[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3464-H3470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS AND HOSTAGE-TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4744) to impose additional sanctions with respect
to serious human rights abuses of the Government of 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. 4744
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H3465]]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Human Rights and
Hostage-Taking Accountability Act''.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY
THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Iran is a member of the United Nations, voted for the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is a signatory to
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
among other international human rights treaties.
(2) In violation of these and other international
obligations, Iranian regime officials continue to violate the
fundamental human rights of the Iranian people.
(3) The Iranian regime persecutes ethnic and religious
minority groups, such as the Baha'is, Christians, Sufi,
Sunni, and dissenting Shi'a Muslims (such as imprisoned
Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi), through harassment,
arrests, and imprisonment, during which detainees have
routinely been beaten, tortured, and killed.
(4) Following voting irregularities that resulted in the
2009 election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian
regime brutally suppressed peaceful political dissent from
wide segments of civil society during the Green Revolution in
a cynical attempt to retain its undemocratic grip on power.
(5) Since February 2011 the leaders of Iran's Green
Movement, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife
Dr. Zahra Rahnavard, and former Speaker of the Majles
(parliament) Mehdi Karroubi, have lived under strict house
arrest, ordered by Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
(6) In 1999 the Iranian regime brutally suppressed a
student revolt that was one of the largest mass uprisings up
until that point in the country since 1979.
(7) Over a 4-month period in 1988, the Iranian regime
carried out the barbaric mass executions of thousands of
political prisoners by hanging and firing squad for refusing
to renounce their political affiliations and in some cases
for possessing political reading material, including
prisoners of conscience, teenagers, and pregnant women. In a
recently disclosed audiotape, the late Hussein Ali Montazeri,
a grand ayatollah who served as former Supreme leader
Khomeini's chief deputy, said that the 1988 mass killings
were ``the greatest crime committed during the Islamic
Republic, for which history will condemn us''.
(8) Senior governmental, military, and public security
officials in Iran have continued ordering, controlling, and
committing egregious human rights violations that, in many
cases, represent official policies of the Iranian regime.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress
that the United States should--
(1) deny the Government of Iran the ability to continue to
oppress the people of Iran and to use violence and executions
to silence pro-democracy protestors;
(2) work with international partners to investigate human
rights violations by senior officials of the Government of
Iran, regardless of where or when such violations took place;
(3) support efforts made by the people of Iran to promote
the establishment of basic freedoms that build the foundation
for the emergence of a freely elected, open, non-corrupt and
democratic political system;
(4) condemn Iranian human rights abuses against dissidents,
including the massacre in 1988 and the suppression of
political demonstrations in 1999, 2009, and 2017, and
pressure the Government of Iran to provide family members
detailed information that they were denied about the final
resting places of any missing victims of such abuses; and
(5) help the people of Iran produce, access, and share
information freely and safely via the internet and other
media.
(c) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the
United States to stand with the people of Iran who seek the
opportunity to freely elect a government of their choosing,
and increase the utilization of all available authorities to
impose sanctions on officials of the Government of Iran and
other individuals responsible for serious human rights
abuses.
SEC. 3. DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT TO IMPOSITION OF
SANCTIONS ON CERTAIN PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR OR
COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, ENGAGING IN
CENSORSHIP, ENGAGING IN THE DIVERSION OF GOODS
INTENDED FOR THE PEOPLE OF IRAN, OR ENGAGING IN
CORRUPTION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report containing a
determination of whether any senior officials of the
Government of Iran or other Iranian persons meet the criteria
described in--
(1) subsection (b) of section 105D of the Comprehensive
Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010,
as added by section 5 of this Act; or
(2) paragraph (3) or (4) of section 1263(a) of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law
114-328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note).
(b) Review of Certain Entities.--The report required under
subsection (a) shall contain a review of any activities of
cooperative foundations or bonyads in Iran with a
capitalization that exceeds $200,000,000 and that meet the
criteria in paragraph (3) or (4) of section 1263(a) of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017
(Public Law 114-328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note) for purposes of
corruption.
(c) Form of Report; Public Availability.--
(1) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a
classified annex.
(2) Public availability.--The unclassified portion of such
report shall be made available to the public and posted on
the internet website of the Department of the Treasury--
(A) in English, Farsi, Arabic, and Azeri; and
(B) in precompressed, easily downloadable versions that are
made available in all appropriate formats.
(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES POLICY ON HOSTAGE-TAKING BY THE
GOVERNMENT OF IRAN.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Since 1979 the Iranian regime has engaged in various
destabilizing activities that undermine the national security
of the United States and its allies and partners.
