,,ii #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cbhe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #f1 #bjaf ,mr4 ,rubio 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kirk1 ,ms4 ,ayotte1 ,mr4 ,cornyn1 ,mr4 ,barrasso1 ,mrs4 ,capito1 ,mr4 ,scott1 ,mr4 ,burr1 ,mr4 ,johnson1 ,mrs4 ,fischer1 ,mr4 ,cotton1 ,mr4 ,perdue1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,isakson1 ,mr4 ,risch1 ,mr4 ,heller1 ,mr4 ,gardner1 ,mr4 ,inhofe1 ,mr4 ,sessions1 and ,mr4 ,daines7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to prohibit the ,president from using funds appropriated under section #acjd of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 to make payments to ,iran1 to impose sanctions with respect to ,iranian persons that hold or detain ,united ,states citizens1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,no ,ransom ,payments ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,as of ,august #h1 #bjaf1 ,united ,states courts had awarded more than #ee1jjj1jjj1jjj in terrorism-related judgments against ,iran to plaintiffs under the terrorism exception to the jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state under section #afje;,a of title #bh1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,such judgments against ,iran include judgments relating to ,iran's involvement in the #aihc ,marine barracks bombing in ,lebanon1 a hostage-taking in ,lebanon in #aihd1 a #aiij assassination in ,new ,york ,city1 the #aiif ,khobar ,towers attack1 the #aiih attacks on two ,united ,states ,embassies in ,africa1 and various terrorist bombings in ,jerusalem4 7#c7 ,on ,november #d1 #aigi1 more than #fj ,americans were captured at the ,united ,states ,embassy in ,tehran4 ,fifty-two ,americans were held hostage by the ,islamic ,republic of ,iran for #ddd days4 ,on ,december #ah1 #bjae1 ,president ,barack ,obama signed into law the ,justice for ,united ,states ,victims of ,state ,sponsored ,terrorism ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfji7 and established the ,united ,states ,victims of ,state ,sponsored ,terrorism ,fund to compensate ,united ,states victims of terrorism who either hold a final judgment issued against a state sponsor of terrorism under the terrorism exception to the ,foreign ,sovereign ,immunities ,act1 or were taken hostage from the ,united ,states ,embassy in ,tehran1 ,iran1 in #aigi1 or are a spouse or child of someone who was taken hostage4 ,as of ,august #h1 #bjaf1 the ,united ,states ,government has failed to provide any of the compensation authorized under the ,justice for ,united ,states ,victims of ,state ,sponsored ,terrorism ,act4 7#d7 ,on ,january #ag1 #bjaf1 ,president ,barack ,obama announced that #d ,united ,states citizens 7,jason ,rezaian1 ,saeed ,abedini1 ,amir ,hekmati1 and ,nosratollah ,khosravi-,roodsari7 unjustly held by ,iran and one ,united ,states citizen 7,matthew ,trevithick7 who had been detained by ,iran1 but not charged1 had been released in exchange for the release of #g ,iranian nationals jailed or facing charges in the ,united ,states and that the ,united ,states dropped its request with ,interpol relating to #ad ,iranian nationals4 ,at the same time the ,united ,states announced a settlement of an ,iranian claim for #a1gjj1jjj1jjj1 consisting of #djj1jjj1jjj held in a foreign military sales account since the #aigi ,iranian revolution and a settlement of #a1cjj1jjj1jjj in interest4 7#e7 ,on ,april #e1 #bjaf1 ,white ,house ,spokesperson ,josh ,earnest1 in response to a question from a reporter about whether the ,obama administration misled ,congress about the ,iran deal1 stated3 ,i don't think there's any evidence to substantiate that kind of claim ''' ,i think you should take a rather dim view of that suggestion because ,congressman ,pompeo ''' didn't approve the deal and certainly didn't vote in favor of it44 7#f7 ,on ,june #i1 #bjaf1 ,bloomberg ,news reported that ,iran instructed its ,central ,bank to transfer #a1gjj1jjj1jjj to the military of ,iran1 probably a reference to the payment described in paragraph 7#d74 ,overall1 ,iran's military budget for #bjag increased to #ai1jjj1jjj1jjj1 an increase of #ij percent from #bjaf4 7#g7 ,on ,august #c1 #bjaf1 the ,wall ,street ,journal reported that the ,united ,states had airlifted #djj1jjj1jjj in cash to ,iran in wooden pallets with euros1 ,swiss francs1 and other currencies in an unmarked cargo plane1 which was later clarified to reportedly be an ,iran ,air cargo plane4 ,the report stated that the money came from the central banks of the ,netherlands and ,switzerland4 7#h7 ,on ,august #d1 #bjaf1 ,saeed ,abedini said in an interview on ,,fox ,business ,network that the hostages had to wait overnight at the airport because they were unable to leave until another plane arrived in ,iran2 the hostages left on a plane that had been at the airport the entire time4 7#i7 ,general ,mohammad ,reza ,naghdi1 a commander in the ,islamic ,revolutionary ,guard ,corps1 stated that taking this money back was in