[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9593-H9597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PREVENTING DESTABILIZATION OF IRAQ ACT OF 2018
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4591) to impose sanctions with respect to Iranian
persons that threaten the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government
of Iraq, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4591
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Destabilization
of Iraq Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN
PERSONS THREATENING PEACE OR STABILITY IN IRAQ.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State
should continue to implement Executive Order 13438 (50 U.S.C.
1701 note; relating to blocking property of certain persons
who threaten stabilization efforts in Iraq).
(b) Imposition of Sanctions.--The President shall impose
the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to any
foreign person that the President determines knowingly
commits a significant act of violence that has the direct
purpose or effect of--
(1) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the
Government of Iraq;
(2) undermining the democratic process in Iraq; or
(3) undermining significantly efforts to promote economic
reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide
humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people.
(c) Sanctions Described.--
(1) In general.--The sanctions described in this subsection
are the following:
(A) Asset blocking.--The exercise of all powers granted to
the President by the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to block
and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests
in property of a foreign person determined by the President
to be subject to subsection (b) if such property and
interests in property are in the United States, come within
the United States, or are or come within the possession or
control of a United States person.
(B) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or parole.--
(i) 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) determines is subject
to 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.).
(ii) Current visas revoked.--
(I) In general.--Any visa or other documentation issued to
an alien who is a foreign person that is described in
subsection (b) regardless of when such visa or other
documentation was issued, shall be revoked and such alien
shall be denied admission to the United States.
(II) Effect of revocation.--A revocation under subclause
(I) shall take effect immediately and shall automatically
cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in
the alien's possession.
(2) Penalties.--A person that is subject to sanctions
described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be subject to the
penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206
of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C.
1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful
act described in subsection (a) of that section.
(3) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters
agreement.--Sanctions under paragraph (1)(B) 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.
(d) Waiver.--The President may, on a case-by-case basis and
for periods not to exceed 180 days, waive the application of
sanctions in this section with respect to a foreign person if
the President certifies to the appropriate congressional
committees at least 15 days before such waiver is to take
effect that such waiver is vital to the national security
interests of the United States.
(e) Implementation Authority.--The President may exercise
all authorities provided to the President under sections 203
and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) for purposes of carrying out this
section.
(f) Regulatory Authority.--
(1) In general.--The President shall, not later than 90
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate
regulations as necessary for the implementation of this
section.
(2) Notification to congress.--Not less than 10 days before
the promulgation of regulations under paragraph (1), the
President shall notify and provide to the appropriate
congressional committees the proposed regulations and the
provisions of this section that the regulations are
implementing.
(g) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) Admitted; alien.--The terms ``admitted'' and ``alien''
have the meanings given those terms in section 101(3) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(3)).
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the
Judiciary, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee
on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
(3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means a
person that is not a United States person.
(4) Government of iraq.--The term ``Government of Iraq''
has the meaning given that term in section 576.310 of title
31, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on June 22,
2016.
(5) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to
conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has
actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the
circumstance, or the result.
(6) Person.--The term ``person'' has the meaning given that
term in section 576.311 of title 31, Code of Federal
Regulations, as in effect on June 22, 2016.
(7) Property; property interest.--The terms ``property''
and ``property interest'' have the meanings given those terms
in section 576.312 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations,
as in effect on June 22, 2016.
(8) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' has the meaning given that term in section 576.317
of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on
June 22, 2016.
(h) Sunset.--This section shall cease to be effective
beginning on January 1, 2022.
SEC. 3. DETERMINATION WITH RESPECT TO THE IMPOSITION OF
SANCTIONS.
(a) Determination.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the
[[Page H9594]]
appropriate congressional committees a determination,
including a detailed justification, on whether Asa'ib Ahl al-
Haq, Harakat Hizballah al-Nujaba, Liwa Fatemiyoun, Liwa
Zainebiyoun, and any foreign person that is an official,
agent, affiliate of, or owned or controlled by Asa'ib Ahl al-
Haq, Harakat Hizballah al-Nujaba, Liwa Fatemiyoun, or Liwa
Zainebiyoun meets the criteria for--
(1) designation as a foreign terrorist organization
pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1189);
(2) the application 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); or
(3) the application of sanctions pursuant to section 2 of
this Act.
