[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6764-6770]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HEZBOLLAH INTERNATIONAL FINANCING PREVENTION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2297) to prevent Hezbollah and associated entities from 
gaining access to international financial and other institutions, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2297

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Hezbollah 
     International Financing Prevention Act of 2015''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Statement of policy.

 TITLE I--PREVENTION OF ACCESS BY HEZBOLLAH TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 
                         AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Sec. 101. Briefing on imposition of sanctions on certain satellite 
              providers that carry al-Manar TV.
Sec. 102. Sanctions with respect to financial institutions that engage 
              in certain transactions.

TITLE II--REPORTS ON DESIGNATION OF HEZBOLLAH AS A SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN 
     NARCOTICS TRAFFICKER AND A SIGNIFICANT TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL 
                              ORGANIZATION

Sec. 201. Report on designation of Hezbollah as a significant foreign 
              narcotics trafficker.
Sec. 202. Report on designation of Hezbollah as a significant 
              transnational criminal organization.
Sec. 203. Rewards for Justice and Hezbollah's fundraising, financing, 
              and money laundering activities.
Sec. 204. Report on activities of foreign governments to disrupt global 
              logistics networks and fundraising, financing, and money 
              laundering activities of Hezbollah.
Sec. 205. Appropriate congressional committees defined.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Rule of construction.
Sec. 302. Regulatory authority.
Sec. 303. Termination.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It shall be the policy of the United States to--
       (1) prevent Hezbollah's global logistics and financial 
     network from operating in order to curtail funding of its 
     domestic and international activities; and
       (2) utilize all available diplomatic, legislative, and 
     executive avenues to combat the global criminal activities of 
     Hezbollah as a means to block that organization's ability to 
     fund its global terrorist activities.

 TITLE I--PREVENTION OF ACCESS BY HEZBOLLAH TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 
                         AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

     SEC. 101. BRIEFING ON IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON CERTAIN 
                   SATELLITE PROVIDERS THAT CARRY AL-MANAR TV.

       Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State 
     shall provide to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations of the Senate a briefing on the following:
       (1) The activities of all satellite, broadcast, Internet, 
     or other providers that knowingly provide material support to 
     al-Manar TV, and any affiliates or successors thereof.
       (2) With respect to all providers described in paragraph 
     (1)--
       (A) an identification of those providers that have been 
     sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224 (September 
     23, 2001); and
       (B) an identification of those providers that have not been 
     sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224 and, with 
     respect to each such provider, the reason why sanctions have 
     not been imposed.

     SEC. 102. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 
                   THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.

       (a) Prohibitions and Conditions With Respect to Certain 
     Accounts Held by Foreign Financial Institutions.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, 
     with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and in 
     consultation with the heads of other applicable departments 
     and agencies, shall prohibit, or impose strict conditions on, 
     the opening or maintaining in the United States of a 
     correspondent account or a payable-through account by a 
     foreign financial institution that the Secretary determines, 
     on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, engages in 
     an activity described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Activities described.--A foreign financial institution 
     engages in an activity described in this paragraph if the 
     foreign financial institution--
       (A) knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or 
     transactions for Hezbollah;
       (B) knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or 
     transactions of a person designated for acting on behalf of 
     or at the direction of, or owned or controlled by, Hezbollah;
       (C) knowingly engages in money laundering to carry out an 
     activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B);
       (D) knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or 
     transactions or provides significant financial services to 
     carry out an activity described in subparagraph (A), (B), or 
     (C), including--
       (i) facilitating a significant transaction or transactions; 
     or
       (ii) providing significant financial services that involve 
     a transaction of covered goods; or
       (E)(i) knowingly facilitates, or participates or assists 
     in, an activity described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or 
     (D), including by acting on behalf of, at the direction of, 
     or as an intermediary for, or otherwise assisting, another 
     person with respect to the activity described in any such 
     subparagraph;
       (ii) knowingly attempts or conspires to facilitate or 
     participate in an activity described in subparagraph (A), 
     (B), (C), or (D); or
       (iii) is owned or controlled by a foreign financial 
     institution that the Secretary finds knowingly engages in an 
     activity described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D).
       (3) 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 prescribed under paragraph 
     (4) of this

