[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2428-H2430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   URGING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO EXPEDITIOUSLY DESIGNATE THE ISLAMIC 
  REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION UNDER COMMON 
                  POSITION 931, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 288) urging the European 
Union to expeditiously designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 
as a terrorist organization under Common Position 931, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 288

       Whereas the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and 
     its Basij paramilitary force have been used by Ayatollahs 
     Khomeini and Khamenei to maintain the Iranian regime's power;
       Whereas the IRGC Basij have been used to quash numerous 
     protests and democratic uprisings in Iran, including the 
     Green Movement;
       Whereas the IRGC Basij continue to perpetrate wide-scale 
     human rights abuses inside Iran, including against women, 
     children, and minorities;
       Whereas the IRGC Basij are actively suppressing the ongoing 
     protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini and calls for 
     the regime to be toppled;
       Whereas the IRGC Basij are responding to these 
     demonstrations with violence, arrests, and murder, including 
     the arrest of journalists covering these protests;
       Whereas the IRGC trains, funds, arms, and shares 
     intelligence with dangerous proxy forces throughout the 
     Middle East and abroad, including Hezbollah, Palestinian 
     Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Houthis, and Kata'ib Hezbollah, 
     which have targeted civilians and both Europeans and 
     Americans;
       Whereas the IRGC continues to provide critical support to 
     Bashar al-Assad and his autocratic regime in Syria;
       Whereas the IRGC is actively fueling Russian President 
     Vladimir Putin's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine 
     through the provision of hundreds of lethal kamikaze drones 
     and overseeing plans for the construction of a new factory in 
     Russia with the capacity to produce thousands of Iranian-
     designed drones;
       Whereas the Iranian-assisted Russian war of aggression 
     poses a direct threat to European security and sovereignty;
       Whereas the IRGC has targeted dissidents around the world, 
     including throughout Europe;
       Whereas the IRGC Quds Force is responsible for Iranian 
     extraterritorial operations, and they likely played a key 
     role in Iranian assassinations in the Netherlands, Sweden, 
     Denmark, France, Germany, Bulgaria, and Cyprus in recent 
     years;
       Whereas the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Denmark, 
     and Albania have all either arrested or expelled Iranian 
     Government officials implicated in terrorist or assassination 
     plots in their respective countries;
       Whereas the IRGC engaged in a murder-for-hire plot to 
     target former National Security Advisor John Bolton and 
     former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for their efforts 
     targeting the IRGC and killing IRGC-Quds Force Commander 
     Qasem Soleimani;
       Whereas the IRGC was designated as a Foreign Terrorist 
     Organization by the United States in 2019;
       Whereas Iran executed British-Iranian national Alireza 
     Akbari and as a result the United Kingdom is considering 
     designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization;
       Whereas in response to the European Union's consideration 
     of designating the IRGC a terrorist organization, IRGC 
     Commander Hossein Salami has threatened European countries;
       Whereas the European Parliament in January 2023 voted 598 
     to 9 in favor of designating the IRGC as a terrorist 
     organization as part of its annual foreign and security 
     policy report;
       Whereas the European Parliament also in January 2023 voted 
     overwhelmingly in favor separate Iran-focused resolution that 
     called for designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization;
       Whereas thus far the European Union has only sanctioned 
     individual members and leaders of the IRGC as terrorists but 
     have not yet designated the IRGC in its entirety;
       Whereas under European Council Common Position of December 
     27, 2001, on the application of specific measures to combat 
     terrorism (2001/931/CFSP) (in this preamble referred to as 
     ``Common Position 931''), the European Union can designate 
     terrorist organizations if ``a decision has been taken by a 
     competent authority'' that they are a terrorist organization;
       Whereas under Council Common Position 931 on combating 
     terrorism, the European Union defines ``competent authority'' 
     to include ``a judicial authority'';
       Whereas proposals for terrorist organization designations 
     by the European Union can come from third-party countries, 
     including the United States; and
       Whereas previous Department of Justice investigations and 
     convictions provide the European Union sufficient proof under 
     Common Position 931: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This resolution may be cited as the ``Encouraging the 
     European Union to Determine that the European Union Should 
     Sanction the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Now As a 
     Terrorist Entity Resolution'' or the ``Encouraging the EU to 
     DESIGNATE Resolution''.