(b) Additional Determination.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall include in
the determination submitted under subsection (a) an
additional determination, including a detailed justification,
on whether any of the individuals described in paragraph (2)
meets the criteria for the application of sanctions described
in paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection (a).
(2) Individuals described.--The individuals described in
this paragraph are the following:
(A) Qais al-Khazali.
(B) Laith al-Khazali.
(C) Akram Abbas al-Kaabi.
(D) Shibl al-Zaydi.
(E) Kazim al-Ta'i.
(F) Hamid al-Jazairi.
(G) Ali al-Yasiri.
(c) Form.--The determination in subsection (a) and the
additional determination in subsection (b) shall be submitted
in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, the Committee on Financial Services, and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives;
and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on
Foreign Relations, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.
SEC. 4. WATCHLISTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall annually
establish, maintain, and publish a list of armed groups,
militias, or proxy forces in Iraq receiving logistical,
military, or financial assistance from Iran's Revolutionary
Guard Corps or over which Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps
exerts any form of control or influence.
(b) Publication.--The lists required under subsection (a)
shall be published at the same time as the Department of
State's Annual Country Reports on Terrorism, beginning with
the first such Country Reports published after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(c) Form.--If the Secretary of State determines that it is
appropriate to do so, the Secretary may, not later than 30
days after publication of the Annual Country Reports on
Terrorism referred to in subsection (b), submit to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
classified annex.
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 have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on this measure.
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, this past September, thousands of Iraqis protested
throughout the south of the country calling for Iran to stop meddling
in their democracy. Yet, as these protesters shouted out, ``Iran out,''
their pleas were met with bullets by militias funded by and commanded
by Iranians.
This latest bout of violence in Iraq is not surprising. Iran has used
the fight against ISIS as an excuse to expand its footprint inside Iraq
and to fund tens of thousands of militia forces. Even as ISIS has
receded in Iraq, Iranian-backed militias have continued to expand
throughout the country and to expand into Syria, where these militias
have helped the brutal Assad regime commit countless war crimes.
These Iranian-backed militias not only threaten the Syrian and Iraqi
people, they also pose a serious threat to U.S. personnel serving
overseas, and I will tell you why.
Mr. Speaker, 2 months ago, one of these militias launched mortars at
the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, prompting a stern warning from the
administration that the U.S. will hold the Iranian regime accountable
for any attack by these militias against any U.S. personnel or U.S.
Government facility.
These militias also pose a direct threat to Israel. Some have formed
a so-called Golan Liberation Brigade, with the explicit intent to
attack Israel. The U.N. Ambassador, Nikki Haley, has cited reports
alleging that Iran has begun transferring ballistic missiles to these
militias that are in Iraq.
Despite all this, many of these Iranian-backed militias have not been
designated as terrorist organizations nor are they otherwise subject to
U.S. sanctions, despite being affiliates of Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
This oversight could allow these militias to access the U.S. financial
system.
Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan legislation will allow support and it
will bring that support to democracy in Iraq, and it will counter
Iran's deadly influence there. This bill is narrowly tailored to go
after those militias directly funded and commanded by the IRGC--the
same militias that have attacked our soldiers; the same militias that
continue to threaten those in the region.
I am pleased that this bill also includes provisions to establish a
watch list of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, which will allow
Congress to continually monitor Iran's activity in the country,
including new militias which may emerge in the future.
The Iraqi people deserve and want genuine political reform and
democracy, and above all else, they want peace. This cannot happen so
long as Iran continues to fund and command militias within Iraq.
Empowering Iranian militias is a step backwards for Iraq. Instead, it
would introduce the Hezbollah model and all the chaos that goes along
with it. Iranian influence will only perpetuate the cycle of violence
and increase the sectarian polarization, once again creating the
conditions for the reemergence of ISIS, al-Qaida, and other radical
Islamist groups.
For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting
this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, November 27, 2018.
Hon. Edward R. Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Royce: I write with respect to H.R. 4591, the
``Preventing Iranian Destabilization of Iraq Act.'' As a
result of your having consulted with us on provisions within
H.R. 4591 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. 4591 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. 4591 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, November 27, 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. 4591, the Preventing Iranian
Destabilization of Iraq 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
[[Page H9595]]
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. 4591 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 Ways and Means,
Washington, DC, November 26, 2018.