[[Page 6765]]

     subsection to the same extent that such penalties apply to a 
     person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection 
     (a) of such section 206(a).
       (4) Regulations.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     prescribe and implement regulations to carry out this 
     subsection.
       (b) Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury, with the 
     concurrence of the Secretary of State and in consultation 
     with the heads of other applicable departments and agencies, 
     may waive, on a case-by-case basis, the application of a 
     prohibition or condition imposed with respect to a foreign 
     financial institution pursuant to subsection (a) for a period 
     of not more than 180 days, and may renew such waiver for 
     additional periods of not more than 180 days, on and after 
     the date that the Secretary of the Treasury, with the 
     concurrence of the Secretary of State--
       (A) determines that such a waiver is in the national 
     security interests of the United States; and
       (B) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report describing the reasons for such determination.
       (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1)(B) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified 
     annex.
       (c) Provisions Relating to Foreign Financial 
     Institutions.--
       (1) Report.--Not later than 45 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter, the 
     Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report that--
       (A) identifies each foreign central bank that the Secretary 
     determines engages in one or more activities described in 
     subsection (a)(2)(D); and
       (B) provides a detailed description of each such activity.
       (2) Special rule to allow for termination of sanctionable 
     activity.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall not be 
     required to apply sanctions to a foreign financial 
     institution described in subsection (a) if the Secretary, 
     with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and in 
     consultation with the heads of other applicable departments 
     and agencies, certifies in writing to the appropriate 
     congressional committees that--
       (A) such foreign financial institution--
       (i) is no longer engaging in the activity described in 
     subsection (a)(2); or
       (ii) has taken and is continuing to take significant 
     verifiable steps toward terminating the activity described in 
     such subsection; and
       (B) the Secretary has received reliable assurances from the 
     government with primary jurisdiction over such foreign 
     financial institution that such foreign financial institution 
     will not engage in any activity described in such subsection 
     in the future.
       (d) Definitions.--
       (1) In general.--In this section:
       (A) Account; correspondent account; payable-through 
     account.--The terms ``account'', ``correspondent account'', 
     and ``payable-through account'' have the meanings given those 
     terms in section 5318A of title 31, United States Code.
       (B) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
       (ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee 
     on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
       (C) Covered goods.--The term ``covered goods'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 1027.100 of title 31, Code 
     of Federal Regulations.
       (D) Financial institution.--The term ``financial 
     institution'' means a financial institution specified in 
     subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), 
     (J), (K), (M), (N), (P), (R), (T), (Y), or (Z) of section 
     5312(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code.
       (E) Foreign financial institution; domestic financial 
     institution.--
       (i) Foreign financial institution.--The term ``foreign 
     financial institution'' has the meaning of such term in 
     section 1010.605 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     and includes a foreign central bank.
       (ii) Domestic financial institution.--The term ``domestic 
     financial institution'' has the meaning of such term as 
     determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.
       (F) Hezbollah.--The term ``Hezbollah'' means--
       (i) any person--

       (I) the property of or interests in property of which are 
     blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
     Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and
       (II) who is identified on the list of specially designated 
     nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of 
     Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury as an 
     agent, instrumentality, or affiliate of Hezbollah; and

       (ii) the entity designated by the Secretary of State as a 
     foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
       (G) Money laundering.--The term ``money laundering'' means 
     any of the activities described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) 
     of section 1956(a) of title 18, United States Code, with 
     respect to which penalties may be imposed pursuant to such 
     section.
       (2) Other definitions.--The Secretary of the Treasury may 
     further define the terms used in this section in the 
     regulations prescribed under this section.

TITLE II--REPORTS ON DESIGNATION OF HEZBOLLAH AS A SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN 
     NARCOTICS TRAFFICKER AND A SIGNIFICANT TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL 
                              ORGANIZATION

     SEC. 201. REPORT ON DESIGNATION OF HEZBOLLAH AS A SIGNIFICANT 
                   FOREIGN NARCOTICS TRAFFICKER.

       (a) Report Required.--Not later than 120 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
     transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     detailed report on whether Hezbollah meets the criteria for 
     designation under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation 
     Act (21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) as a significant foreign 
     narcotics trafficker, and if the President determines that 
     Hezbollah does not meet such criteria, a detailed 
     justification as to which criteria have not been met.
       (b) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
     transmitted in unclassified form, but may include a 
     classified annex.

     SEC. 202. REPORT ON DESIGNATION OF HEZBOLLAH AS A SIGNIFICANT 
                   TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) Hezbollah meets the criteria for designation as a 
     significant transnational criminal organization under 
     Executive Order No. 13581 (76 Fed. Reg. 44757); and
       (2) the President should so designate Hezbollah as a 
     significant transnational criminal organization.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) Report required.--Not later than 120 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
     transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed 
     report on whether the Hezbollah meets the criteria for 
     designation as a significant transnational criminal 
     organization under Executive Order No. 13581 (76 Fed. Reg. 
     44757), and if the President determines that Hezbollah does 
     not meet such criteria, a detailed justification as to which 
     criteria have not been met.
       (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
     transmitted in unclassified form, but may include a 
     classified annex.