     SEC. 2. EUROPEAN UNION DESIGNATION OF IRGC AS A TERRORIST 
                   ORGANIZATION.

       The House of Representatives--
       (1) urges the European Union to expeditiously designate the 
     Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization 
     under Common Position of December 27, 2001, on the 
     application of specific measures to combat terrorism (2001/
     931/CFSP);
       (2) encourages the Biden administration make European Union 
     designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a 
     terrorist organization a diplomatic priority in engagements 
     with the European Union; and
       (3) welcomes the efforts of the international community to 
     designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a 
     terrorist organization.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from South Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution calling on the 
European

[[Page H2429]]

Union to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign 
terrorist organization.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from New York (Ms. Tenney) for 
introducing this very important legislation. Congresswoman Tenney is 
appreciated for her tireless efforts of promoting peace through 
strength. From the Middle East to Europe, the IRGC is fielding 
conflicts in conjunction with proxies, puppets, dictators, and 
warlords.
  In April of 2019, the United States rightfully designated the IRGC as 
a foreign terrorist organization for its role in these acts of global 
terror, including the role in assassination attempts on both American 
and European soil. In the last 5 years, the IRGC's destabilizing 
influence has only grown, particularly in Europe, as Iran is helping 
and collaborating to facilitate war criminal Putin's illegal war of 
aggression against the people of Ukraine.