Hon. Edward R. Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Royce: I write to you regarding H.R. 4591,
the ``Preventing Iranian Destabilization of Iraq Act of
2017'', which the Committee on Ways and Means has
jurisdictional interest.
As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions
in H.R. 4591 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the
Committee on Ways and Means, including asset blocking, I
agree to waive formal consideration of this bill. 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.
I would appreciate your response confirming this
understanding with respect to H.R. 4591 and ask that a copy
of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the
Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the
House floor.
Sincerely,
Kevin Brady,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, November 27, 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 forgo a sequential
referral request on H.R. 4591, the Preventing Iranian
Destabilization of Iraq 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 will seek to place our letters on H.R. 4591 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration. 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.
{time} 1715
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and I thank
Representatives Kinzinger, Poe, and Suozzi for their bipartisan
leadership on this legislation. And, of course, I thank Chairman Royce
for working with me to get this legislation into shape for the floor.
The vision that Democrats and Republicans have for Iraq is very
similar. We all want to see Iraqis work together to provide for a more
prosperous future for their country. We want the greatest number of
Iraqis to access the wealth of their country's natural resources. We
want to see Iraqis focus more on what unites them than what divides
them. We want to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and the next generation
of ISIS or al-Qaida. We want to protect religious minorities.
That is why it is so important to bring this legislation to the floor
today. That is why Republicans and Democrats worked together to find
common ground on American policies in Iraq. Especially after the Iraqi
election, when it remains unclear which path Iraq will choose, we want
to demonstrate to the Iraqi people that we support their efforts to
build a better country.
This bill penalizes those who want to exploit Iraq's sectarian
differences and those who use violence toward those ends. It also
establishes a separate watch list to help keep track of proxy groups in
Iraq that are doing the bidding of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps.
It sends the message that those in power must prioritize answering to
the Iraqi people and not to Iran. We hope that this legislation will
empower those who seek a better future for Iraq and its people.
I am glad to support H.R. 4591, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger). A member of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, he is the author of this bill, and his service to our
Nation includes the time he spent as an Air Force pilot serving in Iraq
and in Afghanistan.
Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and for
his many years of service.
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4591, the Preventing
Destabilization of Iraq of 2018, which I introduced with my colleague,
Representative Suozzi.
Since the toppling of Saddam Hussein, Iran has been working to gain
access and influence in Iraq by dismantling American efforts to
stabilize the country and the region. It is abundantly clear that Iran
is working to gain influence in Iraq to further their radical agenda,
and we must do everything in our power to counter their tyrannical
regime and provide hope for the Iraqi people.
I am troubled by the growing influence of Iranian-backed Popular
Mobilization Forces, which are being set up as a parallel military
structure to undermine the Iraqi security forces.
Just this week, we saw the head of a powerful PMF, which would be
sanctioned under this legislation, demanding that the Iraqi Government
allow these militias to secure the border with Syria. Not only would
this legitimize the PMF, but it would also give the Iranians one of
their greatest desires, a secure land bridge to supply weapons and
troops from Tehran to the Mediterranean.
Over the past few months, we have seen the security situation in Iraq
slip further into despair. The U.S. compounds in Baghdad and Basra were
attacked by Iranian-backed groups, resulting in the latter shutting its
doors.
I believe retreating will only hurt the Iraqis and make the region a
more dangerous place, a lesson that we have already learned once.
Following the elections in Iraq this year, we saw Iranian proxies and
militias, as well as Iraqis working on behalf of the Iranians,
attempting to form a coalition government in Baghdad.
This act, which passed the committee unanimously, would impose
sanctions on Iranians or any other person who threatens the peace and
stability of Iraq. It will also sanction several terrorist
organizations, as well as their leaders, many of which are trained and
funded by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Passage of this legislation ensures that the Iranians are not given a
free pass to meddle in the affairs of the Iraqi people. I thank all my
colleagues for their work on this legislation.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi), an original cosponsor of the
bill.
Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Engel and Chairman
Royce for their bipartisan cooperation in this committee, and I thank
Representative Kinzinger for his leadership on promoting stability in
the Middle East overall.
Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of the bipartisan H.R. 4591, the
Preventing Destabilization of Iraq Act of 2018.