     SEC. 203. REWARDS FOR JUSTICE AND HEZBOLLAH'S FUNDRAISING, 
                   FINANCING, AND MONEY LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
     the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
     details actions taken by the Department of State through the 
     Department of State rewards program under section 36 of the 
     State Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2708) to 
     obtain information on fundraising, financing, and money 
     laundering activities of Hezbollah and its agents and 
     affiliates.
       (b) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
     of State shall provide a briefing to the appropriate 
     congressional committees on the status of the actions 
     described in subsection (a).
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

     SEC. 204. REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO 
                   DISRUPT GLOBAL LOGISTICS NETWORKS AND 
                   FUNDRAISING, FINANCING, AND MONEY LAUNDERING 
                   ACTIVITIES OF HEZBOLLAH.

       (a) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to 
     the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
     includes--
       (A) a list of countries that support Hezbollah, or in which 
     Hezbollah maintains important portions of its global 
     logistics networks;
       (B) with respect to each country on the list required by 
     subparagraph (A)--
       (i) an assessment of whether the government of such country 
     is taking adequate measures to disrupt the global logistics 
     networks of Hezbollah within the territory of such country; 
     and
       (ii) in the case of a country the government of which is 
     not taking adequate measures to disrupt such networks--

       (I) an assessment of the reasons such government is not 
     taking such adequate measures; and
       (II) a description of measures being taken by the United 
     States to encourage such government to improve measures to 
     disrupt such networks;

       (C) a list of countries in which Hezbollah, or any of its 
     agents or affiliates, conducts significant fundraising, 
     financing, or money laundering activities;

[[Page 6766]]

       (D) with respect to each country on the list required by 
     subparagraph (C)--
       (i) an assessment of whether the government of such country 
     is taking adequate measures to disrupt the fundraising, 
     financing, or money laundering activities of Hezbollah and 
     its agents and affiliates within the territory of such 
     country; and
       (ii) in the case of a country the government of which is 
     not taking adequate measures to disrupt such activities--

       (I) an assessment of the reasons such government is not 
     taking such adequate measures; and
       (II) a description of measures being taken by the United 
     States to encourage such government to improve measures to 
     disrupt such activities; and

       (E) a list of methods that Hezbollah, or any of its agents 
     or affiliates, utilizes to raise or transfer funds, including 
     trade-based money laundering, the use of foreign exchange 
     houses, and free-trade zones.
       (2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form to the greatest extent 
     possible, and may contain a classified annex.
       (3) Global logistics networks of hezbollah.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``global logistics networks of 
     Hezbollah'', ``global logistics networks'', or ``networks'' 
     means financial, material, or technological support for, or 
     financial or other services in support of, Hezbollah.
       (b) Briefing on Hezbollah's Assets and Activities Related 
     to Fundraising, Financing, and Money Laundering Worldwide.--
     Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of 
     State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads (or their 
     designees) of other applicable Federal departments and 
     agencies shall provide to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a briefing on the disposition of Hezbollah's 
     assets and activities related to fundraising, financing, and 
     money laundering worldwide.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Financial Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Select Committee 
     on Intelligence of the Senate.

     SEC. 205. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

       Except as otherwise provided, in this title, the term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Financial Services, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
     House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Finance, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 301. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act or any amendment made by this Act shall 
     apply to the authorized intelligence activities of the United 
     States.

     SEC. 302. REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

       (a) 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 Act 
     and the amendments made by this Act.
       (b) Notification to Congress.--Not less than 10 days before 
     the promulgation of regulations under subsection (a), the 
     President shall notify the appropriate congressional 
     committees (as such term is defined in section 203) of the 
     proposed regulations and the provisions of this Act and the 
     amendments made by this Act that the regulations are 
     implementing.

     SEC. 303. TERMINATION.

       This Act shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after 
     the date on which the President certifies to Congress that 
     Hezbollah--
       (1) is no longer designated as a foreign terrorist 
     organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189);
       (2) is no longer listed in the Annex to Executive Order No. 
     13224 (September 23, 2001; relating to blocking property and 
     prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, threaten to 
     commit, or support terrorism); and
       (3) poses no significant threat to United States national 
     security, interests, or allies.

