vide assistance along with their financial institu-
tions, suppliers, shippers, and other entities can 
make practical use of the exceptions. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the interagency review mandated by the 
President’s January 21, 2021 National Security 
Memorandum 1, offers an opportunity to make ap-
propriate adjustments to United States and multilat-
eral sanctions to ensure that such sanctions do not 
inadvertently hinder humanitarian access to the peo-
ple of North Korea; 
(2) national governments and multilateral au-
thorities must take action to mitigate documented 
delays and ensure that sanctions imposed with re-
spect to North Korea do not hinder efforts to pro-
vide humanitarian relief, including life-saving med-
ical care to combat COVID–19, to the people of 
North Korea; 
(3) the Department of the Treasury should pro-
vide timely and meaningful responses to requests for 
specific licenses given that humanitarian organiza-
tions typically have a limited time to execute 
projects that must be approved by multiple United 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
States Government agencies and foreign govern-
ments; 
(4) because humanitarian assistance is unlikely 
to enable large-scale sanctions evasion and revenue 
generation, sanctions enforcement should focus on 
ongoing North Korean activities, including ship-to- 
ship transfers of coal and other goods, cyberattacks, 
and the use of forced labor abroad, all highlighted 
in reports issued by the United Nations Panel of Ex-
perts on North Korea and other authoritative 
sources; 
(5) financial institutions should recognize and 
consider the reputational and practical costs of im-
peding legitimate efforts to deliver life-saving aid to 
North Korea; and 
(6) the Department of State’s travel ban for 
humanitarian missions to North Korea is incon-
sistent with the intent of the North Korea Sanctions 
and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (Public Law 
114–122), which explicitly exempts work related to 
the repatriation of United States veterans’ remains. 
SEC. 4. ENHANCING EXEMPTIONS FROM UNITED STATES 
SANCTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Treas-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
ury, acting through the Director of the Office of Foreign 
Assets Control, shall take one or more of the following 
actions: 
(1) Modify the humanitarian exception under 
section 510.512 of the North Korea Sanctions Regu-
lations to cover, in addition to the food and medicine 
already exempted, goods and other items that are 
not subject to the Export Administration Regula-
tions and that support humanitarian projects to 
meet basic human needs in North Korea so that no 
specific license is required for such items. 
(2)(A) Modify the North Korea Sanctions Reg-
ulations to exempt from a requirement for a specific 
license a published list of nonsensitive items, in addi-
tion to the food and medicine already covered by sec-
tion 510.512 of the North Korea Sanctions Regula-
tions, used in humanitarian operations in North 
Korea in furtherance of the purposes set forth in 
section 4 of the North Korean Human Rights Act 
of 2004 (22 U.S.C. 7802); 
(B) ensure that the list reflects the relevant 
recommendations included in the final report, pub-
lished on February 7, 2020, of the Panel of Experts 
established pursuant to United Nations Security 
Council Resolution 1874 (2009); and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(C) review and republish the list, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of State and the Adminis-
trator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, every 180 days and in response to re-
quests by nongovernmental organizations that have 
previously engaged in authorized humanitarian ac-
tivities in North Korea. 
(3) Modify the North Korea Sanctions Regula-
tions so that— 
(A) a specific license from the Office of 
Foreign Assets Control of the Department of 
the Treasury is not required for partnerships 
and partnership agreements between non-
governmental organizations and persons owned 
or controlled by the Government of North 
Korea that are necessary for nongovernmental 
organizations to provide otherwise authorized 
services related to humanitarian activity in 
North Korea; and 
(B) a specific license is still required for 
any partnerships and partnership agreements 
with persons on the list of specially designated 
nationals and blocked persons maintained by 
the Office of Foreign Assets Control. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall provide to the appropriate congressional 
committees a briefing— 
(1) for each action described in subsection (a), 
describing whether the action was taken and pro-
viding a justification for the decision to take or not 
take the action; and 
(2) detailing the benefits and risks associated 
with establishing a category of recognized non-
governmental organizations that would be exempt 
from requirements for specific licenses related to 
dealings with the Government of North Korea or 
persons on the list of specially designated nationals 
and blocked persons maintained by the Office of 
Foreign Assets Control for purposes of transactions 
involving goods other than food or medicine to sup-
port authorized humanitarian activities in North 
Korea. 
