[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8190 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8190
To review and consider terminating the designation of the State of
Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 30, 2024
Mrs. Wagner (for herself and Mr. Golden of Maine) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To review and consider terminating the designation of the State of
Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, 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 ``Reviewing Qatar's Major Non-NATO
Ally Status Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On October 8, 1997, the Secretary of State designated
Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (``Hamas'') as a foreign
terrorist organization in accordance with section 219 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
(2) In 2012, the State of Qatar allowed Hamas to open a
political office in Doha.
(3) On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists operating from
Gaza attacked Israel, resulting in the death of more than 1,200
individuals and the kidnapping of more than 240 individuals,
including the death of more than 30 and kidnapping of more than
a dozen United States citizens.
(4) Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas's political bureau,
resides in Qatar, as do Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas's
communications office, and Khaled Mashal, Hamas's former
political chief and current head of the group's diaspora
office.
(5) On January 6, 2024, in a meeting with a bipartisan,
bicameral delegation of United States lawmakers, Qatari Prime
Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani
assured the delegation that ``since day 1, Qatar has been
strong arming Hamas to get the hostages back''.
(6) At the end of January 2024, Qatari Prime Minister
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani asserted
publicly that Qatar has no leverage over Hamas in hostage
negotiations.
(7) On February 17, 2024, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani urged a ceasefire
in Gaza without preconditions, undercutting negotiations for
the release of hostages, including United States citizens, at
the Munich Security Conference.
(8) As of April 2024, Hamas continues to hold 5 United
States citizens hostage in Gaza, as well as the bodies of 3
United States citizens believed to be killed on or shortly
after October 7, 2023.
(9) The March 10, 2022, designation of the State of Qatar
as a major non-NATO ally is a privilege which must be
continuously earned.
(10) It is in the United States interest to review the
designation of certain countries as Major Non-NATO Allies from
time to time as facts and circumstances change. In fact, the
United States Government terminated Afghanistan's status as a
major non-NATO ally in July 2022, following the Taliban's
takeover of that country.
SEC. 3. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 4. REVIEW OF DESIGNATION OF THE STATE OF QATAR AS A MAJOR NON-NATO
ALLY.
(a) Review and Report.--
(1) In general.--In light of the fact that the State of
Qatar hosts Hamas, a United States-designated terrorist
organization with American blood and hostages on its hands, and
the fact that Qatar continues to host this terrorist
organization despite the continued captivity by Hamas of
American hostages, not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall--
(A) conduct a thorough review of--
(i) bilateral relations between the United
States and Qatar;
(ii) Qatar's relationship with Hamas; and
(iii) Qatar's designation as a major non-
NATO ally; and
(B) submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a detailed written report summarizing the
review.
(2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in an unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
(b) Certification.--
(1) In general.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include a certification from the Secretary of State as to
whether--
(A) It is in the national interest of the United
States for Qatar to maintain its designation as a major
non-NATO ally;
(B) Qatar has exerted any and all leverage it has
over Hamas to secure the release of United States
hostages from Gaza;
(C) Qatar does not directly or indirectly support,
financially or otherwise, acts of international
terrorism or foreign terrorist organizations, including
Hamas; and
(D) Qatar has expelled or agreed to extradite to
the United States any individuals determined to be
members of Hamas, including Ismail Haniyeh, Khalil al-
Hayya, Khaled Mashal, and any other individuals bearing
responsibility for the terror attack on October 7,
2023.
(2) Form and publication.--The certification required under
paragraph (1) shall be in unclassified form and posted on a
publicly available website of the Department of State.
(c) Termination.--In the event that the Secretary of State cannot
in good faith certify the determinations described under subsection
(b)(1) in the affirmative, the President--
(1) shall immediately terminate the designation of the
State of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally pursuant to section
517(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2321k(a)(1)) or any other provision of law; and
(2) may not issue a separate designation of the State of
Qatar as a major non-NATO ally pursuant to section 517(a)(1) of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321k(a)(1)) or
any other provision of law unless the President submits to
Congress a certification described in subsection (b).
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