  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. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include any extraneous material they might wish for the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in very strong support of this measure, and I 
want to especially thank the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Mark 
Meadows, along with Mr. Ted Deutch of Florida and Ranking Member Eliot 
Engel of New York for their bipartisan leadership on this critically 
important issue.
  Last July, the House passed legislation by a vote of 404-0. This was 
the bill that was passed by that measure, with a few tweaks, but 404-0. 
Unfortunately, the other body, the Senate, failed to take it up. The 
threat posed by Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies has only expanded 
since then, and now, Hezbollah is ascendant in the region.
  Consider, now, Hezbollah's arsenal aimed at Israel; that arsenal has 
exploded. I was in Haifa in 2006 as Hezbollah's rockets rained down on 
that city, targeting civilian neighborhoods. Those Iranian and Syrian-
made rockets were slamming into people's homes, and they were being 
targeted, and the hospital also was being targeted. Every rocket 
contained 90,000 ball bearings. The only intent was mass killing and 
maiming.
  In the Rambam trauma hospital, I talked to many of the victims. There 
were 600 victims of these rockets in there, and that was nearly 10 
years ago. At that time, Hezbollah started that effort with about 
15,000 rockets at their disposal, and they fired close to 5,000 at 
civilian targets. That was their work.
  Hezbollah has expanded its arsenal in size and in sophistication. By 
the way, it has been done at the behest of Iran. They have given these 
new rockets, with longer range, to Hezbollah. Now, they have an 
arsenal; the estimate is some 100,000 unguided rockets. It has also 
expanded its arsenal to include the sophisticated antiship and 
antiaircraft missiles and ground-to-ground rockets.
  Hezbollah has been able to expand both its arsenal and activities, 
with Iranian backing, and its long-established worldwide network of 
members and supporters and sympathizers to provide this terrorist group 
financial and logistical and military and other types of support.
  To cut the international support and reach of Hezbollah, to deny it 
the funds needed for its terrorist activities, we must effectively 
target its financial network. That is the goal of the Hezbollah 
International Financing Prevention Act of 2015.
  This bill builds on the existing sanctions regime by placing 
Hezbollah's sources of financing under additional scrutiny, 
particularly those resources outside of Lebanon, given that many 
Lebanese banks have stepped up their game to prevent money laundering.
  In addition to targeting the terrorist organization's diverse 
financial networks, the legislation also requires the U.S. Government 
to focus on Hezbollah's global logistics network and its transnational 
organized criminal enterprises, including its vast drug smuggling 
operations.
  The goal is to improve coordination and cooperation with allies and 
other responsible countries in confronting the increasing threat posed 
by Hezbollah, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this 
critical measure.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2297, the 
Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act, and I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by, once again, thanking 
Chairman Royce for his thoughtfulness, his intellect, his 
bipartisanship. I agree with everything he said in his opening 
statement.
  I want to also thank Representative Deutch, Representative Meadows, 
and Representative Meng for their hard work on this important 
legislation to sanction Hezbollah, Iran's terrorist proxy.
  Over a decade ago, I introduced and Congress passed into law the 
Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, which 
was designed to

[[Page 6767]]

end Syrian support for terrorism, including Hezbollah. I was proud to 
have that bill pass both Houses of Congress and signed into law by 
then-President Bush.
  Now, Hezbollah is a more sophisticated terrorist organization, but 
their goals remain the same. They continue to support Iran's dangerous 
agenda throughout the region.
  They have tipped the Syrian civil war in favor of Assad. Assad would 
most likely be losing or out of power by now if not for the fact that 
Hezbollah has come in from Lebanon into Syria to aid Assad in his 
murderous treachery against his own people, where hundreds of thousands 
of innocent civilians have perished.
  He would not be in power today if it wasn't for Iran and if it wasn't 
for Iran's proxy, Hezbollah, fighting that civil war. He would be 
losing that civil war. It is Hezbollah that has propped him up and 
caused him to be ahead in that war.
  When we debated the Corker-Cardin bill just before, I mentioned my 
concerns about a potential nuclear deal with Iran. At the top of their 
list is how sanctions relief will be handled and what Iran will do with 
a new influx of resources.
  Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. The Iranian 
Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Quds Force sow instability throughout 
the region. Perhaps the most destructive has been Iran's support for 
Hezbollah.
  Hezbollah, again, has prevented the people of Lebanon from building a 
better future. Hezbollah's support has allowed the Assad regime to 
cling to power, and Hezbollah has stockpiled tens of thousands of 
rockets on Israel's front doorstep.
  What concerns me most is that Iran has been able to funnel resources 
to Hezbollah, despite the burden of the most crippling sanctions regime 
in history. What is going to happen if that pressure is lifted?
  Well, we shouldn't wait to find out. Congress must act now to impose 
stronger sanctions on Hezbollah. We should choke them off from their 
Iranian patrons. This bill would give the administration every tool it 
needs to confront this dangerous group.
  It would sanction foreign banks for knowingly doing business with 
Hezbollah. We need to send a clear message to companies getting tangled 
with this terrorist group: Walk away. Walk away, or face the 
consequences.
  The bill would also shine a bright light on Al-Manar, Hezbollah's 
television station, itself a Specially Designated Terrorist Group. 
Hezbollah uses Al-Manar for logistical, propaganda, and fundraising 
purposes. It defies reason that this station is still carried by the 
satellite providers all over the world. We need to expose this puppet 
organization and this dangerous organization for what it is.
  We passed this bill in the last Congress by a vote of 404-0. Today, 
let's take another stand against the violence, murder, and terrorism 
that Hezbollah has sown in the region. It is time for an independent 
and free Lebanon. It is time for an end to terror and for a transition 
in Syria, and it is time for the threats against Israel to end.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), a member of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee 
on Government Operations.
  He is also the author of the prior year's legislation on this subject 
which passed with 404 votes, and he is a principal coauthor, along with 
Mr. Ted Deutch, of this bill which we are bringing up today.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for his kind words 
and for his leadership because we would not be here today without the 
great work of the chairman; the ranking member, Mr. Eliot Engel; and my 
good friend from Florida, Ted Deutch, who has dropped everything to try 
to make sure that we address this critical issue.
  Because of the incredible Department of Defense and the military men 
and women that we have serving the great American interests, many 
Americans believe that the terrorist organizations are poorly 
organized, they are rogue operations, and some, most of them believe 
that they are just thousands of miles away; yet terrorist organizations 
have been thriving for decades and have killed thousands of Americans.

                              {time}  1400

  These terrorists will be stopped one day, and hopefully today is the 
beginning of what we do to make sure that that happens.
  With the growth of technology and globalization, Hezbollah has become 
illusive and has found ways to raise millions of dollars. You would 
think that it is just in some faraway place, but we find them as close 
as our own borders in this hemisphere and, indeed, in my home State of 
North Carolina.
  We must do all that we can to cripple Hezbollah and send a message to 
other terrorist organizations that the United States will not back 
down. We will protect our people and our allies. We can do this today 
by enacting the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act.
  This is more important today than ever before because, as we discuss 
this particular potential deal with Iran, what we do know is that, as 
sanctions are relieved, that money will flow. And because the real 
leader and founder of this vicious terrorist organization is really the 
Iranian regime, we must act today, Madam Speaker, because we will save 
American lives, we will save allied lives, and we will stand with our 
greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel.
  So I want to close by, indeed, thanking Chairman Ed Royce for his 
willingness to engage with our leadership and for their decision to 
bring this to the floor in a very expeditious manner. I thank Chairman 
Tom Price of Georgia, Ms. Grace Meng, Mr. Lee Zeldin, along with 
Ranking Member Eliot Engel.
  I would also like to give a thank-you to the Lebanese bankers because 
many would believe that everybody there is involved in this. We had 
credible Lebanese bankers who came in and said, ``We want some help.'' 
We want to make sure that the good actors are rewarded and the bad 
actors are put away.
  And finally, I would like to thank the staff that has worked 
incredibly hard--Matt Zweig, Ansley Rhyne, and Mira Resnick--from the 
Foreign Affairs Committee. They have worked very closely together to 
make this a good piece of legislation, one that will be a tool so that 
this administration can finally put the boot on the throat of Hezbollah 
and all like-minded terrorists.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), who is also the ranking member of 
the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.
  Mr. DEUTCH. I thank my friend for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the bipartisan Hezbollah 
International Financing Prevention Act of 2015.
  I would like to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for 
their leadership on this critical piece of national security 
legislation. I especially want to acknowledge the leadership of my 
friend from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) in championing this effort and 
diligently pushing to make sure that we have the opportunity to hear 
this important bill. And I want to thank Representatives Meng, Zeldin, 
and Tom Price of Georgia for the key role that they have played in 
bringing this bill to the House floor.
  Since its inception in 1982, Hezbollah has attacked American 
citizens: in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in 1983, killing 
63, including 17 Americans; in the U.S. Marine barracks bombing in 
October 1983, which killed 241 American and 58 French servicemen; in 
the bombing of the U.S. Embassy annex in Beirut in 1984, which killed 
24; in the hijacking of TWA flight 847 in 1985, in which a U.S. Navy 
diver was shot in the head and his body dumped on the tarmac; and in 
the Khobar Towers attack in Saudi Arabia in 1996 that killed 19 airmen.

[[Page 6768]]

