I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9564 
To authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the Houthis, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 
Mr. ISSA (for himself and Mr. PHILLIPS) 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 authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to 
the Houthis, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Houthi Human Rights 
Accountability Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) Houthi efforts to indoctrinate Yemenis into 
a violent, anti-Semitic, and extremist worldview are 
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a threat to a Yemeni-led peace process and to re-
gional stability; and 
(2) it is counter to United States policy to pro-
vide support to the Houthis in Yemen, including by 
supporting any efforts by the Houthis to indoctri-
nate, coerce, or force Yemenis to conform to their 
violent, anti-Semitic, and extremist worldview. 
SEC. 3. REPORT ON HOUTHI INDOCTRINATION. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development, shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report on— 
(1) Houthi efforts to indoctrinate Yemenis into 
a violent, anti-Semitic, or extremist worldview; and 
(2) the long-term threat this indoctrination 
campaign poses to regional stability. 
SEC. 4. REPORT ON OBSTACLES TO PROVISION OF HUMANI-
TARIAN AID IN AREAS OF YEMEN UNDER DE- 
FACTO HOUTHI CONTROL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 
in consultation with the Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
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obstacles to the provision of humanitarian aid by inter-
national organizations and nongovernmental organizations 
in areas of Yemen under de-facto Houthi control. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report re-
quired by subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An identification of challenges to distribu-
tion of humanitarian aid created by Houthi-enforced 
rules, regulations, and bureaucracy with respect to 
access, and freedom of movement, and the overall 
impact on such rules, regulations, and bureaucracy 
have on the international community’s ability to dis-
tribute such aid in a manner consistent with basic 
humanitarian principles. 
(2) An assessment of attempted Houthi inter-
ference in the delivery of humanitarian aid, includ-
ing the manipulation or undue influence of bene-
ficiary lists or related data for political or military 
purposes, and the implications of any interference on 
civilian needs and aid distribution. 
(3) An evaluation of the Houthis’ use of vio-
lence and intimidation against humanitarian workers 
and diplomats, including current and former United 
States Embassy locally employed staff. 
(4) An overview of the steps the United States 
and its partners are taking to ensure humanitarian 
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assistance is delivered unhindered and consistent 
with basic humanitarian principles, including how 
United States-supported organizations respond to 
attempted Houthi diversion or interference. 
(5) SCOPE.—The report required by subsection 
(a) shall address the period beginning on January 1, 
2020, and ending on the date that is 90 days after 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 5. REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED 
BY THE HOUTHIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report on human rights abuses committed by the 
Houthis, including gender-based discrimination and vio-
lence, including— 
(1) mahram regulations; 
(2) recruitment and use of child soldiers; 
(3) enforced disappearance; 
(4) prolonged and arbitrary detention; 
(5) conduct that amounts to torture; and 
(6) unlawful killing. 
(b) SCOPE.—The report required by subsection (a) 
shall address the period beginning on March 1, 2015, and 
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ending on the date that is 90 days after date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 6. SANCTIONS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE GLOBAL 
MAGNITSKY HUMAN RIGHTS AND ACCOUNT-
ABILITY ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a determination on whether foreign per-
sons described in subsection (b) meet the criteria for sanc-
tions authorized under the Global Magnitsky Human 
Rights and Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 2656 note), in-
cluding with respect to acts that constitute gross violations 
of internationally recognized human rights as defined in 
section 502B(d)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
(22 U.S.C. 2304(d)(1)). 
(b) PERSONS DESCRIBED.—A foreign person de-
scribed in this subsection is a foreign person that— 
(1) is a member of the Houthis; and 
(2) knowingly— 
(A) imposes arbitrary or unlawful restric-
tion on the delivery of humanitarian assistance 
in Yemen; or 
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(B) engages in the human rights abuses 
described in section 5(a). 
SEC. 7. SANCTIONS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE ROBERT 
LEVINSON HOSTAGE TAKING AND ACCOUNT-
ABILITY ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a determination on whether foreign per-
sons described in subsection (b) meet the criteria for sanc-
tions authorized under the Robert Levinson Hostage Re-
covery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 
1741 et seq.), and Executive Order 14078. 
(b) PERSONS DESCRIBED.—A foreign person de-
scribed in this subsection is a foreign person that— 
(1) is a member of the Houthis; and 
(2)(A) is responsible for or is complicit in, or 
responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise di-
recting, the hostage-taking of a United States na-
tional abroad or the unlawful or wrongful detention 
of a United States national abroad; or 
(B) knowingly provides financial, material, or 
technological support for, or goods or services in 
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support of, an activity described in subparagraph 
(A). 
SEC. 8. SUNSET. 
This Act shall terminate on the date that is 5 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate; 
(2) the term ‘‘foreign person’’ means a person 
that is not a United States person; 
(3) the term ‘‘Houthis’’ refers to persons offi-
cially known as ‘‘Ansarallah’’; 
(4) the term ‘‘person’’ means and individual or 
entity; and 
(5) the term ‘‘United States person’’ means— 
(A) a national of the United States; 
(B) an alien who is lawfully present in the 
United States; or 
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(C) an entity organized under the laws of 
the United States or of any jurisdiction within 
the United States, including a foreign branch of 
such an entity. 
Æ 
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