International Conflicts of Concern Act

Bill: 115-hr-779
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2017-01-31
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Conflicts and wars

Congressional oversight

Foreign aid and international relief

Licensing and registrations

Middle East

Military assistance, sales, and agreements

Syria

Terrorism

Trade restrictions

Travel and tourism

War and emergency powers
Latest action: action_date: 2017-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-31
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>International Conflicts of Concern Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the President to identify to Congress each country whose government is, and each country in which anti-government forces are, allowing one or more foreign terrorist organizations to engage in armed conflict occurring in that country.</p> <p>The President shall designate a country as a &quot;country of conflict concern&quot; if: (1) its government or anti-government forces in the country are allowing one or more foreign terrorist organizations to engage in armed conflict in it, and (2) it is in the U.S. national security to restrict travel by any U.S. national to the country and restrict material support by U.S. nationals of entities engaged in armed conflict in it. Such a designation shall be terminated when the President certifies to Congress that either or both of these circumstances no longer apply.</p> <p>The bill deems Syria to be a country of conflict concern.</p> <p>The Presidentshall require a U.S. national to obtain a license to: (1) travel to a country of conflict concern, or (2) provide material support to entities engaged in armed conflict in such a country. Specified penalties shall apply to a person who violates such requirements.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 779 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 31, 2017 Mr. Wittman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To restrict United States nationals from traveling to countries in which foreign governments or anti-government forces allow foreign terrorist organizations to engage in armed conflict for purposes of participating in such armed conflict or from providing material support to entities that are engaged in such armed conflict, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the International Conflicts of Concern Act . 2. Identification of Countries of Conflict Concern (a) Identification Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report that identifies each country the government of which or anti-government forces in which the President believes, based on all information available to the President, is allowing one or more foreign terrorist organizations to engage in armed conflict that is occurring in such country. (b) Updates The President shall update the report required under subsection (a)— (1) as new information becomes available; and (2) not less frequently than semi-annually. (c) Form The report required under subsection (a) and the updates required under subsection (b) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex if necessary. 3. Designation of Countries of Conflict Concern (a) Designation (1) In general The President shall designate a country as a Country of Conflict Concern if the President determines that— (A) the government of such country or anti-government forces in the country is allowing one or more foreign terrorist organizations to engage in armed conflict that is occurring in such country as identified in the report required under section 2(a) or any update to the report required under section 2(b); and (B) it is in the national security interest of the United States to restrict travel by any United States national to such country and to restrict material support provided by United States nationals to entities that are engaged in armed conflict in such country. (2) Initial designation Syria shall be deemed to have been designated by the President under paragraph (1) as of the date of the enactment of this Act and the President is not required to notify Congress of such designation of Syria under subsection (b). (b) Report on designation Upon designating a country as a Country of Conflict Concern under subsection (a), the President shall submit to Congress a report notifying Congress of the designation of the country. (c) Licensing requirement (1) In general With respect to any country designated as a Country of Conflict Concern under subsection (a), the President shall exercise the authorities of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 et seq.) without regard to section 202 of such Act to require a United States national to obtain a license— (A) to travel to such country; or (B) to provide material support to entities that are engaged in armed conflict in such country. (2) Exception The requirement to obtain a license under paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a United States national who is a full-time officer or employee of the United States Government for purposes of carrying out official business of the United States Government. (d) Penalties The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705 ) shall apply to a person who violates paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (c), or a regulation prescribed under this Act, to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of that Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1705(a) ). (e) Termination of designation The designation of a country as a Country of Conflict Concern under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date on which the President submits to Congress a report that contains— (1) a determination and certification that subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1) (as the case may be), or both, no longer applies with respect to the country; and (2) a justification for the determination and certification. 4. Regulations The President is authorized to promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, including the promulgation of such regulations under the authority of section 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1704 ). 5. Definitions In this Act: (1) Foreign terrorist organization The term foreign terrorist organization means any organization so designated by the Secretary of State under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1189 ). (2) United States national The term United States national means— (A) a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22) ); or (B) an alien who is lawfully present in the United States.