  Hezbollah has been a U.S.-designated terrorist organization since 
1997. And while it claims to be a resistance group, it is a very 
dangerous terrorist organization. It does not just attack Americans. It 
launches attacks not just on Israel. It attacks around the world.
  It is responsible for the 1992 Israeli Embassy bombing in Argentina, 
which killed 29, and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center that 
killed 85 people. It attacked a busload of tourists in Bulgaria in 
2012. And since 2008, attacks plotted by Hezbollah have been foiled in 
Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey.
  In 2012, a Hezbollah plot to assassinate the Ambassador of Saudi 
Arabia to the United States right here in a Washington, D.C., 
restaurant was uncovered. This attack, had it gone forward, would have 
resulted in innocent civilian deaths here in our Nation's Capital.
  Madam Speaker, today Hezbollah is helping Bashar al Assad slaughter 
innocent civilians in Syria. Hezbollah's fighters and operatives are on 
the ground in Syria, propping up the Assad regime as it drops barrel 
bombs on Syrian towns and uses chlorine gas on its own people.
  It is no secret that Hezbollah does Iran's bidding. Backed by 
millions of dollars from Iran, Hezbollah is keeping Assad's grip on 
power to preserve Iran's lifeline to its proxy.
  This reign of terror must be stopped before it has the potential to 
become even stronger.
  With Iranian support, Hezbollah has set up cells all around the 
world. It gets significant funding for its worldwide terror through its 
criminal activities, such as money laundering, narcotics trafficking, 
and the selling of counterfeit goods. And shockingly, it fund raises in 
communities all over Latin America and Europe.
  This bill will take significant steps toward cutting off Hezbollah's 
global reach by imposing sanctions on those financial institutions that 
facilitate Hezbollah's activities. We can severely hamper its ability 
to move the funds needed to fund its terror campaigns.
  This bill will also require the administration to look into satellite 
providers that continue to broadcast the Hezbollah-run Al-Manar 
television station. A terrorist organization should not be allowed to 
freely broadcast its propaganda and its messages of hate. In fact, more 
than 10 years ago, back in 2004, France's highest administrative court 
moved to ban Al-Manar, ruling that the Beirut-based outlet had 
repeatedly violated the country's hate laws and made anti-Semitic 
statements.
  Our legislation would give Congress and the administration greater 
insight into Hezbollah's criminal activities by requiring reports on 
Hezbollah's narcotrafficking and its transnational criminal network.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Florida.
  Mr. DEUTCH. It will also give us a clearer sense of Hezbollah's 
global reach, as it requires reporting on what countries around the 
world are doing to disrupt Hezbollah's activities.
  Madam Speaker, Hezbollah has destabilized the Middle East for over 30 
years. It has been a significant and deadly threat to U.S. interests. 
It stands ready, with more than 100,000 rockets and missiles aimed at 
Israel, many capable of striking anywhere with high precision. This is 
one of the most deadly organizations in the world, and the U.S. must 
use all of its economic might to shut down Hezbollah's global 
operations.
  Madam Speaker, people often ask what Congress can do to address the 
many dangers that we face in the world. This legislation is a step 
forward in protecting Americans and American interests and American 
lives. Similar legislation passed the House unanimously last year, and 
I urge my colleagues to again support this vitally important national 
security bill.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs 
Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce for the 
wonderfully bipartisan way in which he leads our committee, and I 
especially want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Meadows) for his incredible leadership on this important topic.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in full support of this bill, to broaden 
sanctions against Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist 
Organization.
  The Iranian proxy, Hezbollah, has been responsible for propping up 
the murderous Assad regime in Syria. Hezbollah continues to be a major 
threat to our closest friend and ally, the Democratic Jewish State of 
Israel. Hezbollah and its patron Iran continue to seek ways to attack 
and undermine U.S. national security interests, especially with its 
increased presence in our own area, in the Western Hemisphere, and its 
increasing role in global narcotics trafficking.
  Madam Speaker, one way we have of countering Hezbollah's illicit 
activities is by cutting off its major source of funding and support. 
Once the administration gives Iran a signing bonus of $50 billion and 
lifts the sanctions against the regime, when this bad and dangerously 
weak nuclear deal gets signed, you can be sure, Madam Speaker, that the 
spigots will open and that money will flow directly to Hezbollah. So we 
must make sure that the administration fully and vigorously enforces 
these sanctions against Hezbollah and doesn't find any loophole or 
waive any of the provisions.
  After seeing the administration's willingness to work with the 
Iranian regime and the Cuban regime, I might add, it wouldn't surprise 
me to see the administration take steps to follow the European Union 
and split Hezbollah into a military and political wing to try to avoid 
these sanctions and appease the Iranian regime.
  We all know, Madam Speaker, that Hezbollah is a terrorist 
organization and that there is no split among the terror group 
whatsoever. You cannot differentiate between its supposed wings. It is 
all one terrorist organization. That is why I strongly support this 
bill, and I call upon the President to do more to counter this threat 
from Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to 
the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Meng), a valued member of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be a lead cosponsor of the 
Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act. This legislation will 
broaden financial sector sanctions against Hezbollah, compel other 
critical designations against it, and target Hezbollah's media outlet 
Al-Manar.
  A lot of work has gone into this bill over two Congresses, and we 
have worked hard, especially with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Deutch), to ensure the inclusion of language that would disrupt 
Hezbollah's global logistics networks and its fundraising and money-
laundering activities.
  This section requires the Obama administration to shed light on those 
countries that either covertly or overtly enable any sort of Hezbollah 
activities within their borders. The provision is particularly 
important in the Hezbollah context because there are far too many 
countries that outwardly condemn Hezbollah's military and terrorist 
activities while privately fostering environments where Hezbollah can 
operate politically and financially. Well, no more, not if you want to 
do business with the United States.
  This legislation is also timely because it sends a strong message to 
Iran that no matter what happens in relation to nuclear negotiations, 
the United States will aggressively counter its promotion of terror in 
the Middle East.
  In the last decade, our sanctions policy has led the way in crippling 
rogue regimes and terrorist groups, and today we take a big step 
forward in crippling, among the worst of them all, Hezbollah.
  I want to thank Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, Mr. Meadows, 
and Mr. Deutch for their hard work,

