[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4545-H4547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        STOP IRANIAN DRONES ACT

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6089) to clarify that section 107 of the Countering 
America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act applies sanctions with 
respect to unmanned combat aerial vehicles following a 2019 change by 
the United Nations providing additional clarity to the United Nations 
Register of Conventional Arms, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6089

       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 ``Stop Iranian Drones Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) A July 15, 2013, United Nations General Assembly Report 
     on the continuing operation of the United Nations Register of 
     Conventional Arms and its further development (document A/68/
     140) states in paragraph 45, ``The Group noted the discussion 
     of the 2006 Group that category IV already covered armed 
     unmanned aerial vehicles and of the 2009 Group on a proposal 
     to include a new category for such vehicles. The Group 
     reviewed proposals for providing greater clarity to category 
     IV.''.
       (2) Section 107 of the Countering America's Adversaries 
     Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9406), enacted August 2, 
     2017, requires the President to impose sanctions on any 
     person that the President determines ``knowingly engages in 
     any activity that materially contributes to the supply, sale, 
     or transfer directly or indirectly to or from Iran, or for 
     the use in or benefit of Iran, of any battle tanks, armored 
     combat vehicles, large caliber artillery systems, combat 
     aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile 
     systems, as defined for the purpose of the United Nations 
     Register of Conventional Arms, or related materiel, including 
     spare parts''.
       (3) In 2019, the United Nations formally changed the 
     heading of category IV of the United Nations Register of 
     Conventional Arms to ``combat aircraft and unmanned combat 
     aerial vehicles''.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It shall be the policy of the United States to prevent Iran 
     and Iranian-aligned terrorist and militia groups from 
     acquiring unmanned aerial vehicles, including commercially 
     available component parts, that can be used in attacks 
     against United States persons and partner nations.

     SEC. 4. AMENDMENT TO COUNTERING AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES THROUGH 
                   SANCTIONS ACT RELATING TO SANCTIONS WITH 
                   RESPECT TO IRAN.

       (a) In General.--Section 107 of the Countering America's 
     Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9406) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``enforcement of 
     arms embargos'' and inserting ``sanctions with respect to 
     major conventional arms''; and
       (2) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``or unmanned combat 
     aerial vehicles'' after ``combat aircraft''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the 
     Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act is 
     amended by striking the item relating to section 107 and 
     inserting the following:

``Sec. 107. Sanctions with respect to major conventional arms.''.

       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
     apply with respect to any person that knowingly engages in 
     any activity that materially contributes to the supply, sale, 
     or transfer directly or indirectly to or from Iran, or for 
     the use in or benefit of Iran, of any unmanned combat aerial 
     vehicles, as defined for the purpose of the United Nations 
     Register of Conventional Arms, before, on, or after such date 
     of enactment.

     SEC. 5. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Meuser) each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H4546]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 6089.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6089, the Stop Iranian 
Drones Act, which was introduced by Ranking Member McCaul and Chairman 
Meeks, along with Congressmen Deutch and Wilson, chair and ranking 
member of the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism 
Subcommittee.
  As we have seen in recent months, Iran and Iranian-aligned terrorists 
and militia groups have been growing increasingly aggressive with their 
drone attacks throughout the Middle East--targeting U.S. troops, 
commercial vessels, partner countries, and more.
  Not long ago, an Iranian-sponsored militia in Yemen utilized drones 
to cause death and destruction in the UAE, hundreds of miles away. 
Similarly, Saudi Arabia has faced repeated drone attacks on its 
civilian areas and its critical infrastructure.
  This bill clarifies that existing conventional weapons sanctions 
against Iran include unmanned combat aerial vehicles and brings U.S. 
code up to date with the United Nation's categories of major 
conventional arms.
  By doing this, this bill will allow the United States to better 
respond to the threat posed by Iran and its proxies' aggressive UAV 
tactics with respect to the United States and its partners.
  This is not a new sanction, but rather a clarification of current 
law. It will in no way interfere with the ongoing nuclear talks. We 
have confirmed this with the State Department.
  The Biden administration is taking this threat seriously. They have 
sanctioned the top Iranian military official for his role in the July 
attack on a commercial shipping vessel in the Gulf of Oman, in addition 
to blacklisting a network of individuals and companies behind Iran's 
UAV program.

