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No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act

USA119th CongressS-842| Senate 
| Updated: 4/28/2025
John R. Curtis

John R. Curtis

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (1)
Jacky Rosen (Democratic)

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act" addresses the growing presence and activities of Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Latin America. Congress finds that Hezbollah's networks are expanding with impunity, engaging in criminal activities like money laundering and sophisticated smuggling operations, often with support from authoritarian regimes in the region. A significant concern highlighted is that most Latin American countries have not designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, which limits local authorities' ability to monitor or prosecute its operatives effectively. The bill expresses a Sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should pursue aggressive efforts against Iranian proxy networks in the Western Hemisphere. This includes demanding an end to impunity for designated individuals and entities, working with international forums like the Financial Action Task Force to "greylist" government entities that cooperate with Hezbollah, and engaging Latin American governments to strengthen their legislative tools against terrorism financing. A key diplomatic objective is to persuade allies in Latin America to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, using Argentina's model as a blueprint. A core provision requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with other federal agencies, to conduct an assessment within 180 days to determine if any country, region, or jurisdiction in Latin America meets the definition of a "terrorist sanctuary." This assessment will consider the extent to which Hezbollah or other foreign terrorist organizations operate freely, raise funds, recruit, or obtain safe haven, and whether the host government has knowingly tolerated or failed to address these activities. Based on these determinations, the President may impose sanctions, including the revocation of visas and inadmissibility to the United States, for foreign government officials from designated terrorist sanctuaries. The Act includes provisions for waivers of these sanctions, allowing the President to grant exceptions for national security interests or to comply with international obligations, with required reporting to congressional committees. Sanctions can also be terminated if the individual ceases the sanctioned activity or if it is in the U.S. national security interest. All sanctions imposed under this Act are set to terminate five years after its enactment, providing a defined period for these measures.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mar 27, 2025
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Apr 28, 2025
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Apr 28, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 53.
May 8, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3315
Introduced in House
  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 4, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • March 27, 2025
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • April 28, 2025
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • April 28, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 53.


  • May 8, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3315
    Introduced in House

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3315: No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightCriminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of StateDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadForeign propertyIranLatin AmericaLebanonMiddle EastPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsSanctionsTerrorismVisas and passports

No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act

USA119th CongressS-842| Senate 
| Updated: 4/28/2025
The "No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act" addresses the growing presence and activities of Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Latin America. Congress finds that Hezbollah's networks are expanding with impunity, engaging in criminal activities like money laundering and sophisticated smuggling operations, often with support from authoritarian regimes in the region. A significant concern highlighted is that most Latin American countries have not designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, which limits local authorities' ability to monitor or prosecute its operatives effectively. The bill expresses a Sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should pursue aggressive efforts against Iranian proxy networks in the Western Hemisphere. This includes demanding an end to impunity for designated individuals and entities, working with international forums like the Financial Action Task Force to "greylist" government entities that cooperate with Hezbollah, and engaging Latin American governments to strengthen their legislative tools against terrorism financing. A key diplomatic objective is to persuade allies in Latin America to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, using Argentina's model as a blueprint. A core provision requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with other federal agencies, to conduct an assessment within 180 days to determine if any country, region, or jurisdiction in Latin America meets the definition of a "terrorist sanctuary." This assessment will consider the extent to which Hezbollah or other foreign terrorist organizations operate freely, raise funds, recruit, or obtain safe haven, and whether the host government has knowingly tolerated or failed to address these activities. Based on these determinations, the President may impose sanctions, including the revocation of visas and inadmissibility to the United States, for foreign government officials from designated terrorist sanctuaries. The Act includes provisions for waivers of these sanctions, allowing the President to grant exceptions for national security interests or to comply with international obligations, with required reporting to congressional committees. Sanctions can also be terminated if the individual ceases the sanctioned activity or if it is in the U.S. national security interest. All sanctions imposed under this Act are set to terminate five years after its enactment, providing a defined period for these measures.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mar 27, 2025
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Apr 28, 2025
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Apr 28, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 53.
May 8, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3315
Introduced in House
  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 4, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.


  • March 27, 2025
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • April 28, 2025
    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • April 28, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 53.


  • May 8, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3315
    Introduced in House
John R. Curtis

John R. Curtis

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (1)
Jacky Rosen (Democratic)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3315: No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightCriminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of StateDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadForeign propertyIranLatin AmericaLebanonMiddle EastPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsSanctionsTerrorismVisas and passports