Track Legislation

MyGov365's intelligent legislation tracking engine makes it really easy to stay on top of bills as they move through their life cycle. Did the bill pass? Did it fail? Is it in committee? Who is sponsoring it?

Always know. Click track. Get updates. It's that simple.

Vote... Comment... Let Your Voice Be Heard

Now that you are a bill tracking whiz, let's take some action. If you were an elected official, how would you vote? What would you say?

Your input is critical to creating more relevant legislative decisions. So don't be shy. Speak up and vote.

Let's Get the Civic Party Started... Take a Tour

Already a user? Login now.

H.R. 1905

12/14/2011--Passed House amended. Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011 - Title I: Iran Energy Sanctions -

(Sec. 102) Expresses the sense of Congress that compelling Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and other threatening activities can be achieved most effectively through full implementation of all enacted sanctions.

(Sec. 103) Declares that: (1) it is U.S. policy to deny Iran the ability to support acts of foreign terrorist organizations and develop unconventional weapons and ballistic missiles, and (2) a means of achieving such policy is through sanctions that limit Iran's ability to develop its energy resources.

(Sec. 104) Urges the President to initiate diplomatic efforts to expand the multilateral sanctions regime regarding Iran. Directs the President to submit related reports to Congress. Directs the President to initiate an investigation into the possible imposition of sanctions upon receipt of credible information that a person is engaged in a sanctionable activity under this Act.

(Sec. 105) Directs the President to impose specified sanctions on a person who knowingly: (1) makes specified investments with respect to Iran's ability to develop petroleum resources; (2) sells, leases, or provides to Iran goods, services, technology, information, or support that could facilitate Iran's domestic production of refined petroleum products; (3) sells or provides to Iran refined petroleum products, or provides goods, services, technology, information, or support that could contribute to Iran's ability to import refined petroleum products; (4) facilitates the issuance of sovereign debt of the government of Iran, including governmental bonds, or debt of any entity owned or controlled by the government of Iran, including bonds; or (5) exports or otherwise facilitates transshipment to Iran of any goods, services, technology, or other items that would contribute to Iran's ability to acquire or develop chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, or acquire or develop destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons. Prohibits: (1) in the case of a person sanctioned for weapons-related violations, issuance of an export license; and (2) approval for the transfer or retransfer to the country which has primary jurisdiction over such person of any nuclear material, facilities, components, or other goods, services, or technology that would be subject to an agreement for cooperation between the United States and such government. Sets forth exceptions to such prohibitions. Sets forth exceptions to sanctions for: (1) the procurement of certain defense articles or services; (2) eligible products to designated countries or instrumentalities; (3) products, technology, or services under contracts entered into before the date on which the President publishes in the Federal Register the name of the person on which the sanctions are to be imposed; (4) spare or component parts, or information and technology that are essential to U.S. products or production, and related servicing and maintenance; or (5) medicines, medical supplies, or other humanitarian items.

(Sec. 106) Defines sanctions to include: (1) prohibitions on Export-Import Bank assistance, (2) prohibitions on loans from U.S. financial institutions and other financial services, (3) prohibitions on foreign exchange and other banking transactions, (4) prohibitions on property transactions, (5) export and procurement sanctions, (6) sanctions on principal executive officers, and (7) denial of U.S visas or entry to corporate principals and their spouses and minor children. Requires: (1) a federal contractor to certify that a person, and any person owned or controlled by such person, does not engage in any sanctionable activity; and (2) the head of an executive agency to terminate a contract or disbar from federal contract eligibility for at least two years a person who submits a false certification.

(Sec. 107) Authorizes: (1) the Secretary of State to issue upon request an advisory opinion with respect to whether a proposed activity would be sanctionable, and (2) a person to rely in good faith on such opinion and proceed without being subject to sanctions.

(Sec. 108) Terminates sanctions if the President certifies to Congress that Iran: (1) has ceased efforts to develop or acquire a nuclear explosive device, chemical and biological weapons, and ballistic missiles; (2) no longer supports international terrorism; and (3) poses no threat to U.S. national security, interests, or allies.