(c) MODIFICATION TO NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS 
REGULATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall modify the North Korea Sanctions Regulations so 
that personal computers and related peripherals that sup-
port authorized humanitarian activities by nongovern-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
mental organizations are not considered to be ‘‘luxury 
goods’’. 
(d) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Treasury, acting through the Director of the Office of 
Foreign Assets Control, shall issue plainly worded guid-
ance intended for financial institutions, shipping compa-
nies, foreign customs officials, and others involved in 
transactions related to humanitarian assistance that— 
(1) clarifies the applicability of the humani-
tarian exception under the North Korea Sanctions 
Regulations; and 
(2) describes best practices for ensuring that 
activities are consistent with that exception. 
(e) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 120 
days thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury, acting 
through the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Con-
trol and in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re-
port that includes— 
(1) a list of specific licenses related to humani-
tarian assistance in North Korea issued by the Of-
fice of Foreign Assets Control in the 120 days pre-
ceding submission of the report; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
(2) a list of requests for specific licenses related 
to humanitarian assistance in North Korea denied 
by the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the 120 
days preceding submission of the report, with expla-
nations for the denials; 
(3) a list of requests for specific licenses related 
to humanitarian assistance in North Korea that 
have been pending for 30 days or more as of the 
date of the report, with explanations for the delays; 
(4) a list of requests by persons who are not 
United States citizens, lawful permanent residents, 
or entities, for sanctions waivers related to humani-
tarian assistance in North Korea that have been 
pending for 30 days or more as of the date of the 
report, with explanations for the delays; and 
(5) a description of recent efforts to streamline 
the process by which nongovernmental organizations 
engaged in humanitarian activity in North Korea 
apply for and are granted specific licenses or waiv-
ers. 
SEC. 5. ENHANCING MULTILATERAL SANCTIONS EXEMP-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall di-
rect the United States Permanent Representative to the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of the 
United States to urge the United Nations— 
(1) to extend the period for humanitarian ex-
emptions from the 1718 Sanctions Committee to 1 
year and remove the limitation on exemption appli-
cations per organization per year; and 
(2) to modify applications for humanitarian ex-
emptions from the 1718 Sanctions Committee to be 
less burdensome for nongovernmental organizations, 
drawing as appropriate on successes in approaches 
taken by other United Nations sanctions commit-
tees. 
(b) REPORTING.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days 
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the ap-
propriate congressional committees a report— 
(1) describing any requests for humanitarian 
exemptions to the 1718 Sanctions Committee known 
to have been denied in the 180 days preceding sub-
mission of the report or known to have been in proc-
ess for more than 30 days as of the date of the re-
port, and any known explanations for such denials 
and delays; 
(2) detailing any action by a foreign govern-
ment in the 180 days preceding submission of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
report that has delayed or impeded humanitarian as-
sistance approved by the 1718 Sanctions Committee, 
including the status of obstacles to humanitarian as-
sistance posed by customs officials in the People’s 
Republic of China; and 
(3) describing efforts in the 180 days preceding 
submission of the report to establish or maintain an 
approved banking channel for transactions related to 
humanitarian assistance for North Korea. 
SEC. 6. STREAMLINING HUMANITARIAN TRAVEL AUTHOR-
IZATIONS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall offer to pro-
vide to the appropriate congressional committees a brief-
ing— 
(1) detailing the benefits and risks associated 
with issuing a ‘‘multi-entry special validation pass-
port’’ to individuals employed by a nongovernmental 
organization and known to be engaged in authorized 
humanitarian activity in North Korea, with the pur-
pose of reducing costs and delays associated with re-
peated passport applications; 
(2) detailing plans to expand eligibility for spe-
cial validation to travel to North Korea with respect 
to the repatriation of United States veterans’ re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
mains from the Korean War or for appropriate peo-
ple-to-people exchange related to conflict reduction 
or family reunification; and 
(3) setting forth a strategy to otherwise expe-
dite and simplify the process to obtain a special 
travel permit to travel to North Korea on behalf of 
a humanitarian organization or to travel to North 
Korea using a United States passport to deliver or 
oversee humanitarian assistance. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Relations 
of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
of the House of Representatives. 
(2) EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS.— 
The term ‘‘Export Administration Regulations’’ 
means the regulations set forth in subchapter C of 
chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, 
or successor regulations. 
(3) NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS REGULATIONS.— 
The term ‘‘North Korea Sanctions Regulations’’ 
means the regulations set forth in part 510 of title 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
31, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regu-
lations. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:35 Apr 17, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1504.IH
H1504
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS