,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bcfe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #cj1 #bjah,mr4 ,rubio 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,nelson1 and ,mr4 ,cornyn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to impose additional sanctions with respect to serious human rights abuses by the ,government of ,iran1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,iran ,human ,rights and ,hostage-,taking ,accountability ,act4 #b4 ,united ,states policy on human rights violations by the ,government of ,iran 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,iran is a member of the ,united ,nations1 voted for the ,universal ,declaration of ,human ,rights1 and is a signatory to the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights1 among other international human rights treaties4 7#b7 ,in violation of these and other international obligations1 ,iranian regime officials continue to violate the fundamental human rights of the people of ,iran4 7#c7 ,the ,iranian regime persecutes ethnic and religious minority groups1 such as the ,baha'is1 ,christians1 and ,sufi1 ,sunni1 and dissenting ,shi'a ,muslims 7such as imprisoned ,ayatollah ,hossein ,kazemeyni ,boroujerdi71 through harassment1 arrests1 and imprisonment1 during which detainees have routinely been beaten1 tortured1 and killed4 7#d7 ,the #bjaf ,department of ,state ,human ,rights ,report on ,iran noted severe restrictions on civil liberties1 including the freedoms of assembly1 association1 speech1 religion1 and press4 ,other human rights problems included abuse of due process combined with use of capital punishment for crimes that do not meet the requirements of due process1 as well as cruel1 inhuman1 or degrading treatment or punishment2 and disregard for the physical integrity of persons1 whom authorities arbitrarily and unlawfully detained1 tortured1 or killed44 7#e7 ,over a #d-month period in #aihh1 the ,iranian regime carried out the barbaric mass executions of thousands of political prisoners4 7#f7 ,in #aiii1 the ,iranian regime brutally suppressed a student revolt that was one of the largest mass uprisings up until that point in ,iran since #aigi4 7#g7 ,following voting irregularities that resulted in the #bjji election of ,president ,mahmoud ,ahmadinejad1 the ,iranian regime brutally suppressed peaceful political dissent from wide segments of civil society during the ,green ,revolution in a cynical attempt to retain its undemocratic grip on power4 7#h7 ,since ,february #bjaa the leaders of ,iran's ,green ,movement1 former ,prime ,minister ,mir ,hossein ,mousavi1 his wife ,dr4 ,zahra ,rahnavard1 and former ,speaker of the ,majles 7parliament7 ,mehdi ,karroubi1 have lived under strict house arrest1 ordered by ,iran's ,supreme ,national ,security ,council4 7#i7 ,in response to anti-government demonstrations by citizens of ,iran that began in the city of ,mashhad on ,december #bh1 #bjag1 and rapidly spread throughout urban and rural populations across ,iran in the following weeks1 the ,iranian regime arrested many hundreds of ,iranians and killed dozens more4 7#aj7 ,the ,iranian regime1 in addition to using lethal force and widespread detentions1 shut down mobile ,internet access and worked to block access to social media applications1 including ,telegram1 ,instagram1 and ,twitter1 that citizens of ,iran used to share information and to organize and publicize the protests4 7#aa7 ,in those demonstrations1 which constitute the most significant anti-government demonstrations in ,iran since ,june #bjji1 citizens of ,iran protested against the system of entrenched corruption and impoverishment in ,iran1 as well as the ,iranian regime's foreign policy of supporting terrorism4 7#ab7 ,senior governmental1 military1 and public security officials in ,iran have continued ordering1 controlling1 and committing egregious human rights violations and abuses that1 in many cases1 represent official policies of the ,iranian regime4 7#ac7 ,the #bjaf ,department of ,state ,human ,rights ,report on ,iran noted1 ,according to the press1 ,n,g,os1 and the testimony of former prisoners1 authorities often held political prisoners in solitary confinement for extended periods1 denying them due process and access to legal representation4 ,political prisoners were also at greater risk of torture and abuse in detention and often mixed with the general prison population despite the political crimes bill stipulation that they have their own facilities44 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of the ,congress that the ,united ,states should-- 7#a7 deny the ,government of ,iran the ability to continue to oppress the people of ,iran and to use violence and executions to silence pro-democracy protestors2 7#b7 support efforts made by the people of ,iran to promote the establishment of basic freedoms that build the foundation for the emergence of a freely elected1 open1 non-corrupt1 and democratic political system2 and 7#c7 help the people of ,iran produce1 access1 and share information freely and safely via the ,internet and other media4 7c7 ,statement of policy ,it shall be the policy of the ,united ,states to stand with the people of ,iran who seek the opportunity to freely elect a government of their choosing1 and increase the utilization of all available authorities to impose sanctions on officials of the ,government of ,iran and other individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses4 #c4 ,determinations with respect to imposition of sanctions on certain persons responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses1 engaging in censorship1 engaging in the diversion of goods intended for the people of ,iran1 or engaging in corruption 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #bgj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter 7or more frequently if the ,president determines it appropriate based on new information received by the ,president7 for the following #d years1 the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing a determination of whether any senior officials of the ,government of ,iran or other ,iranian persons meet the criteria described in-- 7#a7 section #aje7;b71 #aje;,a7b71 #aje;,b7b71 or #aje;,c7b7 of the ,comprehensive ,iran ,sanctions1 ,accountability1 and ,divestment ,act of #bjaj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #head7;b71 #head;a7b71 #head;b7b71 or #head;c7b77 or section #aje;,d7b7 of such ,act 7as added by section #e of this ,act72 or 7#b7 paragraph 7#c7 or 7#d7 of section #abfc7;a7 of the ,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights ,accountability ,act 7subtitle ,f of title ,,xii of ,public ,law #aad-cbh2 #bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfef note74 7b7 ,form of report2 public availability 7#a7 ,form ,each report required by subsection 7a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may contain a classified annex4 7#b7 ,public availability ,the unclassified portion of a report required by subsection 7a7 shall be posted on a publicly available ,internet website of the ,department of the ,treasury-- 7,a7 in ,english1 ,farsi1 ,arabic1 and ,azeri2 and 7,b7 in precompressed1 easily downloadable versions that are made available in all appropriate formats4 7c7 ,sources of information ,in preparing a report required by subsection 7a71 the ,president may utilize any credible publication1 database1 ,internet-based resource1 and any credible information compiled by any government agency1 nongovernmental organization1 or other entity provided to or made available to the ,president4 7d7 ,definition ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,financial ,services and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs and the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate4 #d4 ,united ,states policy on hostage-taking by the ,government of ,iran 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,since #aigi the ,iranian regime has engaged in various destabilizing activities that undermine the national security of the ,united ,states and its allies and partners4 7#b7 ,these activities include the hostage-taking or prolonged arbitrary detentions of ,united ,states citizens and other persons with connections to ,canada1 the ,united ,kingdom1 ,france1 and other countries allied with the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,the ,iranian regime has detained on fabricated claims a significant number of ,united ,states citizens1 including ,siamak and ,baquer ,namazi and ,xiyue ,wang1 as well as ,united ,states legal permanent resident1 ,nizar ,zakka1 in violation of international legal norms4 7#d7 ,the ,iranian regime has not provided information on the whereabouts of or assistance in ensuring the prompt and safe return of ,robert ,levinson1 despite repeated promises to do so1 after he was kidnapped while visiting ,iran's ,kish ,island on ,march #i1 #bjjg--making him the longest held hostage in ,united ,states history4 7#e7 ,the ,iranian regime reportedly uses hostages as leverage against foreign investors to exact business concessions in foreign investment deals4 7#f7 ,the type of hostage-taking enterprise put in place by the ,iranian regime is a crime against humanity and a violation of customary international law4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of the ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,president should fully utilize all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent the ,iranian regime from engaging in hostage-taking or the prolonged arbitrary detention of ,united ,states citizens or aliens lawfully admitted to the ,united ,states for permanent residence1 to include-- 7,a7 the use of extradition to try and convict those individuals responsible for ordering or controlling such hostage-taking or arbitrary detention2 and 7,b7 the use of the ,department of ,homeland ,security's ,human ,rights ,violators and ,war ,crimes ,unit to target such individuals2 and 7#b7 the ,united ,states should encourage its allies and other affected countries to pursue the criminal prosecution and extradition of state and non-state actors in ,iran that assist in or benefit from such hostage-taking to prevent such state and non-state actors from engaging in this practice in the future4 7c7 ,statement of policy ,it shall be the policy of the ,united ,states ,government not to pay ransom or release prisoners for the purpose of securing the release of ,united ,states citizens or aliens lawfully admitted to the ,united ,states for permanent residence taken hostage abroad4 7d7 ,strategy ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate a report that contains a strategy to prevent elements of the ,iranian regime from engaging in hostage-taking or the prolonged arbitrary detention of ,united ,states citizens or aliens lawfully admitted to the ,united ,states for permanent residence4 #e4 ,imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who engage in certain actions against ,united ,states citizens or ,iranian persons 7a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states should coordinate with allies and partners of the ,united ,states and other countries whose citizens may be subject to politically motivated detention or trial in ,iran1 to apply sanctions against persons that are responsible for or complicit in1 or responsible for ordering1 controlling1 or otherwise directing1 such detention or trial4 7b7 ,in general ,title ,i of the ,comprehensive ,iran ,sanctions1 ,accountability1 and ,divestment ,act of #bjaj is amended by inserting after section #aje;,c 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #head;c7 the following3 #aje;,d4 ,imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who engage in certain actions against ,united ,states citizens or ,iranian persons 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president shall impose sanctions described in section #aje7;c7 with respect to each person on the list required by subsection 7b74 7b7 ,list of persons who engage in certain actions against ,united ,states citizens or ,iranian persons 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that the ,president determines1 based on credible evidence are responsible for or complicit in1 or responsible for ordering1 controlling1 or otherwise directing1 the politically motivated intimidation1 abuse1 extortion1 or detention or trial in ,iran of citizens of the ,united ,states or aliens lawfully admitted to the ,united ,states for permanent residence4 7#b7 ,updates of list ,the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated list under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 each time the ,president is required to submit an updated list to those committees under section #aje7;b77#b77;,a72 and 7,b7 as new information becomes available4 7#c7 ,form of report2 public availability 7,a7 ,form ,the list required by paragraph 7#a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex4 7,b7 ,public availability ,the unclassified portion of the list required by paragraph 7#a7 shall be posted on a publicly available ,internet website of the ,department of the ,treasury and of the ,department of ,state4 7c7 ,termination of sanctions ,the provisions of this section shall terminate on the date that is #cj days after the date on which the ,president-- 7#a7 determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the ,government of ,iran is no longer complicit in or responsible for the wrongful and unlawful detention of ,united ,states citizens or aliens lawfully admitted to the ,united ,states for permanent residence2 and 7#b7 submits to the appropriate congressional committees the certification described in section #aje7;d74 4 7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents for the ,comprehensive ,iran ,sanctions1 ,accountability1 and ,divestment ,act of #bjaj is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #aje;,c the following new item3 ,sec4 #aje;,d4 ,imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who engage in certain actions against ,united ,states citizens or ,iranian persons4 4 7d7 ,amendments to general provisions ,section #dja of the ,comprehensive ,iran ,sanctions1 ,accountability1 and ,divestment ,act of #bjaj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #heea7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking and #cje and inserting 1 #aje;,d1 and #cje2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7b77#a7-- 7,a7 by striking or #aje;,c7a7 and inserting 1 #aje;,c7a71 or #aje;,d7a72 and 7,b7 by striking or #aje;,c7b7 and inserting #aje;,c7b71 or #aje;,d7b74 #f4 ,consolidation of certain reports 7a7 ,in general ,any and all reports required to be submitted to ,congress under this ,act1 any amendment made by this ,act1 or a covered provision of law that are subject to a deadline for submission consisting of the same unit of time may be consolidated into a single report that is submitted to ,congress pursuant to such deadline4 7b7 ,matters ,to be included ,a consolidated report under subsection 7a7 shall contain all information required under all applicable provisions of this ,act1 amendments made by this ,act1 covered provisions of law1 and other provisions of law4 7c7 ,covered provisions of law ,in this section1 the term covered provision of law means the following3 7#a7 ,the ,iran ,sanctions ,act of #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-agb2 #ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agja note74 7#b7 ,the ,comprehensive ,iran ,sanctions1 ,accountability1 and ,divestment ,act of #bjaj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #heja et seq474 7#c7 ,the ,iran ,threat ,reduction and ,syria ,human ,rights ,act of #bjab 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #hgja et seq474 7#d7 ,the ,iran ,freedom and ,counter-,proliferation ,act of #bjab 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #hhja et seq474 7#e7 ,section #abde of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjab 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #heac;a74