involved with the killing of the marines back in the early 1980s. One 
of those marines was Paul Innocenzi, from my district--from my 
hometown--who left behind his dear wife and children. She was left a 
widow, as were many others, by that horrific act of terrorism.
  I ask Members to support this bill. Again, I thank Chairman Royce for 
his leadership. I will remind my colleagues that, I think, to date, the 
chairman has had about 35--three dozen--hearings on Iran and on issues 
related to Iran. Every aspect of our misguided policy has been focused 
upon, as have the ideas that seek, to mitigate the damage. This is one 
of those initiatives. Interdict the money flow, and you can help to 
stop some of the terrorism.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Colleagues, in closing, we all know too well that Iran is the world's 
leading state sponsor of terror and that its most destructive terrorist 
tool is Hezbollah. This group's nefarious activities are not limited to 
terrorism. They range from drug trafficking to other forms of illicit 
activity. Hezbollah has transformed into one of the world's most 
sophisticated and complex and dangerous terror organizations.
  H.R. 2297 is the adequate response to meet this challenge. On the 
terror financing front, this bill would move the ball forward by 
sanctioning foreign banks for knowingly doing business with Hezbollah. 
The bill would also expose Hezbollah's television apparatus, as I 
mentioned before, Al-Manar, which is used for logistical, propaganda, 
and fundraising purposes.

                              {time}  1130

  Again, I want to commend Chairman Royce and commend all the other 
people who worked so hard making this a reality. This will be signed 
into law. This will go to the President's desk. I think we can all be 
proud, once again, of the bipartisan way in which the Foreign Affairs 
Committee works.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I would just remind our colleague that, yes, indeed, Hezbollah has 
cost the lives of 260 marines and other U.S. service personnel.
  I would share with you that in 2006, during the second Lebanon war--
during the Hezbollah war, as I would call it--I was in Haifa. At that 
time, I witnessed what were probably 4,000 to 5,000 rockets being fired 
over a period of time into Israel and saw firsthand the human cost of 
this.
  I mentioned the 260 marines that died in two attacks. Going down to 
the trauma hospital and seeing firsthand the 600 victims of those 
Hezbollah attacks, including the realization that Hezbollah had 
tunnelled underneath Israel's territory to bring fighters up within 
Israel, you see the impact that Iran's encouragement, money, and 
training is having on these terrorist fighters, and you see the 
consequence and the cost in terms of human lives lost.
  Representative Eliot Engel and I, after the Gaza conflict, by the 
way, were in one of these tunnels that came up right outside of a 
school. This one was coming from Hamas but, again, financed by Iran. 
The engineering work for the tunnels in Lebanon underneath the border 
there was, again, done by Iran.
  You look at these rockets, whether they are the antiaircraft rockets 
or the antiship rockets and missiles or the ground-to-ground missiles, 
where do they get these rockets? They get them from Iran. When I was in 
Haifa, there were maybe 15,000 of those rockets. Today, as you know, 
there are over 100,000.
  Mr. Engel and I have held a number of hearings on this subject. But 
those 100,000 rockets have a much longer range, again, thanks to Iran. 
Hezbollah, in the meantime, is gaining in its position and strength 
monetarily, both from the money it gets from Iran and from its 
clandestine activities in smuggling. We have an opportunity with this 
legislation to cut off its international financing.
  I want to thank my colleagues for their work because we have got to 
have a strategy that cuts off their illicit activities and that holds 
other countries and banking systems accountable. We have got to go 
after the vulnerabilities that Hezbollah has in terms of sustaining 
this terror network. Let's cut off their cash and their support system 
with this legislation. I urge passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill, H.R. 2297.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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