Foreign Affairs Committee, Financial Services Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
The "Countering Beijing's Weaponization of Fentanyl Act" amends the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 to broaden its scope. This legislation aims to impose sanctions on foreign countries in response to acts by their governmental entities concerning chemical or biological programs that result in injury or damages to other nations. A key expansion is the explicit inclusion of the production, development, or distribution of specific fentanyl precursors, such as benzylfentanyl, 4-anilinopiperidine, and norfentanyl precursors, within the definition of a chemical or biological program . The bill mandates that the President make a determination within 60 days of receiving credible information about a covered act committed by an official, employee, or agent of a foreign governmental entity. A covered act is defined as one where the individual knew or should have known it would cause injury to another country and concerns a chemical or biological program. If a covered act is determined, the President must impose initial sanctions within 30 days on the foreign country most closely associated with that entity. These initial sanctions include the suspension of scientific cooperative programs and agreements, a prohibition on the export of certain controlled items, and a ban on procuring goods or services from that country's chemical or biological sectors. Following the initial determination, the President is required to submit reports to Congress at 120 and 210 days to assess the foreign country's response. If the country has not adequately addressed the act, provided information, developed prevention measures, or complied with relevant treaties, further sanctions are mandated. Intermediate sanctions, imposed at 120 days, require at least two measures such as terminating most foreign assistance, prohibiting the export of additional controlled items, or banning licenses for U.S. Munitions List items. If issues persist at 210 days, the President must prohibit certain financial transactions involving the country that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Sanctions imposed under this Act can be terminated after one year if the President certifies to Congress that the foreign country or entity has adequately addressed the act, made restitution, provided substantive information, developed prevention measures, and is compliant with covered treaties. The bill also includes a waiver provision, allowing the President to waive sanctions for periods of up to 180 days if deemed vital to U.S. national security interests. However, this waiver authority is set to expire five years after the Act's enactment.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
The "Countering Beijing's Weaponization of Fentanyl Act" amends the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 to broaden its scope. This legislation aims to impose sanctions on foreign countries in response to acts by their governmental entities concerning chemical or biological programs that result in injury or damages to other nations. A key expansion is the explicit inclusion of the production, development, or distribution of specific fentanyl precursors, such as benzylfentanyl, 4-anilinopiperidine, and norfentanyl precursors, within the definition of a chemical or biological program . The bill mandates that the President make a determination within 60 days of receiving credible information about a covered act committed by an official, employee, or agent of a foreign governmental entity. A covered act is defined as one where the individual knew or should have known it would cause injury to another country and concerns a chemical or biological program. If a covered act is determined, the President must impose initial sanctions within 30 days on the foreign country most closely associated with that entity. These initial sanctions include the suspension of scientific cooperative programs and agreements, a prohibition on the export of certain controlled items, and a ban on procuring goods or services from that country's chemical or biological sectors. Following the initial determination, the President is required to submit reports to Congress at 120 and 210 days to assess the foreign country's response. If the country has not adequately addressed the act, provided information, developed prevention measures, or complied with relevant treaties, further sanctions are mandated. Intermediate sanctions, imposed at 120 days, require at least two measures such as terminating most foreign assistance, prohibiting the export of additional controlled items, or banning licenses for U.S. Munitions List items. If issues persist at 210 days, the President must prohibit certain financial transactions involving the country that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Sanctions imposed under this Act can be terminated after one year if the President certifies to Congress that the foreign country or entity has adequately addressed the act, made restitution, provided substantive information, developed prevention measures, and is compliant with covered treaties. The bill also includes a waiver provision, allowing the President to waive sanctions for periods of up to 180 days if deemed vital to U.S. national security interests. However, this waiver authority is set to expire five years after the Act's enactment.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Oversight and Government Reform, 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.