(2) These activities include the hostage-taking or
prolonged arbitrary detentions of United States citizens and
other persons with connections to Canada, the United Kingdom,
France, and other nations allied with the United States.
(3) The Iranian regime has detained on fabricated claims a
significant number of United States citizens, including
Siamak and Baquer Namazi and Xiyue Wang, as well as United
States legal permanent resident, Nizar Zakka, in violation of
international legal norms.
(4) The Iranian regime has not provided information on the
whereabouts of or assistance in ensuring the prompt and safe
return of Robert Levinson, despite repeated promises to do
so, after he was kidnapped while visiting Iran's Kish Island
on March 9, 2007--making him the longest held hostage in
United States history.
(5) The Iranian regime reportedly uses hostages as leverage
against foreign investors to exact business concessions in
foreign investment deals.
(6) The type of hostage-taking enterprise put in place by
the Iranian regime is a crime against humanity and a
violation of customary international law.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress
that--
(1) the Administration should fully utilize all necessary
and appropriate measures to prevent the Iranian regime from
engaging in hostage-taking or the prolonged arbitrary
detention of United States citizens or legal permanent
resident aliens, to include--
(A) the use of extradition to try and convict those
individuals responsible for ordering or controlling the
hostage-taking or arbitrary detention of United States
citizens; and
(B) the use of the Department of Homeland Security's Human
Rights Violators and War Crimes Center to target such
individuals; and
(2) the United States should encourage its allies and other
affected countries to pursue the criminal prosecution and
extradition of state and non-state actors in Iran that assist
in or benefit from such hostage-taking to prevent such state
and non-state actors from engaging in this practice in the
future.
(c) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United
States Government not to pay ransom for the purpose of
securing the release of United States citizens or legal
permanent resident aliens taken hostage abroad.
(d) Strategy.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate a report that contains a strategy to prevent elements
of the Iranian regime from engaging in hostage-taking or the
prolonged arbitrary detention of United States citizens or
legal permanent resident aliens.
SEC. 5. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IRANIAN
PERSONS WHO ENGAGE IN CERTAIN ACTIONS AGAINST
UNITED STATES CITIZENS OR IRANIAN PERSONS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the United States should coordinate with United States allies
and other allies and partners whose citizens may be subject
to politically-motivated detention or trial in Iran, to apply
sanctions against Iranian persons that are responsible for or
complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or
otherwise directing, such detention or trial.
(b) In General.--Title I of the Comprehensive Iran
Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 is
amended by inserting after section 105C (22 U.S.C. 8514c) the
following:
``SEC. 105D. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IRANIAN
PERSONS WHO ENGAGE IN CERTAIN ACTIONS AGAINST
UNITED STATES CITIZENS OR IRANIAN PERSONS.
``(a) In General.--The President shall impose sanctions
described in section 105(c)
[[Page H3466]]
with respect to each person on the list required by
subsection (b).
``(b) List of Iranian Persons Who Engage in Certain Actions
Against United States Citizens or Iranian Persons.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this section, the President shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a list of Iranian
persons that the President determines, are knowingly--
``(A) responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for
ordering or otherwise directing, the politically-motivated
harassment, abuse, extortion, or extended detention or trial
of citizens of the United States or United States legal
permanent resident aliens, regardless of whether such actions
occurred in Iran; or
``(B) responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for
ordering or otherwise directing, the politically-motivated
harassment, abuse, extortion, or extended detention or trial
of Iranians, Iranian residents, or persons of Iranian origin
outside of Iran.
``(2) Updates of list.--The President shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees an updated list under
paragraph (1)--
``(A) each time the President is required to submit an
updated list to those committees under section 105(b)(2)(A);
and
``(B) as new information becomes available.
``(3) Form of report; public availability.--
``(A) Form.--The list required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
``(B) Public availability.--The unclassified portion of the
list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available to the
public and posted on the websites of the Department of the
Treasury and the Department of State.
``(c) Application of Sanctions to Immediate Family
Members.--
``(1) In general.--The President is authorized to impose
sanctions described in paragraph (2) with respect to each
person that is a family member of any person on the list
required by subsection (b).
``(2) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole.--
``(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien who the
Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or
a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason
to believe, is a family member of any person on the list
required by subsection (b) is--
``(i) inadmissible to the United States;
``(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation
to enter the United States; and
``(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into
the United States or to receive any other benefit under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
``(B) Current visas revoked.--
``(i) In general.--The issuing consular officer, the
Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or
a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall revoke any visa
or other entry documentation issued to an alien who is a
family member of any person on the list required by
subsection (b) regardless of when issued.