(Sec. 109) Imposes sanctions under this Act for at least two years. Authorizes the President to terminate sanctions after one year if the sanctioned person is no longer engaging in a sanctionable activity and the President has received reliable assurances that the person will not knowingly engage in such future activity. Authorizes the President to waive certain sanctions for up to 12 months if the government with primary jurisdiction over the person subject to sanctions is cooperating with the United States to prevent Iran from: (1) acquiring or developing chemical, biological, nuclear weapons, or destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons; and (2) such waiver is vital to the national security interests of the United States.

(Sec. 110) Sets forth reporting requirements regarding: (1) global trade with Iran, (2) Iran's nuclear and military capacities, (3) Iran's support for international terrorism, (4) the effectiveness of trade-related actions under this title in achieving U.S. objectives regarding Iran, and (5) efforts to persuade other countries to pressure Iran to cease its weapons programs and support of international terrorism.

(Sec. 111) States that a determination to impose sanctions under this Act shall not be reviewable in any court.

(Sec. 114) Repeals The Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. Title II: Iran Freedom Support -

(Sec. 201) States that specified sanctions regarding Iran shall remain in effect until the President certifies to Congress that the government of Iran has: (1) dismantled its nuclear weapons, biological and chemical weapons, and ballistic missile development programs; and (2) ceased its support for international terrorism.

(Sec. 202) Subjects a U.S. person (person or entity) to a penalty for a violation of a prohibition on transactions with Iran if the President determines that a subsidiary of such U.S. person that is established or maintained outside the United States engages in an act that, if committed in the United States or by a U.S. person, would violate such provisions.

(Sec. 203) States that it shall be U.S. policy to support those individuals in Iran seeking a free, democratic government that respects the rule of law and protects the rights of all citizens.

(Sec. 204) Authorizes the President to provide financial and political assistance to certain foreign and domestic individuals, organizations, and entities that support democracy in Iran. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) contacts should be expanded with certain opposition groups in Iran; and (2) U.S. officials should support indigenous efforts in Iran calling for free elections, and draw international attention to Iranian violations of human rights, and freedoms of religion, assembly, and the press.

(Sec. 205) Imposes visa, property, and financial sanctions on persons identified by the President in a report to Congress as senior officials of the government of Iran, security services, or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who were complicit in the commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Iran or their family members on or after June 12, 2009, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Iran. Terminates such sanctions when the President certifies to Congress that the government of Iran has: (1) released all political prisoners, including Iranian citizens detained in the aftermath of the June 12, 2009, presidential election; (2) ceased its practices of violence and abuse of Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity; (3) conducted a transparent investigation into the killings and arrests that occurred in the aftermath of such election and prosecuted the responsible individuals; and (4) established an independent judiciary and is respecting human rights and basic freedoms.

(Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary of State to issue, and periodically review, guidelines to further describe the goods, services, and technologies that will be considered sensitive technologies for purposes of the prohibition on procurement contracts with persons that export sensitive technology to Iran.

(Sec. 207) Directs the Secretary of State to submit an annual comprehensive strategy to Congress regarding the promotion of Internet freedom and information access in Iran. Title III: Iran Regime and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Accountability -

(Sec. 301) Prohibits any U.S. person from knowingly conducting any commercial transaction or financial transaction with, or investing in: (1) any IRGC-owned or controlled person, entity instrumentality, affiliate, activity, or business; or (2) any foreign person or foreign entity that conducts any transaction with, or makes any investment with, the IRGC which, if conducted or made by a U.S. person, would constitute a violation of clause (1). Subjects violators of such prohibitions to specified criminal penalties.

(Sec. 302) Prohibits: (1) the issuance of, and invalidates existing, licenses to export or reexport goods, services, or technology for the maintenance of U.S.-origin aircraft to Iran; and (2) export or reexport of such goods, services, or technology to Iran.

(Sec. 303) Directs the President to: (1) identify, and designate if not already designated, as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction (Annex to Executive Order No. 13382), each foreign person or foreign entity for which there is a reasonable basis for determining that the person or entity is an agent, front, instrumentality, official, or affiliate of the IRGC or is an IRGC representative; and (2) apply specified property sanctions to such person or entity. Gives priority to investigations of specified sensitive transactions. Denies U.S visas or entry to persons designated for inclusion in the Annex.

(Sec. 304) Directs the President to notify Congress if there is credible information that a foreign person or foreign entity knowingly: (1) provides material support to the IRGC or a representative, or an IRGC agent, front, instrumentality, official, or affiliate; or (2) conducts any commercial transaction or financial transaction with the IRGC or any such person or entity. Sets forth mandatory and discretionary measures to be taken against a foreign person or entity that provides material support to the IRGC.

