Iran Freedom Support Act

Bill: 109-hr-282
Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18]
Introduced: 2005-01-06 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Affiliated corporations
American investments
Armed Forces and National Security
Arms control
Arms control agreements
Arms sales
Biological warfare
Chemical warfare
China
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil service retirement
Commerce
Commercial blacklisting
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Conventional weapons
Democracy
Diplomacy
Dissenters
East Asia
Economic assistance
Economics and Public Finance
Energy
Executive orders
Export controls
Export finance
Finance and Financial Sector
Financial institutions
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign agents
Foreign corporations
Foreign investments
Freedom of association
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Human rights
Insurance companies
International broadcasting
Investment guaranty insurance
Iran
Labor and Employment
Law
Licenses
Malaysia
Middle East and North Africa
Mutual funds
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear nonproliferation
Nuclear weapons
Opposition (Political science)
Pakistan
Pension funds
Petroleum
Petroleum engineering
Petroleum industry
President and foreign policy
Presidential appointments
Radio stations
Religion
Religious liberty
Right of assembly
Russia
Sanctions (International law)
Science, Technology, Communications
Sex discrimination
South Asia
State-sponsored terrorism
Subsidiary corporations
Sunset legislation
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Technology transfer
Television stations
Terrorism
Treaties
United Nations
Weapons of mass destruction
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2005-01-06
text: 
Iran Freedom Support Act - States that: (1) U.S. sanctions, controls, and regulations relating to weapons of mass destruction with respect to Iran shall remain in effect until the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that Iran has permanently and verifiably dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programs and has committed to combating such weapons' proliferation; and (2) such certification shall have no effect on other sanctions relating to Iranian support of international terrorism.
 Amends the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to: (1) eliminate mandatory sanction provisions respecting Libya; (2) impose mandatory sanctions on a person or entity that aids Iran acquire or develop weapons of mass destruction or destabilizing types and numbers of conventional weapons; (3) revise multilateral regime reporting requirements, including provisions respecting sanctions on individuals aiding Iranian petroleum development; (4) enlarge the scope of sanctionable entities; and (5) eliminate the sunset provision. 
Authorizes the President to provide financial and political assistance to eligible foreign and domestic individuals and groups that support democracy in Iran and that are opposed to the Government of Iran.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should appoint a special assistant on Iranian matters; (2) contacts should be expanded with democratic Iranian opposition groups; and (3) the President should designate at least one such eligible group within 90 days of enactment of this Act.

action_date: 2006-04-25
text: 
Iran Freedom Support Act - 
Title I: Codification of Sanctions Against Iran
 - (Sec. 101) States that: (1) U.S. sanctions, controls, and regulations with respect to Iran imposed pursuant to Executive Order 12957, Executive Order 12959, and sections 2 and 3 of Executive Order 13059, as in effect on January 1, 2006, shall remain in effect until the President certifies to the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that the government of Iran has verifiably dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programs; and (2) such certification shall have no effect on specified sanctions relating to Iranian support of international terrorism. 
 
(Sec. 102) States that in cases where an entity engages in an act outside the United States which, if committed in the United States or by a U.S. person, would violate Executive Order 12959, Executive Order 13059, or any other prohibition on transactions with Iran imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and if that entity was created for the purpose of engaging in such an act, the parent company of that entity, if a U.S. person, shall be subject to the penalties for such violation to the same extent as if the parent company had engaged in that act. 
 
Defines &quot;parent company&quot; and &quot;entity.&quot;
 

Title II: Amendments to the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 and Other Provisions Related to Investment in Iran
 - (Sec. 201) Amends the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to revise multilateral regime reporting requirements to direct the President to report every six months to the appropriate congressional committees regarding diplomatic and related efforts to establish multilateral pressure on Iran, including a list of countries that have agreed to undertake measures to deny Iran the ability to support acts of international terrorism and fund the development and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by limiting Iran's ability to exploit its petroleum resources for such purposes.
 
Authorizes waiver of sanctions (up to six months) against nationals of a country if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that: (1) the waiver is vital to U.S. security interests; and (2) such country has undertaken substantial measures to prevent Iran's acquisition and development of weapons of mass destruction.
 
Directs the President to initiate an investigation leading to the possible imposition of sanctions against a person upon receipt by the United States of credible information that such person is engaged in prohibited petroleum investment activity in Iran.
 
(Sec. 202) Eliminates the requirement that an entity have &quot;actual knowledge&quot; of its investment in the Iranian petroleum sector before sanctions could be imposed.
 
Imposes (two or more) mandatory sanctions on a person or entity that aids Iran acquire or develop weapons of mass destruction or destabilizing types and numbers of conventional weapons. 
 
Eliminates the &quot;actual knowledge&quot; requirement in the case of certain affiliates, parents or subsidiaries.
 
