[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 107 (Monday, June 23, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2845-H2847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SANCTION SEA PIRATES ACT OF 2025
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1998) to require the imposition of sanctions with respect to
foreign persons engaged in piracy, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1998
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 ``Sanction Sea Pirates Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In 2011, there were 212 attempted attacks against
vessels off of the Somali coast, more than 1,000 crew were
held hostage, and 35 seafarers were killed.
(2) Over the past decade through the beginning of 2023,
rates of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean subsided.
(3) Houthi attacks against commercial vessels in the Red
Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Hamas terrorist attack against
Israel on October 7th have impacted global shipping markets.
(4) There has been a surge in Somali pirate attacks,
beginning in the fall of 2023 and lasting into 2024, that has
coincided with and taken advantage of Houthi aggression.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States Government should seek to stop piracy
all around the world, including off the Somali Coast and in
the Gulf of Aden; and
(2) the United States should seek to work with allies and
partners around the globe to combat piracy around the globe
and to curb the surge in piracy off of the coast of Somalia
and in the Gulf of Aden.
SEC. 4. SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--The President shall impose sanctions
described in subsection (b) with respect to any foreign
person the President determines knowingly engages in piracy.
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) Asset blocking.--Notwithstanding the requirements of
section 202 of the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701), the President may exercise of all
powers granted to the President by that Act to the extent
necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all
property and interests in property of the foreign person 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.
(2) Visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) In general.--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 described in
subsection (a) is--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible for 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, in accordance
with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1201(i)), revoke any visa or other entry documentation
issued to an alien described in subparagraph (A) regardless
of when the visa or other entry documentation is 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.
(c) Exceptions.--
(1) Exception to comply with international obligations.--
Sanctions under subsection (b)(2) shall not apply with
respect to the admission of an alien if admitting or paroling
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.
(2) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian
assistance.--Sanctions under this section may not be imposed
with respect to transactions or the facilitation of
transactions for--
(A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine,
or medical devices;
(B) the provision of humanitarian assistance;
(C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian
assistance; or
(D) transporting goods or services that are necessary to
carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance.
(3) Exception for intelligence, law enforcement, and
national security activities.--Sanctions under this section
shall not apply to any authorized intelligence, law
enforcement, or national security activities of the United
States.
(d) Classified Information.--In any judicial review of a
determination made under this section, if the determination
was based on classified information (as defined in section
1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act) such
information may be submitted to the reviewing court ex parte
and in camera. This subsection may not be construed to confer
or imply any right to judicial review.
(e) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--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) to carry out this section.
(2) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections
(b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person
that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or
causes a violation of regulations promulgated to carry out
this section to the same extent that such penalties apply to
a person that commits an unlawful act described in section
206(a) of that Act.
(f) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of
sanctions imposed with respect to a foreign person under this
section if the President certifies to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate not later than
15 days before such waiver is to take effect that the waiver
is crucial to the national security interests of the United
States.
(g) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.--
(1) In general.--The authorities and requirements to impose
sanctions authorized under this section shall not include the
authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the
importation of goods.
(2) Good defined.--In this subsection, the term ``good''
means any article, natural or man-made substance, material,
supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test
equipment, and excluding technical data.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(2) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen;
(B) a permanent resident alien of the United States; or
[[Page H2846]]
(C) an entity organized under the laws of the United States
or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a
foreign branch of such an entity.
(3) Piracy.--The term ``piracy'' means any act in violation
of one or more provisions of chapter 81 of title 18, United
States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which 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 Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1998, the Sanction Sea Pirates
Act, introduced by my dear friend Representative Jackson.
This legislation is a strong statement of intent that Congress will
not tolerate the sea piracy which threatens trade across the globe. By
modern standards, sea piracy may seem like an age-old problem, but the
reality is it is very brutal. Sea piracy is a violent crime that
endangers the lives of merchant sailors, disrupts global trade, and can
cause massive economic losses.
