[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 88 (Monday, June 6, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S3414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 482--URGING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO DESIGNATE HIZBALLAH 
IN ITS ENTIRETY AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION AND TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON 
    THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS MEMBERS TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Markey, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. 
Coons, and Mr. Kirk) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 482

       Whereas in July 2012, a Hizballah terror attack in Bulgaria 
     killed 5 Israeli tourists and 1 Bulgarian;
       Whereas in March 2013, a Hizballah operative in Cyprus was 
     convicted of planning terror attacks after admitting that he 
     was a member of Hizballah, had been trained in the use of 
     weapons, and used a dual Swedish-Lebanese passport to travel 
     around Europe on missions as a courier and scout for 
     Hizballah;
       Whereas although that Hizballah operative was convicted on 
     criminal-related charges, authorities had to drop terrorism 
     charges against him because Hizballah was not listed as a 
     terrorist organization;
       Whereas in July 2013, the European Union (referred to in 
     this Resolution as the ``EU'') designated Hizballah's so-
     called ``military wing'', but not the organization as a 
     whole, as a terrorist organization;
       Whereas the EU designation of Hizballah's military wing has 
     enabled substantial and important cooperation between United 
     States and European authorities aimed at uncovering and 
     thwarting Hizballah's international criminal activities, such 
     as drug trafficking and money laundering, the proceeds of 
     which are used to purchase weapons and advance Hizballah's 
     terrorist aims;
       Whereas the Hizballah International Financing Prevention 
     Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-102) was signed into law in 
     December 2015, broadening financial sector sanctions against 
     Hizballah to compel foreign financial institutions to refrain 
     from supporting the terrorist group;
       Whereas in February 2016, the United States Drug 
     Enforcement Administration and U.S. Customs and Border 
     Protection partnered with counterparts in France, Germany, 
     Italy, and Belgium to arrest top leaders of the European cell 
     of Hizballah's External Security Organization Business 
     Affairs Component, which engages in international money 
     laundering and drug trafficking to support Hizballah's terror 
     activities;
       Whereas for many years, Iran and Syria have been the prime 
     sponsors of Hizballah, by harboring, financing, training, and 
     arming the terrorist group;
       Whereas according to the Department of State's Country 
     Reports on Terrorism, Iran has armed Hizballah, provided 
     hundreds of millions of dollars in support of Hizballah, and 
     trained thousands of its fighters;
       Whereas Hizballah now has an arsenal of approximately 
     150,000 missiles and rockets, many of which can reach deep 
     into Israel, at a time when Hizballah Secretary General 
     Hassan Nasrallah is threatening to invade Galilee or attack 
     civilian Israeli chemical plants to generate mass 
     destruction;
       Whereas while the EU confronts the migrant crisis sparked 
     by violence in Syria, 6,000 to 8,000 Hizballah fighters have 
     been on the ground in Syria aiding the Assad regime in its 
     slaughter of innocent Syrians;
       Whereas the Lebanese Armed Forces, the legitimate security 
     establishment of the country as set forth in United Nations 
     Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), are struggling to 
     control the flow of weapons and Hizballah fighters at its 
     borders;
       Whereas Hizballah trains and provides weapons for armed 
     groups in Iraq and Yemen, further destabilizing the region 
     and perpetuating violence in those countries;
       Whereas in October 2012, Hizballah Deputy Secretary General 
     Naim Qassem stated that Hizballah does not ``have a military 
     wing and a political one . . . Every element of Hizballah, 
     from commanders to members as well as our various 
     capabilities, are in the service of the resistance'';
       Whereas the United States, Canada, Israel, and the 
     Netherlands have designated Hizballah in its entirety as a 
     terrorist organization, while Australia and New Zealand have 
     applied the designation to the organization's military wing;
       Whereas in March 2016, the Gulf Cooperation Council, 
     composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and 
     the United Arab Emirates, formally branded Hizballah, in its 
     entirety, a terrorist organization, and the League of Arab 
     States shortly thereafter adopted the same designation; and
       Whereas in April 2016, the Organization of Islamic 
     Cooperation, denounced Hizballah's ``terrorist acts'' in the 
     Middle East:
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses appreciation to the EU for the progress made 
     in countering Hizballah since the EU designated Hizballah's 
     military wing as a terrorist organization;
       (2) expresses support for the continued, increased 
     cooperation between the United States and the EU in thwarting 
     Hizballah's criminal and terrorist activities; and
       (3) urges the EU to designate Hizballah in its entirety as 
     a terrorist organization and increase pressure on the group, 
     including through--
       (A) facilitating better cross-border cooperation between EU 
     members in combating Hizballah;
       (B) issuing arrest warrants against members and active 
     supporters of Hizballah;
       (C) freezing Hizballah's assets in Europe, including those 
     masquerading as charities; and
       (D) prohibiting fundraising activities in support of 
     Hizballah.

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