return for the release of the ,american spies4 7#aj7 ,on ,august #c1 #bjaf1 ,state ,department ,deputy ,spokesperson ,mark ,toner stated that there was no quid pro quo in reaction to a question regarding the statement in paragraph 7#h74 7#aa7 ,on ,august #c1 #bjaf1 ,white ,house ,spokesperson ,josh ,earnest stated ,a week delay in sequencing the payments to not be perceived as a quid pro quo would not have prevented ,speaker ,paul ,ryan and ,senator ,marco ,rubio from falsely claiming that they're a ransom44 ,at the same press conference1 ,earnest stated ,so it sounds to me like ,ryan and ,rubio are once again in a position where they're making the same argument as hardliners in ,iran in an effort to undermine the ,iran nuclear agreement4 ,the ,president made clear a year ago that right-wingers in the ,united ,states were making common cause with right-wingers in the ,iranian government4 ,and1 again1 if they're doing it again to try to justify their opposition to an agreement that has benefitted the ,american people1 they can do that1 but ,i think that's going to be pretty hard for them to explain4 ,maybe there's another letter from ,senator ,cotton to the ,supreme ,leader we don't know about44 7#ab7 ,on ,august #d1 #bjaf1 ,state ,department ,deputy ,spokesperson ,mark ,toner stated ,the idea that this was all orchestrated as part of some kind of quid pro quo is just not accurate ''' ,i recognize1 ,i can see1 the optics of this and that people would draw assumptions4 ,people do4 ,we can't keep them from doing so1 but it's just not true that there's any linkage44 7#ac7 ,on ,august #ah1 #bjaf1 ,state ,department ,spokesperson ,john ,kirby1 in response to a question on whether the ,united ,states ,government would not give ,iran the #djj1jjj1jjj in cash until the ,united ,states citizens were released stated that's correct4 7#ad7 ,on ,june #bd1 #bjae1 ,president ,barack ,obama issued a ,presidential ,policy ,directive on ,hostage ,recovery ,activities 7referred to as ,,ppd #cj71 which states3 ,the ,united ,states will use every appropriate resource to gain the safe return of ,u4,s4 nationals who are held hostage4 ,but the ,united ,states ,government will make no concessions to individuals or groups holding ,u4,s4 nationals hostage4 ,it is ,united ,states policy to deny hostage-takers the benefits of ransom1 prisoner releases1 policy changes1 or other acts of concession4 ,this policy protects ,u4,s4 nationals and strengthens national security by removing a key incentive for hostage-takers to target ,u4,s4 nationals1 thereby interrupting the vicious cycle of hostage-takings1 and by helping to deny terrorists and other malicious actors the money1 personnel1 and other resources they need to conduct attacks against the ,united ,states1 its nationals1 and its interests44 7#ae7 ,on ,january #bg1 #bjad1 the ,united ,nations ,security ,council unanimously adopted ,resolution #bacc1 which calls upon all ,member ,states to prevent terrorists from benefiting directly or indirectly from ransom payments or from political considerations and to secure the safe release of hostages4 7#af7 ,on ,may #ag1 #bjaf1 in a #f-b decision1 the ,united ,states ,supreme ,court rejected a challenge by the ,central ,bank of ,iran to invalidate section #ejb of the ,iran ,threat ,reduction and ,syria ,human ,rights ,act of #bjab 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #hggb71 which makes ,iran's bonds frozen in a ,new ,york account available to enforce terrorism judgments4 7#ag7 ,as of ,august #h1 #bjaf1 ,iran has illegally detained three dual ,iranian-,american citizens1 ,siamak ,namazi1 his father ,baquer1 and ,reza ,robin ,shahini4 7#ah7 ,robert ,levinson1 a ,united ,states citizen1 disappeared on ,march #i1 #bjjg1 after traveling to ,kish ,island1 ,iran1 and is the longest held ,united ,states civilian in the history of the ,united ,states and ,iran has not abided by the repeated pledges by and renewed commitment of officials of the ,government of ,iran to provide their ,government's assistance in the case of ,robert ,levinson4 #c4 ,policy of the ,united ,states ,it shall be the policy of the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 to ensure that all outstanding judgments awarded to ,united ,states plaintiffs by ,united ,states courts against ,iran have been settled before or concurrent with a settlement of ,iran's claims against the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 to prohibit hostage-takers from the benefits of ransom by ensuring that the ,united ,states ,government does not pay ransom to a person or government for the purpose of securing the release of unjustly detained ,united ,states citizens1 including citizens who are also citizens of other countries4 #d4 ,prohibition on payments to ,iran with funds appropriated for the payment of final judgments 7a7 ,in general ,on and after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president may not pay final judgments1 awards1 or compromise settlements1 or interest or costs