``(ii) Effect of revocation.--A revocation under clause
(i)--
``(I) shall take effect immediately; and
``(II) shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or
entry documentation that is in the alien's possession.
``(3) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters
agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall not apply to
an alien if admitting the alien into the United States is
necessary to permit the United States to comply with the
Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force
November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United
States, or other applicable international obligations.
``(4) Definition of family member.--In this section, the
term `family member' means, with respect to an individual--
``(A) a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandchild, or
grandparent of the individual; and
``(B) a spouse's child, parent, or sibling.
``(d) Termination of Sanctions.--The provisions of this
section shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the
date on which the President--
``(1) determines and certifies to the appropriate
congressional committees that the Government of Iran is no
longer complicit in or responsible for the wrongful and
unlawful detention of United States citizens or legal
permanent resident aliens; and
``(2) transmits to the appropriate congressional committees
the certification described in section 105(d) of this Act.''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment
Act of 2010 is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 105C the following new item:
``Sec. 105D. Imposition of sanctions with respect to Iranian persons
who engage in certain actions against United States
citizens or Iranian persons.''.
(d) Amendments to General Provisions.--Section 401 of the
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment
Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8551) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``and 305'' and
inserting ``, 105D, and 305''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) by striking ``or 105C(a)'' and inserting ``105C(a), or
105D(a)''; and
(B) by striking ``or 105C(b)'' and inserting ``105C(b), or
105D(b)''.
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 of California. 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 H.R. 4744, currently
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in January this body came together. It was a near
unanimous vote to support the Iranian people, who were engaged in
legitimate protests against a very oppressive regime. I want to thank
Mr. Mike McCaul here, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security,
and Mr. Eliot Engel, the ranking member of our Committee on Foreign
Affairs, for their engagement in this issue.
At the time, we were witnessing tens of thousands of Iranians who had
taken to the streets in the largest demonstration that we had seen
since the Green Revolution of 2009. The protests, aimed at economic
stagnation, aimed at widespread corruption--and people were talking
about that all the time--aimed at the Revolutionary Guard Corps'
control over that economy because they had nationalized, seized, so
much of that economy. And quickly we saw that spread across Iran, as
Persians sought to exercise the fundamental right of freedom of
expression, as people across that country, of every ethnicity and every
religion, began to speak out.
Many demonstrators shouted slogans aimed at Iran's costly support for
Syria's Bashar al-Assad, if you recall, from reading the press
accounts. And they attacked, they argued about the cost, the support
that went to the terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. Predictably, the
Iranian regime moved swiftly to quash the demonstrations and throttle
social media.
More than 1,000 Iranians were jailed, dozens were killed. H. Res. 676
condemned this brutal violence back in January, called for targeted
sanctions to hold the regime to account. But today we act to make good
on that call, because the bill before us today, Chairman McCaul's H.R.
4744, requires the administration to determine whether senior Iranian
officials should be sanctioned for human rights abuses. And it also
requires determinations on whether Iranian businesses should be
sanctioned for public corruption with respect to those who are involved
in corruption. And it mandates sanctions on those officials responsible
for Iran's wrongful, politically motivated jailing of U.S. citizens.
Mr. Speaker, for years the regime in Tehran has systematically beat
down all opposition inside Iran. It regularly uses brutal tactics back
in Iran, including torture and mass executions, as it seeks to export
violence and radical ideology abroad as well. I think all of us can
think back to that 1979 revolution and contemplate how much better Iran
would have been had it not went off onto a path of becoming a rogue
state.
As this legislation details, today the regime flagrantly disregards
commitments it has made to respect the fundamental rights of the
Iranian people. Many of us recall the barbaric mass executions carried
out over a 4-month period in 1988. And I dare say, if you know any
Persians, if you know people who escaped from Iran, you know that,
during that period of time leading up to 1988, there were over 30,000
students and young professionals who lost their lives as a consequence.
We know that the political prisoners there went through a grueling
experience, in Evin Prison and other prisons. Many were executed by
hanging, many by firing squad. They refused to renounce their political
affiliations, and that was the fate that was handed out to them.