Enlarges the scope of sanctionable entities to include private or government lenders, insurers, underwriters, or guarantors of the person (who has carried out proscribed activities) if the private or government lenders, insurers, underwriters, or guarantors themselves engaged in the prohibited activities.
 
(Sec. 203) Adds a requirement that Iran be determined to pose no significant threat to U.S. national security, interests, or allies in order to lift sanctions against entities investing in Iran's petroleum industry. 
 
(Sec. 204) Eliminates the sunset provision. 
 
(Sec. 205) Enlarges the definition of &quot;person&quot; to include financial institutions, insurers, underwriters, guarantors, any other business organizations, including any foreign subsidiaries. 
 
(Sec. 206) Directs that the President, not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act and every six months thereafter, ensure Federal Register publication of a list of all U.S. and foreign entities that have invested more than $20 million in Iran's energy sector between August 5, 1996, and the date of such publication. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that, upon Federal Register publication of U.S. and foreign entities that have invested in Iran's energy sector, managers of U.S. government pension plans or thrift savings plans, private sector pension plans, and mutual funds should initiate efforts to divest from any listed entity, and make no future investments in such entities.
 
(Sec. 207) Requires that the Office of Global Security Risks within the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issue a report listing such identified entities, a determination of whether or not the operations in Iran of any such entity constitute a political, economic, or other risk to the United States, and a determination of whether or not the entity faces U.S. litigation or sanctions that are likely to have a material adverse impact on its financial condition. 
 
(Sec. 208) Renames the the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 as the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. 
 

Title III: Diplomatic Efforts to Curtail Iranian Nuclear Proliferation and Sponsorship of International Terrorism 
- (Sec. 301) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to secure U.N. Security Council support for a sanctions resolution on Iran as a result of repeated breaches of its nuclear nonproliferation obligations, which shall remain in effect until Iran has verifiably dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programs. 
 
Provides that, if, on or after April 13, 2005, a foreign person or agency or instrumentality of a foreign government has more than $20 million invested in Iran's energy sector the President shall, until termination of such investment, withhold assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to the government of the country to which such person owes allegiance or to which control is exercised over such agency or instrumentality. Authorizes a national security waiver.
 
(Sec. 302) Declares that it should be U.S. policy to support diplomatic efforts to end Iran's manipulation of Article IV of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty without undermining the Treaty itself. 
 

Title IV: Democracy in Iran 
- (Sec. 401) Declares that it should be U.S. policy to support independent human rights and peaceful pro-democracy forces in Iran. 
 
States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the use of force against Iran.
 
(Sec. 402) Authorizes the President to provide financial and political assistance to eligible foreign and domestic individuals and groups that support democracy in Iran, including assistance for radio and television broadcasting into Iran. Prohibits assistance from being used to support the use of force against Iran.
 
States that assistance may be provided only to an individual, organization, or entity that: (1) officially opposes the use of violence and terrorism and has not been designated as a foreign terrorist organization during the preceding four years; (2) advocates Iran's adherence to nonproliferation regimes for nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and materiel; (3) supports adoption of a democratic government in Iran; (4) is dedicated to respect for human rights, including equality of women; (5) works to establish equality of opportunity for people; and (6) supports freedoms of press, speech, association, and religion. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that contacts should be expanded with eligible opposition groups in Iran. 
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 403) Authorizes the Secretary of State to obtain a license for the export to, or by, any person to whom the Department of State has provided a grant under a program to promote democracy or human rights abroad, any item which is commercially available in the United States without government license or permit, to the extent that such export would be used exclusively for carrying out the purposes of the grant. 

action_date: 2006-04-26
text: 
Iran Freedom Support Act - 
Title I: Codification of Sanctions Against Iran
 - (Sec. 101) States that: (1) U.S. sanctions, controls, and regulations with respect to Iran imposed pursuant to Executive Order 12957, sections 1(b) through 1(g) and sections 2 through 6 of Executive Order 12959, and sections 2 and 3 of Executive Order 13059, as in effect on January 1, 2006, shall remain in effect until the President certifies to the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that the government of Iran has verifiably dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programs; and (2) such certification shall have no effect on specified sanctions relating to Iranian support of international terrorism. 
 
(Sec. 102) States that in cases where an entity engages in an act outside the United States which, if committed in the United States or by a U.S. person, would violate Executive Order 12959, Executive Order 13059, or any other prohibition on transactions with Iran imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and if that entity was created for the purpose of engaging in such an act, the parent company of that entity, if a U.S. person, shall be subject to the penalties for such violation to the same extent as if the parent company had engaged in that act. 
 
Defines &quot;parent company&quot; and &quot;entity.&quot;
 

Title II: Amendments to the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 and Other Provisions Related to Investment in Iran
 - (Sec. 201) Amends the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to revise multilateral regime reporting requirements to direct the President to report every six months to the appropriate congressional committees regarding diplomatic and related efforts to establish multilateral pressure on Iran, including a list of countries that have agreed to undertake measures to deny Iran the ability to support acts of international terrorism and fund the development and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by limiting Iran's ability to exploit its petroleum resources for such purposes.
 