At the 2018 United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President
Rouhani spoke against foreign interventions and impositions of ``alien
wishes of the people of the region.'' Iran's Foreign Minister Javad
Zarif complained about countries that support ``nonstate actors who
wreak havoc through terror.'' They both might want to look in the
mirror.
In Iraq, Iranian-backed militias have committed human rights abuses
for years, executing and beating civilians and looting homes. These
same militias have taken roles in trying to influence Iraq's nascent
political system.
In Iraq's recent elections, IRGC Commander Qasem Soleimani personally
meddled in Iraq's political process by coercing Shiite parties with
differing views to form a parliamentary majority, one that presumably
would favor
[[Page H9596]]
Iran's agenda. This, of course, is only one example of Iranian
activities across the Middle East.
In Syria, Iranian-backed militias have done their own share of
murdering and looting. In Yemen, the Iranian-backed Houthis oppress
their own people and fire ballistic missiles at civilians in Saudi
Arabia. From Bahrain to Lebanon, Iran has played a destabilizing role.
H.R. 4591 would sanction any foreign person, not just Iranians,
conducting significant destabilizing activities in Iraq.
Corruption is endemic and rampant in Iraq's political system. Iraq's
long-term stability depends on a representative government that
reflects the will of the people.
This bill requires our government to review the status of two of
Tehran's proxies in Iran, HHN and AAH, and assess whether the State
Department should designate them as foreign terrorist organizations.
By 2011, AAH claimed responsibility for thousands of attacks on U.S.
and coalition forces, including the tragic 2007 attack on the Karbala
provincial headquarters, which resulted in the execution of four
Americans. The group is notorious for its use of explosively formed
penetrators, the devastating IEDs that have killed and maimed far too
many American troops and civilians.
HHN, a hybrid of fighters from AAH and Hezbollah Brigades of Iraq,
played an active role against Americans during the Iraq war, and now in
Syria's civil war, boasting of a unit in the Golan Heights targeting
Israel.
These groups claim they exist to protect Iraqis, but as the evidence
clearly demonstrates, they terrorize their countrymen and innocents
across the region.
But these militias are not the only security threat in Iraq. Although
the Islamic State has largely been driven from Iraq, the country still
faces a myriad of economic and political challenges. Left unaddressed,
Iraq could once again destabilize, creating a void for ISIS or other
extremists to fill and, once again, throw the region into chaos and
turmoil.
This summer, citizens of Basra, Iraq's second largest city, openly
protested the corruption and mismanagement that has tainted their water
supply and left their electrical grid in tatters. They directed some of
their anger at the Iranian-backed militias that have enriched
themselves while ordinary Iraqis suffered.
The Iraqi Government cannot provide the services its citizens so
desperately need while so much power is controlled by the militias. We
need to stand with and aid Iraqis that merely want to root out
corruption and malign foreign interference in their internal affairs.
For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4591.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairman emeritus of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, who chairs the Subcommittee on the Middle
East and North Africa.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Chairman Royce,
and I commend both the Speaker and Ranking Member Engel. I am going to
miss serving with you, Eliot, as Chairman Royce and I say bye-bye in
just a few weeks. But I thank them for always bringing to the floor
bipartisan bills that make America a stronger place.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Mr. Kinzinger's bill, H.R.
4591, the Preventing Destabilization of Iraq Act of 2018. This timely
bill will impose sanctions against a multitude of Iranian militias,
proxies, terrorist groups, and other nefarious entities that are
operating in Iraq. And it makes it clear that the United States will
not allow Iran to continue undermining the stability of Iraq.
This bill also includes important language authored by our presiding
officer, Judge Poe, ensuring that the State Department determines that
if certain Iranian-affiliated individuals are operating as terrorists,
then they should be designated as terrorists.
It further includes language by our great friend Congressman Joe
Wilson of South Carolina, requiring a determination on whether Afghan
and Pakistani brigades, under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary
Guard Corps, should also be designated.
This is common sense, Mr. Speaker. As Adam Kinzinger knows firsthand,
Iran has been working against U.S. interests in Iraq for years, and it
is directly responsible for American casualties and is intent on
continuing to destabilize Iraq for its own purposes.