[[Page 6769]]

and my cosponsors, Mr. Zeldin and Mr. Tom Price of Georgia.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Zeldin), a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, one of 
the principal cosponsors of this bill, and a leader in confronting Iran 
in its support for terrorism around the world.
  Mr. ZELDIN. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce for his leadership 
on the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Ranking Member Engel, Mr. 
Deutch, Mr. Meadows, Ms. Meng, and Mr. Tom Price of Georgia.
  This has been a strong bipartisan effort that was started before I 
came to Congress this past January. Some of my fellow lead cosponsors 
on this bill have worked tirelessly over years.
  America's greatness is nothing to apologize for. We are a great, 
free, exceptional nation. Being the leader of the free world is, this 
body, today, passing legislation, the Hezbollah International Financing 
Prevention Act, to tackle a rising threat in the Middle East and to 
United States interests all around the world. American leadership is on 
display here in the Halls of Congress.
  Hezbollah has helped Assad fight Syrian rebels in that country. It is 
estimated that Iran has provided Hezbollah $60 million to $100 million 
per year in financial assistance.
  The Dubai-based Gulf Research Center estimates Hezbollah's armed wing 
at about 1,000 full-time fighters and 6,000 to 10,000 volunteers. 
According to the Iranian Fars News Agency, Hezbollah has up to 65,000 
fighters.

                              {time}  1415

  This legislation, H.R. 2297, addresses the need to pursue foreign 
banks that knowingly do business with entities that facilitate 
Hezbollah's activities. This legislation addresses the need to counter 
Hezbollah's other criminal enterprises, which include money laundering 
and counterfeiting of goods and pharmaceuticals.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation helps address the need to obtain more 
information on Hezbollah's fundraising, financing, and money-laundering 
networks. It requires the administration to provide a comprehensive 
overview of countries supporting Hezbollah as well as those countries 
that aren't doing enough.
  Again, I thank Chairman Royce for his leadership with this 
legislation, Mr. Engel, and my fellow co-lead sponsors as we tackle 
this rising tide of radical Islamic extremism in the Middle East with 
Hezbollah, Hamas, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, and ISIS. Every day, our 24-
hour news cycle is dominated with our constituents watching, reading, 
and hearing about this threat that exists in the Middle East, 
understanding that if we do not defeat it overseas, we will be facing 
it here at home.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand with my fellow co-leads and my 
colleagues from both parties as American exceptionalism is on display 
here. I rise in support today, and I encourage my colleagues to vote 
for this legislation.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for 
the purpose of closing.
  Madam Speaker, Hezbollah's actions in the Middle East and around the 
world have only added to the volatility that has plagued the region. 
Hezbollah's stockpile of rockets is growing on Israel's doorstep, 
threatening to ``confront aggression at any time, any place, and in any 
form whatsoever.'' The irony is they are the aggressors. Hezbollah 
fighters terrorize the people of Syria, serving as the only thing 
between Assad and his own demise. Hezbollah has made itself into a 
state within a state of Lebanon, denying the Lebanese people their 
right to self-determination.
  Madam Speaker, it is time to redouble our efforts to stop Hezbollah 
from continuing its campaign of terror across the region. So I urge my 
colleagues to pass this legislation because it is so important. The 
United States has the clout to do so, and we should always let the 
people--the average people--know that the United States stands by them.
  Hezbollah is one of the worst terrorist organizations. Hezbollah 
tries to terrorize Israel, but they have never succeeded and will never 
succeed, and they terrorize the people of Lebanon and Syria. We need to 
put an end to that. That is why this legislation is so important.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it. I thank Chairman 
Royce once again for his leadership, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ROYCE. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Dold), a member of the Committee on Financial Services, a cosponsor of 
the bill, and someone who has been relentless in warning about the 
threat of Iran and Hezbollah.
  Mr. DOLD. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking 
member for your leadership and for yielding the time. I also want to 
thank Mr. Meadows, Mr. Deutch, and all those who have worked tirelessly 
on this bill.
  The Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act is one that is 
important. We need to choke off funds to a well-known terrorist 
organization that has been engaged in terror for decades. We know a 
lot, Madam Speaker, and we have talked a lot about the threat of ISIS, 
what is going on in Syria, what is happening with Iran, Iran being the 
greatest state sponsor of terror in the world, using its proxies, one 
of which is Hezbollah. But I want to make sure that we are not losing 
sight of Hezbollah and the dangers that they pose. That is why this is 
such an important piece of legislation.
  Hezbollah has killed Americans. They are one of the most deadly 
terrorist organizations in the world. They are a major threat not only 
to the United States; they are a threat to our one true ally in the 
Middle East, the State of Israel. The buildup of Hezbollah's rocket 
arsenal is a concern, Madam Speaker, to everyday Israelis, and it 
should be a concern for all of us.
  As we think about terror and choking off that financing, it is 
absolutely critical that we speak with one clear voice here in the 
United States, that we focus on these cells, and that we focus on how 
Hezbollah is getting its resources. This is, again, another issue on 
which I am delighted that we are working together in a bipartisan 
fashion because this is not about partisanship. This is about making 
sure that the world is a safer place and shining a light on terrorist 
organizations, Hezbollah being one of the worst.
  Just last week, Madam Speaker, I was in Israel, and we went into the 
Golan. We went north to the border, and we looked off over the border, 
not only into Syria; we looked into Lebanon as well. We met with lone 
soldiers, members from Chicago who went over to Israel to join the IDF 
and fight, and they are terrified and prepared for attacks from 
Hezbollah.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 
minute.
  Mr. DOLD. Madam Speaker, this is an important bill, one that makes 
sure we do not lose sight of the threat posed by Hezbollah, and one 
that we have to make sure that we are vigilant, that we know where the 
resources are going.
  This is a bill that, again, I want to thank the chairman for his 
leadership on, and I want to thank Mr. Engel, the ranking member, for 
his leadership, and Ted Deutch, a good friend, and Mark Meadows for all 
that they are doing. This is something that, again, I encourage my 
colleagues in this body to come together and unite behind another 
unanimous vote to make sure the world knows that we will not sit idly 
by, that we will do everything in our power to make sure that we track 
down the funders of this terrorist organization to make sure that they 
do not have the tools necessary for a reign of terror on Israel and the 
West.
  Mr. ROYCE. I yield myself such time as I may consume, Madam Speaker.
  When we think about Hezbollah, we think about an organization that 
was once a limited regional threat. Today, it really is global. It is 
an organization conducting terrorist and criminal activities all over 
the world, one that has actively targeted the United States now, if we 
think about it, for 30 years. I think it shows no signs of letting up

