I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 690 

To impose sanctions on persons engaging in transactions in Afghanistan 

rare earth minerals. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 31, 2023 

Mr. STEUBE (for himself, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, and Mr. 

SELF) 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 impose sanctions on persons engaging in transactions 

in Afghanistan rare earth minerals. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Taliban Rare Earth 

5 Minerals Sanctions Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON PERSONS ENGAG2 ING IN TRANSACTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN 

3 RARE EARTH MINERALS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—On and after the date that is 180 

5 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Presi6 dent shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (d) 

7 with respect to a foreign person the President determines 

8 knowingly, on or after such date of enactment, engages 

9 in a significant transaction with a person that is part of, 

10 or operates for or on behalf of, the rare earth mineral sec11 tor of Afghanistan. 

12 (b) EXCEPTION RELATING TO IMPORTATION OF

13 GOODS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 

15 (a), the authorities and requirements to impose 

16 sanctions under subsection (a) shall not include the 

17 authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on 

18 the importation of goods. 

19 (2) GOOD DEFINED.—In this subsection, the 

20 term ‘‘good’’ means any article, natural or man21 made substance, material, supply or manufactured 

22 product, including inspection and test equipment, 

23 and excluding technical data. 

24 (c) PENALTIES.—A person that violates, attempts to 

25 violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of sub26 section (a) or any regulation, license, or order issued to 


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1 carry out subsection (a) shall be subject to the penalties 

2 set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the 

3 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

4 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits 

5 an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section. 

6 (d) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.—The sanctions to be 

7 imposed on a foreign person described in subsection (a) 

8 are the following: 

9 (1) BLOCKING OF PROPERTY.—The President 

10 shall block, in accordance with the International 

11 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 

12 et seq.), all transactions in all property and interests 

13 in property of any person subject to subsection (a) 

14 if such property and interests in property are in the 

15 United States, come within the United States, or are 

16 or come within the possession or control of a United 

17 States person. 

18 (2) EXCLUSION FROM UNITED STATES.—The 

19 Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and the Sec20 retary of Homeland Security shall exclude from the 

21 United States, any person subject to subsection (a) 

22 that is an alien. 

Æ 


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