We have to ensure that there are penalties for Iran's activities by
doing everything that we can to block their proxies' assets, to cut off
their funding, and to restrict their travel.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Royce and Mr. Engel. As we know, Iraq is a
very important partner. This bill prioritizes its stability, and I
thank the sponsor, Mr. Kinzinger, for authoring this bill. I encourage
all of my colleagues to support it.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This is both a happy and sad moment for me. I am happy because, in
the new Congress, I will be in the majority. But I am sad because so
many of my friends are retiring, not coming back.
I mentioned my good friend Mr. Poe before, and I just want to mention
our now Speaker up here, my good friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. We have
been working together for more than 25 years in passing all kinds of
important legislation involving people's support around the world,
making lives a little bit better for people, and working here to
promote democracy at home.
I want to have the opportunity to say that this Congress will be
missing you. I know I will be missing you, and I know we will be in
touch. You are the kind of Member that we need more of, someone who
always reached across the aisle, someone who always worked in a
bipartisan manner, and someone who was effective and intelligent. I am
just proud to call you my friend. I had to say that.
So I am going to close and say that Iraq is at a crossroads.
We have another speaker? I am sorry. I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas, Judge Ted Poe, chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.
Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate that when the
Foreign Affairs Committee meets and makes a decision, we do that almost
in unison, Republicans and Democrats, looking out for the best foreign
policy of the United States. And Chairman Royce and Mr. Engel, Chairman
Engel, will do a great job in leading that effort, as you have done in
the past when you were chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
I am proud to support Representative Kinzinger's bill, the Preventing
Destabilization of Iraq Act of 2018.
For too long, Iraq has been the center of chaos and instability in
the Middle East. While much of this is due to terrorist groups, its
expansionist, saber-rattling neighbor to the east also bears enormous
responsibility for undermining Iraq's sovereignty and security.
Iran is determined, in my opinion, to make Iraq a puppet state of its
tyranny. For years, Iran has armed and financed thousands of Iraqi
militia fighters loyal to Tehran to spread its influence and fight its
foreign wars. Many of these militiamen have American blood on their
hands as well as their own countrymen's.
Earlier this year, Iran's proxies in Iraq seized more seats in Iraq's
parliament and used violence to crush anti-Iranian protests.
This legislation codifies crucial authorities to target Iran's
destabilizing activity.
{time} 1730
The bill also includes parts of my Iranian Proxies Terrorist
Sanctions bill, which calls for the designation of two of the deadliest
Iraqi militia groups backed by Iran: AAH and HHN.
These killers have attacked Americans, including firing rockets at
U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq as recently as this past August.
They have participated in Bashar al-Assad's slaughter of the Syrian
people and expressed a desire to attack Israel. War is in the mind of
the Ayatollah.
We must battle Iran in the arenas it hopes to control. Iraq is one of
those key arenas.
This legislation is a step towards confronting Iran's conquest of the
Middle East.
[[Page H9597]]
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this important
legislation and for the Senate to quickly bring it to the floor to help
stop Iran, the world's number one state sponsor of terror, from
spreading its violent hate.
And that is just the way it is, Madam Speaker.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might
consume.
Madam Speaker, it seems like we are playing revolving or musical
chairs, but it is so good, because I get to see all my friends from
different angles.
Madam Speaker, Iraq is at a crossroads. And as someone who wants to
see Iraq succeed in promoting pluralism and tolerance, I support this
legislation because it will help Iraqis build a better future.
This bill makes it clear that the United States will not side with
those who continue to foment sectarian strife. No matter where you are
from, if you undermine the democratic process in Iraq, if you threaten
peace and stability there, if you prevent the delivery of humanitarian
assistance to the Iraqi people, you will be penalized. That is why this
bill is so important.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 4591 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, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for
their bipartisan work on this important legislation. This measure will
send a clear message to the Iraqi people that the U.S. supports them in
their quest for peace and stability and democracy.
Still recovering from the atrocities and desolation left by ISIS, the
Iraqi people deserve a chance to establish a stable democracy free of
Iranian meddling.
To be clear, these Iranian-backed militias are not just a threat to
the Iraqi people. These same militias have launched mortars at the U.S.
Embassy in Baghdad and continue to threaten Israel. It is well past the
time that these militias face justice and accountability for their war
crimes.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poe of Texas). 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. 4591, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________