Authorizes waiver of sanctions (up to six months) against nationals of a country if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that: (1) the waiver is vital to U.S. security interests; and (2) such country has undertaken substantial measures to prevent Iran's acquisition and development of weapons of mass destruction.
 
Directs the President to initiate an investigation leading to the possible imposition of sanctions against a person upon receipt by the United States of credible information that such person is engaged in prohibited petroleum investment activity in Iran.
 
(Sec. 202) Eliminates the requirement that an entity have &quot;actual knowledge&quot; of its investment in the Iranian petroleum sector before sanctions could be imposed.
 
Imposes (two or more) mandatory sanctions on a person or entity that aids Iran acquire or develop weapons of mass destruction or destabilizing types and numbers of conventional weapons. 
 
Eliminates the &quot;actual knowledge&quot; requirement in the case of certain affiliates, parents or subsidiaries.
 
Enlarges the scope of sanctionable entities to include private or government lenders, insurers, underwriters, or guarantors of the person (who has carried out proscribed activities) if the private or government lenders, insurers, underwriters, or guarantors themselves engaged in the prohibited activities.
 
(Sec. 203) Adds a requirement that Iran be determined to pose no significant threat to U.S. national security, interests, or allies in order to lift sanctions against entities investing in Iran's petroleum industry. 
 
(Sec. 204) Eliminates the sunset provision. 
 
(Sec. 205) Enlarges the definition of &quot;person&quot; to include financial institutions, insurers, underwriters, guarantors, any other business organizations, including any foreign subsidiaries. 
 
(Sec. 206) Directs that the President, not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act and every six months thereafter, ensure Federal Register publication of a list of all U.S. and foreign entities that have invested more than $20 million in Iran's energy sector between August 5, 1996, and the date of such publication. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that, upon Federal Register publication of U.S. and foreign entities that have invested in Iran's energy sector, managers of U.S. government pension plans or thrift savings plans, private sector pension plans, and mutual funds should initiate efforts to divest from any listed entity, and make no future investments in such entities.
 
(Sec. 207) Renames the the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 as the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. 
 

Title III: Diplomatic Efforts to Curtail Iranian Nuclear Proliferation and Sponsorship of International Terrorism
 - (Sec. 301) Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to secure U.N. Security Council support for a sanctions resolution on Iran as a result of repeated breaches of its nuclear nonproliferation obligations, which shall remain in effect until Iran has verifiably dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programs. 
 
Provides that, if, on or after April 13, 2005, a foreign person or agency or instrumentality of a foreign government has more than $20 million invested in Iran's energy sector the President shall, until termination of such investment, withhold assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to the government of the country to which such person owes allegiance or to which control is exercised over such agency or instrumentality. Authorizes a national security waiver.
 
(Sec. 302) Declares that it should be U.S. policy to support diplomatic efforts to end Iran's manipulation of Article IV of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty without undermining the Treaty itself. 
 

Title IV: Democracy in Iran
 - (Sec. 401) Declares that it should be U.S. policy to support independent human rights and peaceful pro-democracy forces in Iran. 
 
States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the use of force against Iran.
 
(Sec. 402) Authorizes the President to provide financial and political assistance to eligible foreign and domestic individuals and groups that support democracy in Iran, including assistance for radio and television broadcasting into Iran. Prohibits assistance from being used to support the use of force against Iran.
 
States that assistance may be provided only to an individual, organization, or entity that: (1) officially opposes the use of violence and terrorism and has not been designated as a foreign terrorist organization during the preceding four years; (2) advocates Iran's adherence to nonproliferation regimes for nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and materiel; (3) supports adoption of a democratic government in Iran; (4) is dedicated to respect for human rights, including equality of women; (5) works to establish equality of opportunity for people; and (6) supports freedoms of press, speech, association, and religion. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that contacts should be expanded with eligible opposition groups in Iran. 
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 403) Authorizes the Secretary of State to obtain a license for the export to, or by, any person to whom the Department of State has provided a grant under a program to promote democracy or human rights abroad, any item which is commercially available in the United States without government license or permit, to the extent that such export would be used exclusively for carrying out the purposes of the grant. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-04-27
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397 - 21 (Roll no. 105). (text: CR H1754-1757)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397 - 21 (Roll no. 105).(text: CR H1754-1757)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1785-1786)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: FURTHER DEBATE - By unanimous consent, the House proceeded with an additional 40 minutes of debate on H.R. 282, equally divided and controlled.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 282.
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1754-1774)
action_date: 2006-04-26
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 226.
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 109-417.
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 109-417.
action_date: 2006-03-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 37 - 3.
action_date: 2006-03-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2005-04-13
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-01-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia.
action_date: 2005-01-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2005-01-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-01-06
text: Introduced in House