I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1697 
To amend the Export Administration Act of 1979 to include in the prohibi-
tions on boycotts against allies of the United States boycotts fostered 
by international governmental organizations against Israel and to direct 
the Export-Import Bank of the United States to oppose boycotts against 
Israel, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 23, 2017 
Mr. ROSKAM (for himself, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. ZELDIN, and Mr. SHERMAN) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on For-
eign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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 com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Export Administration Act of 1979 to include 
in the prohibitions on boycotts against allies of the 
United States boycotts fostered by international govern-
mental organizations against Israel and to direct the 
Export-Import Bank of the United States to oppose boy-
cotts against Israel, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Israel Anti-Boycott 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United Nations Human Rights Council 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘UNHRC’’) has 
long targeted Israel with systematic, politically moti-
vated assaults on its legitimacy designed to stig-
matize and isolate Israel internationally. 
(2) The UNHRC maintains a permanent agen-
da item known as ‘‘Item 7’’ to ensure that Israel will 
be criticized at every gathering of the UNHRC. 
(3) At its 31st session on March 24, 2016, the 
UNHRC targeted Israel with a commercial boycott, 
calling for the establishment of a database, such as 
a ‘‘blacklist’’, of companies that operate, or have 
business relations with entities that operate, beyond 
Israel’s 1949 Armistice lines, including East Jeru-
salem. 
(4) At its 32nd session in March 2017, the 
UNHRC is considering a resolution pursuant to 
agenda item 7 to withhold assistance from and pre-
vent trade with ‘‘territories occupied since 1967’’, in-
cluding East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the 
Golan Heights, stating that businesses that engage 
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in economic activity in those areas could face could 
face civil or criminal legal action. 
(5) For a half century, Congress has combated 
anti-Israel boycotts and other discriminatory activity 
under the Export Administration Act of 1979 (as 
continued in effect pursuant to the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 
et seq.)), under part VI of title X of the Tax Reform 
Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–455; 90 Stat. 1649) 
(commonly referred to as the ‘‘Ribicoff Amend-
ment’’), in free trade agreements with Bahrain and 
Oman, and in Saudi Arabia’s accession negotiations 
to the World Trade Organization. 
(6) The recent action of the UNHRC is remi-
niscent of the Arab League Boycott, which also 
called for the establishment of a ‘‘blacklist’’ and pro-
moted a primary, as well as a secondary and ter-
tiary, boycott against Israel, targeting United States 
and other companies that trade or invest with or in 
Israel, designed to harm Israel, any business oper-
ating in, or doing business with, Israel, or companies 
that do business with companies operating in Israel. 
(7) Congress recently passed anti-boycott, di-
vestment, and sanctions measures in the Bipartisan 
Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability 
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Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.) and section 
909 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforce-
ment Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 4452), which establish, 
among other things— 
(A) the opposition of the United States to 
actions to boycott, divest from, or sanction 
Israel; 
(B) requirements that the United States 
utilize trade negotiations to combat state-led or 
international governmental organization-led ac-
tions to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel; 
and 
(C) reporting requirements regarding the 
actions of foreign countries or international or-
ganizations that establish barriers to trade or 
investment for United States companies in or 
with Israel. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
Congress— 
(1) opposes the United Nations Human Rights 
Council resolution of March 24, 2016, which urges 
countries to pressure their own companies to divest 
from, or break contracts with, Israel, and calls for 
the creation of a ‘‘blacklist’’ of companies that either 
operate, or have business relations with entities that 
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