(Sec. 305) Directs the President to apply additional foreign assistance, financial, and defense and security export sanctions if an entity supporting the IRGC is an agency of a foreign government.

(Sec. 306) Authorizes a state or local government to adopt measures to prohibit the state or local government from entering into or renewing any contract with, or granting to or renewing any license for, persons that conduct business operations in Iran described in section 309 of this Act.

(Sec. 307) Freezes all U.S. property assets of foreign persons described in Executive Order No. 13382 and Executive Order No. 13224 determined by the Secretary of State to: (1) have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, acts of violence that threaten U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan; (2) have knowingly assisted or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such violence or any person or entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this section; or (3) be owned or controlled by, or to have acted for or on behalf of any person whose property and interests in property are so blocked. States that it is U.S. policy to urge the government of Iraq to not close Camp Ashraf until the United Nations (U.N.) can complete its process, recognize as political refugees the residents of Camp Ashraf who do not wish to go back to Iran, and resettle them in third countries.

(Sec. 308) Directs the President to: (1) develop a National Strategy to Counter Iran, and (2) report annually to Congress regarding current and future U.S. strategy regarding Iran. Title IV: Iran Financial Sanctions: Divestment from Certain Companies that Invest in Iran; and Prevention of Diversion of Certain Goods, Services, and Technologies to Iran -

(Sec. 401) Amends the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to require any person owned or controlled by a domestic financial institution to certify that such person is not engaged in corresponding relations or business activity with the IRGC. Requires a report on the Central Bank of Iran's activities to: (1) facilitate Iran's efforts to acquire or develop chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, or missiles or destabilizing types and amounts of conventional weapons; or (2) provide financial services for the IRGC or to support international terrorism. Directs the President to impose specified sanctions on the Bank if it has engaged in such activities.

(Sec. 402) States that titles II (divestment from certain companies investing in Iran) and III (prevention of diversion of certain goods, technologies, and services to Iran) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 shall remain in effect until the President makes the certification in section 606 of this Act. Title V: Securities and Exchange Commission -

(Sec. 501) Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require securities issuers to disclose quarterly to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whether they or their affiliates have: (1) engaged in a sanctionable activity under section 105 of this Act; (2) knowingly engaged in specified activities, or knowingly violated certain regulations prescribed under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010; (3) knowingly conducted any transaction or dealing with a person whose property and interests in property are blocked by certain Executive Orders; or (4) knowingly conducted a transaction or dealing with any person listed in the Iranian Transactions Regulations. Requires the President to: (1) initiate an investigation into the possible imposition of sanctions when the SEC receives a report that an issuer or its affiliate has engaged in the cited activities, and (2) determine whether sanctions should be imposed on the issuer or the affiliate concerned. Title VI: General Provisions -

(Sec. 601) States that, except to meet U.S. international obligations, the Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) shall exclude from U.S. entry, a person who: (1) is an agent, official, or a representative of the government of Iran; and (2) presents a threat to the United States or is affiliated with terrorist organizations. Restricts: (1) the movement of such persons in the United States, and (2) U.S. government employee contact with such persons.

(Sec. 602) Amends the the Immigration and Nationality Act to make ineligible for a visa or admission an alien who: (1) engages in certain sanctionable activities regarding Iran, including weapons proliferation or support for international terrorism; (2) is in charge of overall management of an entity that engages in such activity; or (3) is the spouse or minor child of such alien.

(Sec. 603) Amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act with respect to violations of any license, order, regulation, or prohibition relating to national security, foreign policy, or the economy of the United States to: (1) provide criminal fines for a person other than a natural person, and (2) revise the civil penalty to be not less than twice the value of the transaction that is the basis of the violation.

(Sec. 604) States that nothing in this Act shall apply to: (1) activities subject to the reporting requirements of title V of the National Security Act of 1947, or (2) specified natural gas development and pipeline projects.

(Sec. 606) Terminates the provisions of this Act when the President certifies to Congress that Iran: (1) has dismantled its efforts to develop or acquire nuclear, chemical, biological, and ballistic missile weapons; (2) no longer provides support for acts of international terrorism; and (3) poses no threat to U.S. national security, interests, or allies.