SHAHEEN, RUBIO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TARGETTING HIZBALLAH

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced the “Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015,” a bipartisan effort to block the terrorist organization’s financing and limit the group’s access to logistical support.

Responsible for the largest number of American deaths overseas by a terrorist organization, Hizballah has been a dangerous and destabilizing force in the Middle East and around the world for more than three decades, committing countless acts of terrorism, violence and intimidation.

“Hizballah is a terrorist organization that has killed hundreds of U.S. citizens and remains a persistent threat to the United States, our interests, and our allies,” said Shaheen. “With this legislation, we will make sure that we are doing all we can to deny Hizballah the resources it needs to support its activities.”
 
“Backed by its state sponsor Iran, Hizballah continues to threaten the United States, and our allies and interests around the world,” Rubio said. “This bill shines a light on the criminal activities Hizballah engages in to finance its operations and ensures that the United States is doing everything in our power to cut off Hizballah’s financial, media and logistical resources wherever they exist.” 
 
The Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 would:

• Hit Hizballah’s financing by providing the Administration with the tools to pursue foreign banks that knowingly engage in business with Hizballah and its enablers;
• Identify Hizballah’s television station al-Manar’s enablers by requiring the Administration to identify satellite providers that still carry the station and explain why those providers have not been penalized for facilitating its broadcasts;
• Broaden third-country efforts by requiring the President to submit a report to Congress within 90 days detailing the countries where Hizballah maintains financial or logistical support networks, assessing whether the foreign governments are taking adequate steps to root out these networks, and describing Administration engagement to spur greater efforts;
• Require the President to report to Congress within 120 days with a determination of whether Hizballah meets the criteria for designation under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, calling attention to the role narcotics trafficking networks play in supporting Hizballah financially; and
• Require the President to report to Congress within 120 days with a determination of whether Hizballah meets the criteria of a transnational criminal organization, calling attention to the role money laundering, trafficking in stolen or counterfeit goods, and other criminal activities play in supporting Hizballah financially.