relating to such judgments1 awards1 or settlements1 to ,iran using amounts appropriated under section #acjd of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 or interest accrued on such amounts4 7b7 ,termination ,the prohibition under subsection 7a7 shall remain in effect until the date on which the ,president certifies to ,congress that-- 7#a7 ,iran has returned to the ,united ,states any money paid to ,iran after ,january #a1 #bjaf1 from amounts appropriated under section #acjd of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#b7 ,iran has satisfied all outstanding judgments against ,iran awarded to ,united ,states plaintiffs by ,united ,states courts2 and 7#c7 individuals taken hostage and held for #ddd days following the seizure of the ,united ,states ,embassy in ,iran on ,november #d1 #aigi1 have been compensated from the ,united ,states ,victims of ,state ,sponsored ,terrorism ,fund established under the ,justice for ,united ,states ,victims of ,state ,sponsored ,terrorism ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfji74 #e4 ,certification required to provide funds to ,iran and report on funds provided to ,iran 7a7 ,certification ,before the ,president may provide or authorize payment of any funds to ,iran on or after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees that-- 7#a7 the funds will not be used by ,iran to engage in or provide support for acts of international terrorism2 and 7#b7 ,iran or groups supported by ,iran are not unjustly detaining ,united ,states citizens1 including ,united ,states citizens who are also citizens of other countries4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of ,national ,intelligence shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on whether funds paid to ,iran by the ,united ,states after ,january #a1 #bjaf1 have been used by ,iran to engage in or provide support for acts of international terrorism4 7c7 ,appropriate congressional committees defined ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations1 the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs1 the ,committee on the ,judiciary1 and the ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,senate2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 the ,committee on ,financial ,services1 the ,committee on the ,judiciary1 and the ,permanent ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,house of ,representatives4 #f4 ,sanctions with respect to ,iranian persons that hold or detain ,united ,states citizens 7a7 ,imposition of sanctions ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall impose the sanctions described in subsection 7b7 with respect to-- 7#a7 any ,iranian person involved in the kidnapping or unjust detention of a ,united ,states citizen on or after ,march #i1 #bjjg1 including a ,united ,states citizen who is also a citizen of another country2 7#b7 any ,iranian person that engages1 or attempts to engage1 in an activity or transaction that materially contributes to1 or poses a risk of materially contributing to1 kidnapping or unjust detention described in paragraph 7#a72 and 7#c7 any ,iranian person that-- 7,a7 is owned or controlled by a person described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b72 7,b7 is acting for or on behalf of such a person2 or 7,c7 provides1 or attempts to provide-- 7i7 financial1 material1 technological1 or other support to a person described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b72 or 7ii7 goods or services in support of an activity or transaction described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b74 7b7 ,sanctions described 7#a7 ,blocking of property ,the ,president shall block1 in accordance with the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq471 all transactions in all property and interests in property of any person subject to subsection 7a7 if such property and interests in property are in the ,united ,states1 come within the ,united ,states1 or are or come within the possession or control of a ,united ,states person4 7#b7 ,exclusion from ,united ,states ,the ,secretary of ,state shall deny a visa to1 and the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall exclude from the ,united ,states1 any person subject to subsection 7a7 that is an alien4 7#c7 ,current visa revoked ,the issuing consular officer1 the ,secretary of ,state1 or the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security 7or a designee of one of such ,secretaries7 shall revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to any person subject to subsection 7a7 that is an alien1 regardless of when issued4 ,the revocation shall take effect immediately and shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the possession of the alien4 7c7 ,exceptions2 penalties 7#a7 ,inapplicability of national emergency requirement ,the requirements of section #bjb of the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja7 shall not apply for purposes of subsection 7b77#a74 7#b7 ,compliance with ,united ,nations headquarters agreement ,paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of subsection 7b7 shall not apply if admission to the ,united ,states is necessary to permit the ,united ,states to comply with the ,agreement regarding the ,headquarters of the ,united ,nations1 signed at ,lake ,success ,june #bf1 #aidg1 and entered into force ,november #ba1 #aidg1 between the ,united ,nations and the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,penalties ,the penalties provided for in subsections 7b7 and 7c7 of section #bjf of the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agje7 shall apply to a person that violates1 attempts to violate1 conspires to violate1 or causes a violation of regulations prescribed under subsection 7b77#a7 to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection 7a7 of such section #bjf4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,entity ,the term entity means a corporation1 business association1 partnership1 trust1 society1 or any other entity4 7#b7 ,iranian person ,the term ,iranian person means-- 7,a7 an individual who is a citizen or national of the ,islamic ,republic of ,iran2 or 7,b7 an entity organized under the laws of the ,islamic ,republic of ,iran or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the ,government of the ,islamic ,republic of ,iran4 7#c7 ,person ,the term person means an individual or entity4 7#d7 ,united ,states person ,the term ,united ,states person means-- 7,a7 a ,united ,states citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the ,united ,states2 or 7,b7 an entity organized under the laws of the ,united ,states or of any jurisdiction within the ,united ,states1 including a foreign branch of such an entity4 #g4 ,prohibition on ,united ,states ,government payment of ransom 7a7 ,in general ,except as provided by subsection 7b71 the ,president and all officers of the ,united ,states ,government shall not make a payment to a government or person for the purpose of securing the release of unjustly detained ,united ,states citizens1 including ,united ,states citizens who are also citizens of other countries4 7b7 ,exception ,the prohibition under subsection 7a7 does not prohibit the ,united ,states ,government from providing assistance to ,united ,states citizens that have been arrested4 7c7 ,enforcement ,the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state and the ,attorney ,general1 may take such actions1 including the promulgation of such rules and regulations1 as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,entity ,the term entity means a corporation1 business association1 partnership1 trust1 society1 or any other entity4 7#b7 ,person ,the term person means an individual or entity4 #h4 ,prohibition of judgment fund payments to state sponsors of terrorism 7a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subsection 7b71 the ,president and any officer of the ,united ,states ,government may not use amounts appropriated under section #acjd of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 or interest accrued on such amounts1 to make any payment to a state sponsor of acts of international terrorism4 7b7 ,waiver 7#a7 ,in general ,the prohibition set forth in subsection 7a7 shall not apply to a specific payment or a specific payee if ,congress has passed a joint resolution waiving the application of such prohibition to such payment or payee in accordance with paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,referral 7,a7 ,senate ,a joint resolution that is introduced in the ,senate shall be referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,house of ,representatives ,a joint resolution that is introduced in the ,house of ,representatives shall be referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,discharge ,if the committee to which a joint resolution is referred does not report such resolution 7or an identical resolution7 by the end of the #bj-;day period beginning on the date on which the ,president submits a request described in subsection 7d77#a77;,a7 to ,congress-- 7,a7 such committee shall be immediately discharged from further consideration of such resolution2 and 7,b7 such resolution shall be placed on the appropriate calendar of the ,house involved4 7#d7 ,consideration 7,a7 ,in general ,on or after the third day after the date on which the committee to which a joint resolution is referred has reported the resolution1 or the date on which the committee has been discharged under paragraph 7#c7 from further consideration of the resolution1 it is in order for any ,member of the respective ,house to move to proceed to the consideration of the resolution if such ,member announced on a previous day to the ,house concerned the ,member's intention to do so4 7,b7 ,points of order ,all points of order against the joint resolution or against the consideration of the resolution are waived4 7,c7 ,effect of motion ,a motion described in subparagraph 7,a7 is highly privileged in the ,house of ,representatives