Bill > HR1998

This bill seeks to establish a comprehensive sanctions framework targeting foreign individuals or entities engaged in maritime piracy, with a particular focus on recent piracy activities off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden. The legislation authorizes the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons who knowingly participate in piracy, including blocking their assets in the United States and prohibiting their entry into the country. The sanctions include freezing any U.S.-based property, revoking visas, and preventing future entry into the United States. The bill provides specific exceptions for humanitarian assistance, international obligations, and national security activities, and allows the President to waive sanctions if they are deemed crucial to U.S. national security interests. The legislation is prompted by historical piracy incidents, including 212 attempted attacks off the Somali coast in 2011 and a recent surge in pirate activities coinciding with Houthi aggression in the region. The bill defines piracy based on U.S. legal code and establishes clear penalties for violations, emphasizing the U.S. government's commitment to combating maritime piracy globally through diplomatic and economic measures.

Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1998/all-info