[[Page H3467]]
And today the regime still persecutes ethnic and religious minority
groups; such as, the Baha'i; Christians, of course; Sufi; Sunni;
dissenting Shia Muslims. And we all remember the way the ayatollah
brutally suppressed the peaceful political dissent during the Green
Revolution, during which the previous administration remained
embarrassingly silent, in my view. And many of us here on this floor
today spoke up often at that time about that dissent during the Green
Revolution, because I think this was a real opportunity missed by the
United States.
So again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman McCaul and I want to
thank Ranking Member Engel for their leadership on this legislation. I
am glad we have strong bipartisan support for this measure. Regardless
of how one views the Iran nuclear agreement, it is critical that the
United States and our allies continue to press Iran for its dangerous
and threatening acts that fall outside of the JCPOA.
This is an area where officials from both the Trump and Obama
administrations agree, and they agree for good reason here. Remember,
this is the same regime that is holding American citizens, including
one who is in very poor health, on sham charges in one of the largest
ransom schemes, from my standpoint, that was ever devised.
This regime, of course, held its first American hostages in 1979,
when it overran our U.S. Embassy. The regime's MO remains the same. It
is far past time the regime faced consequences for its attacks on
Iranians and Americans alike.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC, April 13, 2018.
Hon. Edward R. Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing with respect to H.R.
4744, the ``Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking
Accountability Act,'' on which Ways and Means was granted an
additional referral.
As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions
in H.R. 4744 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the
Committee on Ways and Means, I agree to waive formal
consideration of this bill so that it may move expeditiously
to the floor. 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. 4744.
Sincerely,
Kevin Brady,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, April 13, 2018.
Hon. Kevin Brady,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Brady: Thank you for consulting with the
Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from
further consideration of H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and
Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, so that the bill may
proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of
your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would
support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate
number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate
conference on this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 4744 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and
look forward to continuing to work together as this measure
moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC, April 16, 2018.
Hon. Ed Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing concerning H.R. 4744, the
Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.
As a result of your having consulted with the Committee on
Financial Services concerning provisions in the bill that
fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, I agree to forgo action
on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House
Floor. The Committee on Financial Services takes this action
with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing
consideration of H.R. 4744, at this time, we do not waive any
jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or
similar legislation, and that our Committee will be
appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar
legislation moves forward so that we may address any
remaining issues that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction.
Our 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 any such request.
Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter
confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 4744 and
would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this
matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration thereof.
Sincerely,
Jeb Hensarling,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, April 17, 2018.
Hon. Jeb Hensarling
Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hensarling: Thank you for consulting with the
Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from
further consideration of H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and
Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, so that the bill may
proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of
your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this resolution or similar legislation in the future. I
would support your effort to seek appointment of an
appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any
House-Senate conference on this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 4744 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and
look forward to continuing to work together as this measure
moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, April 17, 2018.
Hon. Edward R. Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Royce: I write with respect to H.R. 4744, the
``Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.''
As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions
within H.R. 4744 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of
the Committee on the Judiciary, I forego any further
consideration of this bill so that it may proceed
expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual
understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4744 at
this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject
matter contained in this or similar legislation and that our
committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as
this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may
address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our
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 asks
that you support any such request.
I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 4744 and would ask
that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill.
Sincerely,
Bob Goodlatte,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, April 17, 2018.
Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Goodlatte: Thank you for consulting with the
Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from
further consideration of H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and
Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, so that the bill may
proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of
your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would
support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate
number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate
conference on this legislation.
[[Page H3468]]
I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 4744 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill.
I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and
look forward to continuing to work together as this measure
moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure. Let me start
by thanking Congressmen Deutch and McCaul, both valued members of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, for their hard work on this bill. I want
to also thank Chairman Ed Royce, who has been a strong bipartisan voice
in things that are so important to our country and to the world. We
always say that we take pride in having the Committee on Foreign
Affairs being the most bipartisan committee in the entire Congress.
Iran has isolated itself on the global stage because it refuses to
abandon a range of aggressive activities that pose a threat to the
region and a threat to the entire international community. On that list
is the regime's terrible mistreatment of its own people and its heinous
practice of prolonged and politically motivated detentions of American
citizens.
The bill before us now seeks to put an end to these intolerable
practices. It would place sanctions on anyone responsible for
politically motivated harassment, abuse, extortion, extended detention,
or trial of Americans or Iranians.
Earlier this year, we stood on this floor in solidarity with
protestors in Iran who sought a better future for their country and for
the next generation. They wanted to see their government abandon its
support for Iranian proxy forces and terrorist groups, like Hezbollah,
in favor of funding healthcare and employment opportunities for average
Iranians.
