Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

Bill: 115-hr-3342
Sponsor: Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8]
Introduced: 2017-07-20 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Foreign property
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
International law and treaties
Middle East
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sanctions
Terrorism
United Nations
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: 

Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

 
This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn Hizballah's use of human shields as a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights. 
 
The President is urged to use U.S. influence at the United Nations Security Council to secure support for a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions against Hizballah for its use of human shields.
 
The President shall: 
 
 
 transmit to Congress and update a list of each foreign person or entity that is a member of, or acting on behalf of, Hizballah and that is responsible for, or complicit in, the use of human shields and each foreign person, entity, or instrumentality of a foreign state that has supported or facilitated such person or entity; 
 
impose asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against such person, entity, or instrumentality; and 
 
report to Congress on whether specified persons or instrumentalities meet such sanctions criteria. 
 
 
The President may waive the application of such sanctions for up to 120 days if the President reports that such waiver is vital to national security interests.

action_date: 2017-10-24
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn Hizballah's use of human shields as a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights and act against those that engage in such practice.
 
 (Sec. 4) The President is urged to use U.S. influence at the United Nations Security Council to secure support for a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions against Hizballah for its use of human shields.
 
 (Sec. 5) The President shall: 
 
 
 transmit to Congress and update a list of each foreign person or entity that is a member of, or acting on behalf of, Hizballah and that is responsible for, or complicit in, the use of human shields and each foreign person, entity, or instrumentality of a foreign state that has supported or facilitated such person or entity; and 
 
impose U.S.-based property blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against such person, entity, or instrumentality.
 
 
The President may waive the application of sanctions for up to 120 days if the President reports to Congress that such waiver is vital to national security interests.
 
 (Sec. 6) The President shall report to Congress on whether the following persons or instrumentalities meet sanctions criteria: (1) the Secretary General of Hizballah; (2) members of the Hizballah Politburo; (3) other senior members of Hizballah or other associated entities that the President determines appropriate; and (4) any person, agency, or instrumentality of a foreign state that provides material support to Hizballah's use of civilian human shields. 

action_date: 2017-10-25
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)
 

Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

 
 (Sec. 3) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn Hizballah's use of human shields as a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights and act against those that engage in such practice.
 
 (Sec. 4) The President is urged to use U.S. influence at the United Nations Security Council to secure support for a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions against Hizballah for its use of human shields.
 
 (Sec. 5) The President shall: 
 
 
 transmit to Congress and update a list of each foreign person or entity that is a member of, or acting on behalf of, Hizballah and that is responsible for, or complicit in, the use of human shields and each foreign person, entity, or instrumentality of a foreign state that has supported or facilitated such person or entity; and 
 
impose U.S.-based property blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against such person, entity, or instrumentality.
 
 
The President may waive the application of sanctions for up to 120 days if the President reports to Congress that such waiver is vital to national security interests.
 
 (Sec. 6) The President shall report to Congress on whether the following persons or instrumentalities meet sanctions criteria: (1) the Secretary General of Hizballah; (2) members of the Hizballah Politburo; (3) other senior members of Hizballah or other associated entities as the President determines appropriate; and (4) any person, agency, or instrumentality of a foreign state that provides material support to Hizballah's use of civilian human shields.

action_date: 2018-10-11
text: 

Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn the use of innocent civilians as human shields.
 
(Sec. 3) The President shall submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of: 
 
 
each foreign person that is a member of Hizballah or Hamas or is knowingly acting on behalf of Hizballah or Hamas and knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, and 
 
each foreign person or agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that knowingly and materially directs or supports any such act.
 
 
The President shall impose U.S.-based property-blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against a listed person, entity, or instrumentality. 
 
The President is urged to submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of each foreign person or entity that knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, excluding those foreign persons included in the most recent mandatory sanctions list. 
 
(Sec. 5) This bill shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2023. 

action_date: 2018-12-21
text: 

Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn the use of innocent civilians as human shields.
 
(Sec. 3) The President shall submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of: 
 
 
each foreign person that is a member of Hizballah or Hamas or is knowingly acting on behalf of Hizballah or Hamas and knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, and 
 
each foreign person or agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that knowingly and materially directs or supports any such act.
 
 
The President shall impose U.S.-based property-blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against a listed person, entity, or instrumentality. 
 
The President is urged to submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of each foreign person or entity that knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, excluding those foreign persons included in the most recent mandatory sanctions list. 
 
(Sec. 5) This bill shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2023. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-21
text: Became Public Law No: 115-348.
action_date: 2018-12-21
text: Became Public Law No: 115-348.
action_date: 2018-12-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-12-21
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-12-13
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-12-13
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H10078-10079)
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.(text: CR H10078-10079)
action_date: 2018-12-11
text: Mr. Royce (CA) asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H10078-10079)
action_date: 2018-10-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6881)
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-10-11
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2017-10-26
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8178-8179)
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8178-8179)
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3342.
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8178-8183)
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2017-10-24
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 269.
action_date: 2017-10-24
text: Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2017-10-24
text: Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2017-10-24
text: Reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 115-367, Part I.
action_date: 2017-10-24
text: Reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 115-367, Part I.
action_date: 2017-09-28
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-09-28
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: 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.
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: 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.
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-07-20
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 115-348