                              {time}  1530

  In Ukraine, we have seen hundreds of Iranian drones used against 
civilians and civilian infrastructure. War criminal Putin and the 
regime of Tehran are in alliance with the dictators of rule of gun 
invading democracies with rule of law.
  The restrictions associated with the U.S. foreign terrorist 
organization designation limit the IRGC's ability to access U.S. 
markets, but in Europe, without a corresponding European terror 
designation, the IRGC can still find ample financing.
  This is deeply troubling given the IRGC's extensive history of 
sanctions evasion, including in EU member states, and increasing 
cooperation with war criminal Putin to evade Western financial 
restrictions.
  The European Commission has historically claimed it lacks sufficient 
evidence for such a designation. As the co-chair and founder of the EU 
Caucus, I especially expect the European Union to designate the IRGC a 
terrorist organization. To fail is, sadly, ridiculous.
  The IRGC's role of fueling terrorism is undeniable. The European 
Parliament clearly agrees. In January 2023, the European Parliament 
ratified a resolution calling for the IRGC to be designated, pointing 
out that it, ``both directly and by acting through local proxies, has 
assassinated diaspora dissidents, kidnapped exiles for abduction to 
Iran, and plotted bomb attacks in several countries, including the EU 
member states.''
  It is long past time for the European Union to join the United States 
in properly designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, the United States designated the Islamic 
Revolutionary Guard Corps, or the IRGC, as a foreign terrorist 
organization, an FTO, in April 2019 because of its record of terrorism, 
violation of the laws of armed conflict, assassination attempts, and 
significant support for regional terrorist groups. Our designation has 
helped limit the IRGC's ability to access the United States' markets.
  Unfortunately, EU markets, absent a similar terror designation, 
remain viable sources of IRGC income.
  The IRGC clearly represents a threat to both American and European 
security. We must join forces to limit the IRGC's access to capital. It 
is long past time for the EU to act, as a combination of U.S. and EU 
designations would have a major impact and will help save lives.
  This resolution calls on the EU to designate the Islamic 
Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran as an addition to the EU terror list. 
Amidst IRGC's ongoing support of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, EU's 
reluctance risks emboldening the Iranian Government's goal of sowing 
terror and chaos in the West.
  The IRGC clearly presents a threat to the EU and our collective 
security. It is long past time to cut off its resources and hold Iran 
accountable. Working together, we can contain and diminish Iranian 
terrorism and make the world safer for Americans and Europeans alike.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she 
may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney), a member of 
the Ways and Means Committee and the author of this resolution.
  Ms. TENNEY. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative   Joe Wilson, my 
good friend and dear colleague, and also the ranking member, my 
colleague from New York, Representative Meeks, for their support of 
this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of my resolution, H. Res. 
288, that is on the floor today, the Encouraging the EU to DESIGNATE 
Resolution.
  This resolution encourages our European Union allies to finally 
designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, as a 
terrorist entity under EU Common Position 931.
  What is the IRGC? For those of you who do not know, the IRGC is an 
Iranian extra-military organization that both conducts the Iranian 
mullahs' acts of terrorism and is the link between Ayatollah Khamenei 
and other terror groups, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic 
Jihad, and the Houthis out of Yemen.
  For example, the IRGC Quds Force funds, arms, trains, and supports 
Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the PIJ. The IRGC's Basij has been a 
primary force for quashing the courageous protesters in the wake of the 
horrible killing of Mahsa Amini by the brutal Iranian regime. The IRGC 
Navy has antagonized U.S. ships in the Red Sea in violation of 
international law. The IRGC Quds Force has played a key role in 
Iranian-directed assassinations in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, 
France, Germany, Bulgaria, and Cyprus in just recent years.
  The threat posed by the IRGC is not only abroad. Just a few years 
ago, the IRGC engaged in a murder-for-hire plot to target former 
National Security Advisor John Bolton and former Secretary of State 
Mike Pompeo.
  If anyone is concerned about whether IRGC is a terrorist entity, I 
encourage you to read my ``Report on IRGC Terrorist Activity'' that 
details the many terrorist plots the IRGC has been involved in. All the 
information is here. For those of you at home, you can access it on 
Tenney.house.gov. I took special effort to make sure that people knew 
exactly what this evil force was up to.
  In 2019, President Trump declared the IRGC a foreign terrorist 
organization. While this was just a tremendous first step, we must 
encourage our allies to join us and confront the Iranian threat head-
on. That is why, last year, I led numerous letters, and many of my 
colleagues joined with me, to the European Union, the United Kingdom, 
Canada, Australia, and India, imploring them to please join us and 
designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity so we could impose sanctions.
  Sadly, none of these countries have joined us yet. The Encouraging 
the EU to DESIGNATE Resolution would implore our EU allies to get off 
the sidelines and to take a stand against terrorism and for freedom 
and democracy.

  Madam Speaker, I wish Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative of 
the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, were here 
today because I have a question for him: Do you stand with the United 
States and for freedom, or do you stand with the Iranian terrorists 
that have tried and succeeded in killing Europeans across the 
continent? Sadly, I think we all know the answer.
  Madam Speaker, this isn't hard. Some would call it a no-brainer. It 
is time for the EU to join the U.S. and designate the IRGC as a 
terrorist entity. I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
commonsense resolution. We must stand together against the Iranian 
threat.
  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, once again, it is overdue for the EU to 
designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity. They are nothing but that. By 
shutting the IRGC out of both the American and European markets, we 
will be starving them of important resources of funding they rely on to 
conduct their terrorist and other destabilizing activities.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 
288, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the 
balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, we must continue to do all we can to address the 
threat

[[Page H2430]]

posed by Iran. The IRGC has for decades played a direct role in 
threatening the European Union and its citizens.
  Given its increasing reach, most recently with its murderous support 
of war criminal Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it is imperative that no 
stone is left unturned. We must work together to cut off Iran's ability 
to fuel terrorism on a global scale, and that must include designating 
the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
  Madam Speaker, I thank, in particular, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney 
for developing this resolution and her extraordinary efforts in a 
bipartisan manner to do research on the IRGC that should be very 
informative to the American people and be a message to even the people 
of Iran how the oppression of the people of Iran actually has 
consequences, sadly, around the world. Congresswoman Tenney effectively 
promotes the safety and security of American and European families.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this 
resolution calling on the European Union to designate Iran's 
Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 288.
  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. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam 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.

                          ____________________