Congressional Oversight of Sanctions Act

Bill: 116-hr-5879
Sponsor: Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
Introduced: 2020-02-12 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Congressional-executive branch relations
Economic performance and conditions
Foreign aid and international relief
International law and treaties
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Sanctions
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2020-02-12
text: 

Congressional Oversight of Sanctions Act

 
This bill limits the duration of a declaration of national emergency by the President, directs the President to allow certain exports to a country under sanctions, and requires the President to provide specified information when exercising emergency economic powers.
 
Specifically, the bill provides that any national emergency declared by the President shall terminate 60 days after the first day on which either house of Congress is in session following the declaration, unless Congress enacts a joint resolution to extend the emergency. If Congress does not enact a joint resolution to extend the emergency, the President may not declare a new national emergency based on substantially similar facts during the 1-year period following such 60-day period.
 
The President must allow the export of certain equipment and material to a territory that is controlled by a person that is otherwise subject to sanctions if the material is intended for (1) civilian health care facilities, (2) water infrastructure, (3) civilian energy infrastructure, or (4) primary or secondary educational facilities.
 
When exercising any international emergency economic powers, the President must issue a report that includes (1) the goals and outcomes expected to be achieved through such actions; (2) other tools considered to address the emergency and the reason for the chosen response; (3) a list of countries imposing similar sanctions; and (4) the strategy to provide compliance guidance to entities in the private sector, humanitarian organizations, and peace-building organizations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2020-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rules, 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: 2020-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rules, 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: 2020-02-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rules, 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: 2020-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-02-12
text: Introduced in House