This is a country that has suffered so much under the ayatollahs and
the economic mismanagement of its leaders. The protests in December and
January were a stark reminder of the regime's tight grip on power, as
many protesters were killed in the streets and blocked from
communicating with the outside world.
Today, as we pass this legislation, we think about the Americans who
currently sit in Iranian prisons. We think about Robert Levinson, Mr.
Deutch's constituent, who has been missing for over 11 years, who has
missed the weddings of his children and the births of his
grandchildren.
{time} 1630
The Iranian regime had promised to cooperate with the investigation
to locate Mr. Levinson, but to this date, that cooperation has been
virtually nonexistent.
There is no real clarity in U.S. policy toward Iran. The United
States faces a looming deadline on the nuclear deal, and the future
remains uncertain. But there is one thing we can all agree on: we
cannot let up the pressure on Iran for its human rights violations,
particularly against American citizens.
So, again, I want to thank Mr. McCaul and Mr. Deutch for doing a
great job with this. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. If you
care about the injustices going on in Iran, then it is important to
support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), chairman of the Committee on
Homeland Security and the author of this bill.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support for my bill to
hold the Iranian regime accountable for its continued human rights
violations.
I introduced the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability
Act with Congressman Deutch, and I am grateful for Chairman Royce and
Ranking Member Engel's support in this effort.
The Iranian regime continues to perpetrate gross human rights abuses
against its own people. They continue to suppress and censor their
people's calls for democratic reform. They recklessly use their
nation's resources to expand their destabilizing influence and support
of terrorism. They continue to engage in corrupt practices, and they
continue to illegally detain and imprison our citizens without just
cause. This is simply unacceptable.
Mr. Speaker, this bill serves as a clear signal to the people of Iran
that we support their quest for freedom. It shines a light on the
regime's human rights violations and targets Iranian officials guilty
of corruption, censorship, and the diversion of goods intended for the
Iranian people. It requires the President to work with our
international partners to develop a strategy to end this inhumane
behavior and sanctions those officials complicit in those crimes.
Finally, it sanctions those individuals who take Americans hostage.
Mr. Speaker, today, there are more than six American citizens and
permanent U.S. residents held by the Iranian regime in a shameful
attempt to use innocent human lives as political bargaining chips.
These hostages include: Bob Levinson, Congressman Deutch's constituent,
who has been missing since 2007 and remains America's longest held
hostage; Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father, Baquer, held since
2015 and 2016, respectively; Ph.D. student, Xiyue Wang, held since
2017; internet freedom activist, Nizar Zakka, held since 2016; and
others.
The United States has a moral responsibility to devote resources to
these hostages and make their return a priority. I sent a letter with
Congressman Lieu and 46 other Members of Congress requesting that the
administration keep Congress informed as to what steps they are taking
to guarantee this happens.
So, again, I thank the chairman and ranking member, Congressman
Deutch, for their leadership on this bipartisan effort to hold Iran
accountable.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the letter dated April 23, 2018.
Congress of the United States,
Washington, DC, April 23, 2018.
Hon. John J. Sullivan,
Acting Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC.
Dear Acting Secretary Sullivan: We write to request
information regarding the Administration's efforts to secure
the release of American citizens and permanent U.S. residents
held hostage by the government of Iran.
As you know, Iran has a long history of unjustly holding
hostages in violation of international law dating back to
1979. Over the years, the Iranian regime has arrested dozens
of foreigners on spurious charges and convicted them in sham
trials held in secretive courts. Many of the detained
American citizens and permanent residents are also held in
deplorable conditions, where they experience severe health
and psychological issues.
Today, there are more than six American citizens and
permanent U.S. residents held by the Iranian regime in a
shameful attempt to use innocent human lives as political
bargaining chips. These hostages include Bob Levinson, who
has been missing since 2007 and remains America's longest-
held hostage; Siamak Namazi and his 81-year-old father
Baquer, held since 2015 and 2016, respectively; PhD student
Xiyue Wang, held since 2016; internet freedom activist Nizar
Zakka, held since 2016; and others. The United States has a
moral responsibility to devote resources to these hostages
and make their return a priority.
This past month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed
H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking
Accountability Act, to increase U.S. leverage by levying new
sanctions on those responsible for detaining U.S. citizens or
legal permanent respondents in Iran. But more sticks must be
complemented with a coordinated diplomatic effort with our
allies.
