[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6865 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6865
To provide for additional sanctions and other measures relating to
Iran, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 19, 2023
Ms. Lee of California introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee
on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for additional sanctions and other measures relating to
Iran, and for other purposes.
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 ``Allyship Act''.
SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY AND STRATEGY.
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the President shall issue a comprehensive policy and strategy with
respect to Iran that includes the manner in which the United States
will achieve the following:
(1) Counter threats posed to regional and global security
posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(2) Support the human rights and humanitarian needs of the
people of Iran.
(3) Increase the ability of Iranians to access free and
open information, particularly through the internet.
(4) Employ frozen Iranian assets for the benefit of the
people of Iran.
SEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL EVALUATION OF STRATEGY.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report assessing the
impact of United States efforts to achieve the goals described in
section 2. Such report shall be submitted in unclassified form but may
include a classified annex.
SEC. 4. IMPOSITION OF TARGETED SANCTIONS.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
President shall determine whether any of the following persons meet the
criteria for the imposition of sanctions pursuant to section 105 of the
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of
2010 (22 U.S.C. 8514):
(1) Any Iranian person who had a role in establishing or
implementing the legal framework responsible for the detention,
prosecution, harassment, injury, or murder of peaceful
participants in Iranian protests beginning September 16, 2022.
(2) Any Iranian person who had a role in establishing or
implementing the systems responsible for--
(A) denying Iranians access to free information;
(B) actively promoting misinformation or
disinformation; or
(C) engagement in cybercrime.
SEC. 5. MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF IRAN.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall, subject to subsection (c), establish a
mechanism to facilitate the ability of United States persons to
transfer up to $6,000 per year to any citizen of the Islamic Republic
of Iran, as well as promoting the availability of technology to help
Iranians circumvent restrictions on free and open communication.
(b) Eligible Technology.--Technologies eligible for promotion under
the authority provided by subsection (a) may include virtual private
networks, Bluetooth, satellite technology, and shortwave radio.
(c) Preventing Material Support for Criminal Actions.--The
Secretary shall ensure that the mechanism described in subsection (a)
shall not directly benefit any citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran
who the Secretary determines is--
(1) guilty of a gross violation of human rights;
(2) subject to sanctions imposed pursuant to the authority
provided by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability
Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.);
(3) currently included in the List of Specially Designated
Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of
Foreign Assets control of the Department of the Treasury; or
(4) an employee of the Government of the Islamic Republic
of Iran, or of any security force of the Islamic Republic of
Iran.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years
2025 through 2029 $50,000,000, for programs, projects, and activities
consistent with the goals described in section 2. Amounts appropriated
pursuant to the authorization under this section are authorized to
remain available for a period of 2 fiscal years.
SEC. 7. PAROLE FOR VICTIMS OF POLITICAL PERSECUTION.
(a) Process Required.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
establish a process for determining eligibility for humanitarian parole
subject to 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1182(d)(5)) for any eligible individual as defined in subsection (b).
The Secretary shall not impose a fee for any such request.
(b) Eligible Individuals.--For the purposes of this section, an
eligible individual is any of the following:
(1) An individual that the Secretary, in consultation with
the Secretary of State, determines was unjustly imprisoned by
the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(2) A child or spouse of an individual that the Secretary,
in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines was
unjustly imprisoned by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(3) A child or spouse of an individual that the Secretary,
in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines was
killed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
SEC. 8. SENIOR ADVISOR FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS IN IRAN.
(a) Establishment.--The President, acting in coordination with the
Secretary of State, shall designate an individual to serve as Senior
Advisor for Political Prisoners in Iran.
(b) Duties.--The Senior Advisor for Political Prisoners in Iran
shall--
(1) advise the Secretary of State, the relevant heads of
other Federal departments and independent agencies, and other
entities within the Executive Office of the President,
regarding the establishment of--
(A) policies, goals, objectives, and priorities for
supporting individuals unjustly imprisoned by the
Islamic Republic of Iran, and their family members; and
(B) mechanisms to improve the effectiveness,
coordination, impact, and outcomes of programs relating
to individuals unjustly imprisoned by the Islamic
Republic of Iran, and their family members; and
(2) identify and assist in the resolution of any disputes
that arise between Federal agencies relating to policies and
programs to support individuals unjustly imprisoned by the
Islamic Republic of Iran, and their family members.
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