Washington, DC – Today, the House came together in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote to pass the Iran Counterterrorism Act (H.R. 6323), a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) to establish Congressional oversight of Iran sanctions.
The Iran Counterterrorism Act requires Iran to cease support for acts of international terrorism as a condition for the President to waive secondary sanctions imposed on the regime in Tehran. The bill also provides for a congressional review process for national security interest waivers of these sanctions, if Iran continues its support for global terror.
“Just as Hamas was preparing its assault on Israel, the Biden administration greenlit the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds that Iran President Raisi said he would spend ‘wherever we need it.’ We cannot afford to embolden Iran – the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism – any further,” said Rep. Young Kim. “The Iran Counterterrorism Act ensures Congress can weigh in before the executive branch waives sanctions on Iran. I thank my colleagues for coming together in a bipartisan way to support this bill, restore Congressional oversight, and hold Tehran accountable.”
“Hamas’s terrorist strike last October on innocent Israeli civilians was a wake-up call for many around the world,” said Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry (NC-10). “In response, my friend and colleague Congresswoman Kim, authored the Iran Counterterrorism Act to provide Congress with a stronger role in future sanctions relief for Iran. H.R. 6323 ensures U.S. secondary sanctions against Iran can only be waived if Iran has ceased support for international terrorism and retains the sanctions exemptions we already have in place for humanitarian assistance to ordinary Iranians. If the Administration cannot certify that Iran is no longer financing terrorism, the bill also provides Congress with a chance to review any national security interest waivers of these sanctions. After the attacks inflicted on our Israeli allies over the past seven months—including Iran’s unprecedented strikes last weekend—I’m glad to see bipartisan support in the House for this commonsense legislation.”
Rep. Kim is Vice Chairwoman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions and Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific.
Watch Rep. Kim speak on the House floor on the bill HERE and testify before the Rules Committee on her bill HERE.