According to media reports, the State Department has
increased efforts in recent months to secure the release of
these hostages, including outreach to the Iranian regime in
December 2017 that has gone unanswered. On April 6, 2018, the
Department outlined efforts that have been undertaken in a
report to Congress pursuant to Section 110 of the Countering
America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. We request that
the Department provide some additional details to Congress.
Specifically, please provide answers to the following
questions in either written responses or a briefing:
1. How has Iran responded to the various lines of effort
made by the U.S., as detailed in the April 6 report to
Congress, to raise the detention cases?
2. According to a June 20, 2017, article from the
Washington Post, two senior officials from the Trump
administration stated a range of options were being
considered, which included ``sticks more than carrots.'' What
specific tools are being considered to secure the release of
detained Americans and permanent U.S. residents?
3. Does the Administration require any new authorities from
Congress to utilize these tools?
4. What is the Administration's strategy for
disincentivizing and deterring foreign
[[Page H3469]]
governments, particularly Iran, from taking Americans and
permanent U.S. residents hostage in the future?
Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Sincerely,
Ted W. Lieu, Member of Congress; Michael McCaul, Member of
Congress; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Member of Congress; Ted
Deutch, Member of Congress; James P. McGovern, Member of
Congress; Brian Fitzpatrick, Member of Congress; Donald M.
Payne, Jr., Member of Congress; Randy Hultgren, Member of
Congress; Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Member of Congress;
Jerrold Nadler, Member of Congress; Steve Cohen, Member of
Congress; Bobby L. Rush, Member of Congress; David N.
Cicilline, Member of Congress; Nita M. Lowey, Member of
Congress; Jose E. Serrano, Member of Congress.
Daniel W. Lipinski, Member of Congress; Joe Wilson, Member
of Congress; Peter King, Member of Congress; Francis Rooney,
Member of Congress; Mark Meadows, Member of Congress; Adriano
Espaillat, Member of Congress; Brad Sherman, Member of
Congress; Eleanor Holmes Norton, Member of Congress; Lee
Zeldin, Member of Congress; Steve Chabot, Member of
Congress; Paul Cook, Member of Congress; Eliot Engel,
Member of Congress; Ted Poe, Member of Congress; Bradley
S. Schneider, Member of Congress; Grace Meng, Member of
Congress.
Tom Suozzi, Member of Congress; Pete Sessions, Member of
Congress; Albio Sires, Member of Congress; Frank Pallone,
Jr., Member of Congress; Thomas A. Garrett, Jr., Member of
Congress; John Ratcliffe, Member of Congress; Josh
Gottheimer, Member of Congress; Lois Frankel, Member of
Congress; Derek Kilmer, Member of Congress; Patrick Meehan,
Member of Congress; Leonard Lance, Member of Congress; Randy
Weber, Member of Congress; Bill Johnson, Member of Congress;
David P. Joyce, Member of Congress; Adam Kinzinger, Member of
Congress; Elise Stefanik, Member of Congress.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Deutch), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on the
Middle East and North Africa of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Engel and Chairman
Royce for their support of this legislation, and I give special thanks
to my colleague, Chairman McCaul, for his leadership in recognizing the
need to take action.
We must work together to stop the brutal Iranian regime's human
rights abuses and demand the release of American hostages that Iran is
using as pawns for political leverage. I am proud to partner with Mr.
McCaul in this effort
The Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act sends a
clear message to the Iranian regime and to the rest of the world: this
Congress, this country will not tolerate the flagrant disregard of the
most basic of human rights.
My colleagues have explained the merits of this bill, and I know it
is difficult for many Americans to imagine, but we are here today to
show our resolve in the face of really unbelievable circumstances.
For my constituents, the family of Robert Levinson, this is a
nightmare that they have lived for 11 years. Bob Levinson is the
longest held American hostage in history. He disappeared in Iran on
March 9, 2007.
Imagine 11 years without your husband or your father.
Imagine having grandchildren who have never had the chance to meet
their grandfather.
Imagine 11 anniversaries, dozens of family birthdays, and holidays
that pass by without Bob, just an empty place where Bob should be
sitting.
Bob's wife, Christine, and his seven children--Susan, Stephanie,
Sarah, Dan, David, Samantha, and Doug--have been tireless advocates for
their father. They have traveled to Iran themselves looking for
answers. They have made the trip to Washington, D.C., countless times
to meet with government officials and Members of Congress.
They have fought for action all the way to the Oval Office, directly
appealing to President Bush, President Obama, and President Trump. They
have watched as others have returned home to their families. They have
listened with hope as Iran's leaders have promised cooperation. They
have been disappointed more times than they can count as promises go
unfulfilled year after year after year.