and is privileged in the ,senate and is not debatable4 ,the motion is not subject to amendment1 or to a motion to postpone1 or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business4 ,a motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order4 ,if a motion to proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution is agreed to1 the respective ,house shall immediately proceed to consideration of the resolution without intervening motion1 order1 or other business1 and the resolution shall remain the unfinished business of the respective ,house until disposed4 7,d7 ,debate ,debate on the joint resolution1 and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection with the resolution1 shall be limited to not more than #b hours1 which shall be divided equally between those favoring and those opposing the resolution4 ,an amendment to the resolution is not in order4 ,a motion further to limit debate is in order and not debatable4 ,a motion to postpone1 or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business1 or a motion to recommit the resolution is not in order4 ,a motion to reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed to or disagreed to is not in order4 7,e7 ,final vote ,immediately following the conclusion of the debate on the joint resolution and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the appropriate ,house1 the vote on final passage of the resolution shall occur4 ,in the ,senate1 adoption of the joint resolution requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of ,senators1 duly chosen and sworn4 7,f7 ,appeals ,appeals from the decisions of the ,chair relating to the application of the rules of the ,senate or the ,house of ,representatives to the procedure relating to the joint resolution shall be decided without debate4 7,g7 ,consideration by other house 7i7 ,in general ,if1 before the passage by one ,house of a joint resolution of that ,house1 that ,house receives a joint resolution from the other ,house1 the following procedures shall apply3 7,i7 ,the resolution of the other ,house shall not be referred to a committee and may not be considered in the ,house receiving it except in the case of final passage under subclause 7,,ii77bb74 7,,ii7 ,with respect to a joint resolution of the ,house receiving the resolution-- 7aa7 the procedure in that ,house shall be the same as if no resolution had been received from the other ,house2 and 7bb7 the vote on final passage shall be on the resolution of the other ,house4 7ii7 ,effect on remaining joint resolution ,upon disposition of the resolution received from the other ,house1 it shall no longer be in order to consider the resolution that originated in the receiving ,house4 7c7 ,rules of the ,senate and the ,house of ,representatives ,this section is enacted by ,congress-- 7#a7 as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the ,senate and the ,house of ,representatives1 respectively2 7#b7 as a part of the rules of each ,house1 respectively1 but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that ,house in the case of a joint resolution1 and supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules2 and 7#c7 with full recognition of the constitutional right of either ,house to change the rules relating to the procedure of that ,house at any time1 in the same manner1 and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that ,house4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,joint resolution ,the term joint resolution means a joint resolution of approval that-- 7,a7 is introduced during the #aj-;day period beginning on the date on which the ,president submits a request to ,congress for a limited waiver of the prohibition set forth in subsection 7a72 7,b7 does not have a preamble2 7,c7 includes1 immediately after the resolving clause1 the following3 ,that ,congress approves the request submitted by the ,president on 1 with the blank line being filled in with the appropriate date2 7,d7 does not include any substantive legislative text other than the text set forth in subparagraph 7,c72 and 7,e7 is titled ,joint ,resolution approving the request of the ,president to waive the prohibition against payments to a state sponsor of acts of international terrorism44 7#b7 ,state sponsor of acts of international terrorism ,the term state sponsor of acts of international terrorism means a country the government of which the ,secretary of ,state has determined has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism for purposes of-- 7,a7 section #f7;j7 of the ,export ,administration ,act of #aigi 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #dfje7;j77 7as in effect pursuant to the ,international ,emergency ,economic ,powers ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja et seq4772 7,b7 section #fbj;,a of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcga72 7,c7 section #dj of the ,arms ,export ,control ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bghj72 or 7,d7 any other provision of law4