Standing With Israel Against Iranian Aggression   

On April 13, Iran launched a direct attack on the state of Israel, firing over 300 missiles and drones at the nation – the first time Iran has ever directly attacked Israel, a marked escalation from their reliance on terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Israeli and American forces, along with other allies, shot down 99 percent of the missiles launched by Iran; however, 12 people were treated at a hospital after the attack and Iran continues to threaten Israel with “a decisive and much stronger response.”
This direct attack follows the barbaric October 7th terrorist attacks perpetrated by Iran-backed Hamas that claimed the lives of over 1,200 innocent Israeli civilians and took more than 240 hostage – the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Israel is a great ally and friend of the United States, and our partnership in combating terrorism is crucial to the national security of both nations. It is vital that we stand by Israel and support them in their efforts to ensure the safety of their people. Israel has every right to defend itself and respond strongly to this unjustified attack to show Iran there will be consequences for their evil actions.

Unfortunately, President Biden’s appeasement of Iran and failure to support Israel has emboldened more Iranian and terrorist aggression against our ally. After the direct attack yesterday, President Biden reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States would not support an Israeli counterattack on Iran, refusing to have our ally’s back. Additionally, the President has repeatedly waived and failed to enforce sanctions against Iran, granting them access to revenue which Iran turns around and gives to terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. 
While the White House teeters and displays weakness against our adversaries on the world stage, House Republicans are unwavering in our support of Israel. Last year, we passed a supplemental bill to aid Israel and support our ally – but the Senate refused to take it to the floor for a vote. This week, we’re bringing several measures to demonstrate our support of Israel and take action against Iran.

These bills, combined with other House-passed legislation that Leader Schumer has refused to take up in the Senate, represent a comprehensive response to the Iranian threat by supporting Israel’s response to the attack and sanctioning Iran’s leaders, cutting off their revenue sources, and targeting their partners and terrorist proxies.

H.R. 6046, the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde, redesignates the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization after the Biden Administration removed them from the list.

H. Res. ___, introduced by Rep. Tom Kean, stands with Israel and supports their right to respond to Iranian aggression and deter future aggression.

H.R. 6323, the Iran Counterterrorism Act, introduced by Rep. Young Kim, requires Iran to cease support for acts of international terrorism as a condition for the President to waive secondary sanctions and provides for a congressional review process for national security interest waivers of these sanctions.

H.R. 3033, the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act, introduced by Rep. Michelle Steel, repeals the sunset provision in the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act, which serves as the foundation for U.S. sanctions on Iran.

H.R. 4691, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act, introduced by Rep. Keith Self, provides for tighter congressional oversight of any Administration attempt to weaken sanctions imposed on Iran.

H.R. 5947, introduced by Rep. August Pfluger, ensures Iran cannot gain access to funds that could be used to support terrorism, including funding the Biden Administration has tried to make available to the Iranian regime.

H.R. 6603, the No Technology for Terror Act, introduced by Rep. Nathaniel Moran, further restricts the export or re-export of U.S.goods and technology to Iran, including those used to manufacture the missiles and drones attacking our forces across the Middle East.

H. Res. 883, introduced by Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the slogan, ‘‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’’ is antisemitic and its use must be condemned.

H.R. 5917, the Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Gallagher, strengthens the 2018 Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act by adding Palestinian Islamic Jihad as a covered entity, providing new authorities holding accountable those who use human shields, and reauthorizing the law through 2030.

H.R. 5826, the No Paydays to Hostage Takers Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson, deters the government of Iran and others from taking U.S. hostages by imposing sanctions and strict penalties. 

H.R. 4681, the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act, introduced by Rep. French Hill, requires the President to impose sanctions on foreigners that engage in activities or transactions that advance the illicit production and proliferation of captagon, and requires the President to report to Congress on whether certain Syrian and Hezbollah leaders meet that criteria.

H.R. 5921, the No U.S. Financing for Iran Act, introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga, stems resources available to Iran by prohibiting the Treasury from issuing any licenses authorizing a U.S. financial institution to engage in transactions for trade with Iran, other than humanitarian aid benefitting Iranian citizens. The bill also requires the Secretary to oppose IMF assistance to Iran and to ensure that IMF members do not exchange SDRs held by Iran.

H.R. 5923, the Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act of 2023, introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler, expands the secondary sanctions regime involving Iran to include all transactions between Chinese financial institutions and sanctioned Iranian banks that handle the purchase of petroleum and petroleum products, and requires an annual determination of whether Chinese financial institutions have engaged in sanctionable conduct.

H.R. 6245, the Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act, introduced by Rep. French Hill, brings transparency to terrorist financing by requiring the President to report on, and subsequently publish, the assets of certain Iranian government officials and terrorist leaders and seek closure of the U.S. and foreign financial institution accounts connected with the assets.

H.R. 6015, the Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023, introduced by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, requires the President to issue regulations to ensure that humanitarian exemptions involving Iran sanctions do not facilitate acts of international terrorism or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

H.R. 6408, introduced by Rep. David Kustoff, suspends the tax exempt status for non-profits that have provided material support to terrorist organizations like Hamas.

H. Res. 288, the Encouraging the EU to DESIGNATE Resolution, introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney, encourages the European Union to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, as the U.S. already has.

House Republicans will always stand with Israel.