Iran has become adept at this cruel game, because that is what it is
to this rogue Iranian regime. They say that hostages are not hostages,
but these people are not detained under a legal order. They have lost
their freedom; they have been separated from their families; and they
have been held under shamelessly trumped-up and false charges. Any
attempt to show due process or trials has been a sham.
To the Levinsons, to the Namazi family, the Zakka family, the Wang
family, and the other families whose loved ones are being held, we
stand with you. Today, we speak clearly and loudly with one bipartisan
voice to send a message that no country, no rogue regime will use
American lives as leverage to further a dangerous agenda.
This bill isn't about the nuclear deal. Nothing in this deal
precludes our continued participation in the JCPOA. But this bill makes
clear the importance of closely coordinating with our allies and
partners whose citizens have also been held hostage by Iran to apply
pressure on the regime.
If we are going to counter Iran's abuses, Iran's terrorism, Iran's
threats to our troops and our national security interests, we must work
in tandem with our partners around the globe. We will stand together
against repression and the violation of human rights. We will stand
together against religious persecution. We will stand together for the
rule of law and democratic values.
Taking hostages and violating the most fundamental values that cut to
the core of our dignity as human beings is unacceptable to this
Congress and to members of the international community. I urge all of
my colleagues to stand up to Iran's rogue regime, to stand up for human
rights and for the people of Iran, to stand with the Levinsons and the
other families whose loved ones are missing from their lives, and to
fight for their return home by supporting this bill.
Please support H.R. 4744, and together we will stand for basic human
rights.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), who chairs the Foreign
Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
April 24, 2018, on page H3469, the following appeared: Mr. ROYCE
of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen),
The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. ROYCE of
California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen),
========================= END NOTE =========================
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce for his
kindness and his leadership, and Ranking Member Eliot Engel, my
favorite mensch, for bringing this bill to the floor today. I also want
to thank and congratulate Michael McCaul and my south Florida
colleague and dear friend Ted Deutch for their work in offering this
important bill.
The regime in Iran, as we have heard from my colleagues, is
responsible for some of the most despicable human rights abuses
imaginable. The regime is also notorious for its hostage-taking
tactics, hoping to get financial or political concessions from the
United States and other Western countries for their hostage taking.
Mr. Deutch and I have been highlighting these abuses in our
subcommittee through multiple hearings and many pieces of legislation,
including a resolution that the House passed last year, H. Res. 317,
that urged the President to make the release of Americans held hostage
in Iran the highest of priorities.
We also held a hearing on some of the hostages named in the
resolution where we heard from family members of Mr. Deutch's
constituent Bob Levinson, who is America's longest held hostage ever;
Baquer and Siamak Namazi, father and son, who have been unjustly
detained in Iran for far too long; Nizar Zakka. All of these families
have had to endure so much, Mr. Speaker.
Almost 1 year later after our resolution, all of these men as well as
at least four other Americans, additional Americans, continue to be
unjustly detained in Iran, suffering under horrific conditions with
little to no contact with their families.
Iran must be held accountable, Mr. Speaker. We need to be applying
maximum pressure against the regime. This bill gives the administration
more tools to sanction the regime for this practice of taking hostages,
and I offer my full support.
I thank the esteemed chairman of our committee, as well as my friend,
the ranking member. I thank the chairman for the time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.
[[Page H3470]]
Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Iranian regime is the number one
state sponsor of terror in the whole world, and they commit terrorist
acts even against their own people.
I am proud to support H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-
Taking Accountability Act, introduced by my friend, Chairman McCaul.
The mullahs in Tehran are among the world's worst human rights
abusers. This year, we have witnessed their brutality again on display
as they continue to mercilessly crush dissent from their own people.
International attention has faded, but the Iranian people are still
in the streets demanding their rights, whether they be economic
opportunity, access to water, religious freedom, or gender equality. In
response, the regime has murdered dozens and locked up thousands, as it
has done so many times before, without punishment from the outside
world.
This is nothing new for the Islamic Republic. Look no further than
the 1988 massacre, where 30,000 of Iran's political prisoners were
systematically murdered by the regime.
This barbaric mass execution occurred by public hangings, firing
squads, and included teenagers and pregnant women who refused to
announce their political affiliations, including many from the MEK,
today's leading Iranian dissident group.
So horrific was the act that deputy to Iran's ruler at the time,
Ayatollah Khomeini, called it: ``The greatest crime committed during
the Islamic Republic for which history will condemn us.'' And, yes,
history now condemns the regime for these acts of murder.