America has long stood strong against sea piracy. However, in recent
years, piracy has been on the rise, Mr. Speaker. Pirates, often based
out of Somalia, have taken advantage of disruptions created by Houthi
aggression in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The result has been a
disturbing spike in pirate attacks in the waters surrounding the Horn
of Africa.
This bill uses economic power to support ongoing military efforts by
the U.S. and its partners to combat piracy and safeguard trade in this
vital strategic waterway. The bill imposes full financial and visa
sanctions against any foreign person who engages in piracy.
By leveraging the economic power of the United States to supplement
the work of our Armed Forces, we can help end sea piracy and ensure the
safety of our merchant sailors. I support this legislation and reserve
the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, June 16, 2025.
Hon. Brian Mast,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Mast: I write regarding H.R. 1998, the
Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025. Provisions of this bill
fall within the Judiciary Committee's Rule X jurisdiction,
and I appreciate that you consulted with us on those
provisions. The Judiciary Committee agrees that it shall be
discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it
may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
The Committee takes this action with the understanding that
forgoing further consideration of this measure does not in
any way alter the Committee's jurisdiction or waive any
future jurisdictional claim over these provisions or their
subject matter. We also reserve the right to seek appointment
of an appropriate number of conferees in the event of a
conference with the Senate involving this measure or similar
legislation.
I ask that you please insert this letter in the
Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 1998 on the
House floor. I appreciate the cooperative manner in which our
committees have worked on this matter, and I look forward to
working collaboratively in the future on matters of shared
jurisdiction. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jim Jordan,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, June 23, 2025.
Hon. Jim Jordan,
Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Jordan: Thank you for consulting with the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and agreeing to be discharged
from further consideration of H.R. 1998, the Sanction Sea
Pirates Act of 2025, so that the measure 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 appointments of any appropriate
number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate
conference of this legislation.
I will submit the exchange of letters to be published in
the Congressional Record. I appreciate your cooperation
regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to
work together on matters of shared jurisdiction during this
Congress.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Mast,
Chairman.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support my bill, H.R. 1998, Sanction Sea
Pirates Act. Over the last few years, we have seen and also been
reminded how fragile global supply chains can be and how the closing of
narrow physical chokepoints can lead to shortages and inflation. More
than 30 percent of global container trade passes through the Red Sea.
If these waters cannot be navigated because of pirates and terrorism,
Americans will continue to feel the costs here at home.
Unfortunately, we are now seeing exactly what we are trying to
prevent. Ships traversing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden now face two
major threats--and more mounting--from the Houthis, who continue to
perpetrate piracy on the high seas, and from Somalian pirates, who are
plundering and pillaging at rates unseen in a decade.
My bill imposes sanctions on any pirates around the world, blocking
assets in or associated with the United States and denying them entry
into our country. As an international leader in trade and security, the
United States must seek to stop piracy around the world. This is
America at its finest trying to help facilitate global trade. We must
secure global waterways for the safety of ships, crew members, and
critical ship-dependent supply chains.
Mr. Speaker, my bill is also a necessary step to ensure the
development of African economies and generate greater prosperity
through stability in Somalia. No country can be expected to grow and
prosper while facing serious piracy threats. We cannot allow violent
criminals and terrorists to continue stunting the economic development
of Somalia and the surrounding region.
Beyond direct threats to the United States and Somalia, piracy is
often linked to terrorism and crime. This bill reaffirms the United
States' position as a global economic and security leader, and I thank
my colleagues for helping to move this bill through the House. We
strongly believe that this is a necessary step toward greater stability
and safety for both the United States and East Africa. Attacks on
maritime shipping endanger innocent lives, raise the cost of goods, and
destabilize local communities in Yemen and the Horn of Africa.
For American national and economic security, we must pass this
legislation and crack down on global piracy. I encourage all of my
colleagues to join in supporting this legislation, and reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, to advance global security and
economic prosperity, the United States must seek to stop piracy around
the world.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I urge the body to pass the Sanction Sea
Pirates Act and send an unmistakable message: The United States of
America stands firmly against sea piracy and is committed to ensuring
freedom of navigation against crime in the high seas. I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1998, 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. BURCHETT. 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.
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