                              {time}  1430

  But we can do more, and we need our allies to do more as well. The 
clarification included in this legislation will help show the 
international community that Iranian UAV proliferation will not be 
tolerated by this government or this Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for full support of this House in passing this 
legislation so we can move it one step closer to the President's desk, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                   Washington, DC, April 21, 2022.
     Hon. Gregory Meeks,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Meeks: This letter is to advise you that the 
     Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to 
     review the provisions in H.R. 6089, the ``Stop Iranian Drones 
     Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate 
     your consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary 
     Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill 
     for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that 
     consideration is willing to forgo action on H.R. 6089, with 
     the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future 
     jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject 
     matters.
       In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar 
     legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the 
     right to request an appropriate number of conferees to 
     address any concerns with these or similar provisions that 
     may arise in conference.
       Please place this letter into the Congressional Record 
     during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank 
     you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked 
     regarding this matter and others between our committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jerrold Nadler,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, April 21, 2022.
     Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
     Committee on the Judiciary,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     6089, Stop Iranian Drones Act. I appreciate your willingness 
     to work cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary under House 
     Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 
     6089 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge 
     that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill 
     does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the 
     matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction. I also acknowledge that your Committee will be 
     appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar 
     legislation moves forward, and will support the appointment 
     of Committee on the Judiciary conferees during any House-
     Senate conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Gregory W. Meeks,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Iran and its proxies continue to threaten U.S. troops and our 
partners throughout the Middle East with drones. Iran-backed militia 
groups attacked U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria with UAVs throughout 
2021. Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia doubled over the first 9 months of 
2021 compared to 2020, which included frequent UAV assaults.
  Where do the Houthis get most of their dangerous UAV technology? 
Iran.
  And Iran continues to use UAVs to threaten Israel, including in its 
deadly attack on an Israeli-owned tanker last summer. This is exactly 
why I am opposed to striking another bad nuclear deal with Iran that 
would line the regime's pockets with cash. We need to be constraining 
Iran's resources, not filling its coffers. The more money Iran has, the 
more it will spend on threats to the U.S. and our partners. Period.
  This situation is intolerable. The people of the Middle East, 
including Americans living there, cannot live in freedom, stability, or 
prosperity under assault by Iran's drones. We have to limit Iran's 
ability to build and supply drones.
  This crucial legislation will take the necessary steps to help reduce 
the threats of Iranian drones. It clarifies that our existing sanctions 
on Iran's conventional weapons program include the supply, sale, or 
transfer to or from Iran of combat UAVs. And it codifies that it is 
U.S. policy to prevent Iran and its proxies from acquiring UAVs that 
can be used in attacks against the U.S. and our partners.
  With this legislation, Congress is telling the world that the U.S. 
will use every tool to cut off Iran's UAV supplies and that we will 
punish those who continue to supply Iran with UAVs and parts despite 
their destructive impact.
  Iran has long demonstrated its commitment to destabilizing the Middle 
East with its malign activities, but we are committed to countering 
Iran's attacks and keeping our partners safe. We will continue to adapt 
to this UAV threat. That includes robust sanctions enforcement against 
Iran's UAV program and proliferation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) who serves on the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs.
  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6089, the Stop 
Iranian Drones Act, and to speak favorably about all of the important 
legislation the House is moving today to address Russia's illegal 
invasion of Ukraine.
  The Stop Iranian Drones Act codifies crucial language that ensures we 
can impose sanctions on Iranian drones under current laws. Sanctions 
are a very powerful tool, as we have seen in the last 2 months as we 
have imposed powerful sanctions on Russia since its invasion, but I 
think we need to go further, and my bill, H.R. 6930, the Asset Seizure 
for Ukrainian Reconstruction Act, gives us the tools to do just that.
  Let me say a few words about it.
  In the last few weeks, we have seen across the United States, Europe, 
and the world the seizure of yachts, villas, and banks accounts 
belonging to Russian oligarchs who have supported the cruel regime of 
Vladimir Putin. Recently, with the help of the FBI, a $90-

[[Page H4547]]

million yacht was seized in Europe. Ninety million dollars is actually 
pretty cheap for a Russian oligarch's yacht. Some of these boats run up 
to $600 million. Up to $300 billion of Russian Central Bank assets have 
been seized or frozen by the United States and our allies.
  All these actions raise a very important question. Think about the 
destruction in Ukraine, the thousands of people who have been killed, 
the atrocities, and the bodies of men and women left in the streets as 
Russian soldiers and occupiers are expelled by the brave Ukrainian 
defenders.
  Can we imagine if there is, for example, a cease-fire that puts the 
immediate violence to rest--we hope that happens--but can we imagine at 
that moment giving all of this wealth, all of Russia's wealth, the 
yachts, the bank accounts, the villas, and the planes back to Putin and 
his cronies as Ukraine lies in ruin and as the Ukrainians bury their 
dead?
  I think the answer is no. We cannot imagine doing that. We will not 
do that. I don't believe that the Biden administration intends to do 
that. But the law here is very complicated. These assets are not 
actually seized. They are merely frozen and blocked.
  So this legislation--which I urge all of my colleagues to support 
today, a bipartisan bill--asks the administration to come up with a 
mechanism that would enable us to take this wealth and to sell it, to 
dispose of it, and to use the proceeds to help the people 
and Government of Ukraine rebuild their country.

  Yes, it is complicated. If we apply our American legal constructs to 
these men and women who have served Putin loyally all these years, it 
looks like they are the owners of these assets. One of them owns the 
Chelsea football team in Great Britain. Some own property in the United 
States. But, in fact, Mr. Speaker, if you understand how Russia works, 
then you understand that the true owner of all of these assets is one 
man. It is Putin. These are pooled assets. He can use them whenever he 
wants.
  So I believe it is fitting that we should pass legislation 
encouraging the administration to use the wealth that has supported 
this cruel regime to help to rebuild the country that the Putin regime 
is destroying.
  It is the right thing to do, and it is the practical thing to do 
because this reconstruction effort will, in fact, cost up to hundreds 
of billions of dollars. We should not be saddled with the full cost of 
that. Let's use Russia's money to rebuild Ukraine.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I think this is an important piece of 
legislation in trying to contain the malign activities of the Iranian 
Government especially in a critical region, critical to us and critical 
to the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
  In closing, Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism that oppresses its 
own people and poses a grave threat to the U.S. and our allies in the 
Middle East, and the Iranian regime is using drones to expand that 
threat. Just last month retiring CENTCOM Commander General McKenzie 
told Congress that he was very concerned about the remarkable growth in 
number and efficiency of Iran's UAV program and long-range drones. We 
have a responsibility to our men and women in uniform to do everything 
we can to counter Iran's dangerous UAVs.
  I am pleased we are taking this step today to clarify our sanctions 
laws and make it clear that they cover Iran's drones.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that we can continue the long history of 
bipartisan cooperation to respond to Iran's threats, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6089, 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. FULCHER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________