This bill will provide for that condemnation and call for
investigation into this crime against humanity. It also urges our
government to work with international partners and investigate other
major human rights abuses, such as the dozens more killed during
protests in 1999, 2009, and 2017, and sanction those responsible.
In all cases, the families of those murdered by the regime were never
told what happened to their loved ones' remains. This important bill
will pressure the Iranian Government to disclose the final resting
place of the missing so their families may have a small bit of peace.
Mr. Speaker, now is the day of reckoning for the Iranian regime.
And that is just the way it is.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for
the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that the United States and Iran's
leaders are at odds on a host of issues. Iran has killed Americans in
Iraq. Its proxies seek to harm our citizens and our interests around
the world. But let me be clear: the United States has no quarrel with
the Iranian people.
{time} 1645
This legislation seeks to protect the human rights of the Iranian
people and Americans who are unfairly detained in Iran. This bill
signals our solidarity with the protestors and demonstrators to Iran's
rulers that any action that violates the human rights of an American
will be met with severe consequences.
The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) just mentioned the 1988 massacre
that was horrendous, and there were many, many more. This brutal regime
has blood on its hands, and it is important for the United States to
call them out.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
In closing, I would again like to thank my colleagues, Chairman
McCaul and Ranking Member Engel, for their bipartisan leadership to
hold Iran accountable, to hold them accountable for their brutality:
their brutality in the 1988 massacres, and their brutality in terms of
the way they are treating their religious minorities today.
We know that Americans formerly imprisoned by Iran describe being
subjected to electric shock and whippings. We have heard that before
our committee. We have heard them say that they were denied medical
care.
Today, U.S. citizens, such as Siamak and Baqer Namazi, Xiyue Wang,
and U.S. permanent resident Nazar Zaka, are all sitting in Iranian
jails on bogus accusations of collaborating with a hostile government
for espionage. And U.S. citizen Robert Levinson is still missing, and
that is more than 10 years after he disappeared in Iran. Our hearts go
out to these victims and our hearts go out to their families as we
renew our call for the immediate release of all U.S. citizens and
permanent residents held in Iran.
With this legislation, we will impose tough sanctions on the regime.
And we do that for its corruption, for its attacks on innocent
Americans, and for its attacks on Iranians alike.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support for H.R. 4744,
the Iran Human Rights and Hostage--Taking Accountability Act,
introduced by my fellow Texas delegate Congressman Michael McCall and
fellow House Judiciary colleague Congressman Ted Deutch.
H.R. 4744 states that Congress stands with the people of Iran, and it
provides the Trump administration with the tools necessary to hold
Iranian government officials responsible for human rights violations,
corruption, and censorship.
Moreover, this legislation holds the Iranian regime accountable for
taking hostage American citizens and permanent residents by ensuring
that those responsible pay an extreme but just price for the violations
committed.
I applaud the House Foreign Affairs Committee for their support in
passing this critical piece of legislation.
And I sincerely hope that this bill passes the Senate and arrives at
the President's desk to be promptly signed into law so we can begin to
hold the Iranian regime accountable for their gross human rights
violations.
The Iranian regime continues to perpetuate gross human rights abuses
against its own people.
The regime continues to suppress the country's voices for reform
through censorship of the media.
The regime continues to recklessly use the nation's resources to
expand its regional influence through its support for terrorist groups.
The regime continues to engage in corrupt practices.
And the regime continues to illegally detain and imprison our
citizens without just cause or reason.
These practices are unacceptable.
H.R. 4744 serves as a clear signal to the people of Iran that we
support them in their quest for freedom, it shines a light on the
regime's human rights violations and sanctions those who are complicit
in such crimes.
The same goes for Iranian officials guilty of corruption, censorship,
and the diversion of goods intended for the Iranian people.
Lastly, this bill sanctions individuals complicit in taking Americans
and other nation's citizens hostage and requires the President to work
with our international partners to develop a strategy to put an end to
this practice.
We have five Americans currently detained in Iran--an intolerable
circumstance that calls for action.
We must do all we can, and apply as much pressure on Iran as
necessary to ensure the American detainees' safe release, and prevent
future Americans from being held hostage by this brutal regime.
I thank Congressman McCaul and Deutch for their leadership on this
legislation to hold Iran's corrupt officials accountable.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill's passage, and the
passage of all the important measure before us today.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Webster of Florida). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4744, as amended.
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 of California. 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.
____________________