[[Page 6770]]

as Iran, the regime there, shows no signs in letting up in its support 
for Hezbollah.
  So prior to the attacks of September 11, Iran's proxy was responsible 
for the largest number of American deaths by terrorist organizations up 
until that point when al Qaeda carried out that attack. This included 
the 1993 bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut and the bombing 
of our United States Marine Corps barracks again that same year. 
Hezbollah was responsible for providing funding and weapons to Iraqi 
militias that killed hundreds of Americans in Iraq at the behest of 
Iran. Hezbollah is behind the Iranian-sponsored slaughter that is going 
on right now in Syria, and it is Hezbollah that is now not only on the 
northern border of Israel, but also, with the support from Iran, it is 
now up on the Golan Heights. It is now up just off the Golan Heights in 
Syria there.
  Hezbollah is now involved in supporting the Iranian-supported Houthi 
takeover in Yemen. Hezbollah is a model; and as you heard the debate 
recently on the Internet, should the Hezbollah model be replicated not 
only among the Shia Houthi but in other parts of the region, we must 
remember that any sanctions relief that we provide to Iran for a 
nuclear agreement will have an impact on Iran's ability to further 
support Hezbollah and the ability of that organization to carry out 
future attacks on Americans, on our allies, or on other unfortunate 
souls who oppose an Iranian takeover of that region.
  Yet Hezbollah and their sponsor remain vulnerable. They are still 
reliant on Iran's largesse and on proceeds from Hezbollah's illicit 
activities. It is precisely those illicit activities, those 
vulnerabilities, that we must target. So, Madam Speaker, passing the 
Iran and the Hezbollah bills today will be a one-two punch against 
terrorists backing Iran's nuclear weapons drive.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of the Members to support this measure. 
Again, I thank Mr. Eliot Engel for his work and the other cosponsors of 
the bill as well.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2297, 
the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act.
  The aim of the bill is to curtail the funding of Hezbollah's domestic 
and international terrorist activities by disrupting its logistics and 
financial network. The bill proposes diplomatic, legislative, and 
executive strategies to combat Hezbollah including directing the 
Treasury Department to prohibit or impose strict restrictions on the 
activities of financial institutions that knowingly facilitate 
transactions for the terrorist group.
  Some of the world's most powerful banks are suspected of knowingly 
helping Hezbollah fund its terror operations by concealing billions of 
dollars in transactions with its Iranian sponsor. This bill will help 
to curb those activities.
  H.R. 2297 is largely the same bill as that which passed the House 
unanimously last July. The only differences are minor and include the 
stripping of the findings clauses and the removal of the section on 
conflict minerals.
  Hezbollah's global logistics and financial network is a lifeline to 
the organization that strengthens its power to consolidate within 
countries such as Lebanon and Syria.
  I encourage my colleagues join me again in supporting the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 2297.
  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. 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.

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