Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2021
This bill restricts the President's authority to unilaterally undertake certain actions with respect to Iran and increases congressional oversight of those actions.
Specifically, the President must report to Congress before terminating or waiving sanctions related to Iran or taking a licensing action that significantly alters U.S. foreign policy with respect to Iran.
Each report must (1) describe the proposed action and its rationale, and (2) indicate whether or not the action is intended to significantly alter foreign policy concerning Iran. If the intention is to alter that policy, the report must provide additional information about the policy objectives and anticipated effects of the action.
After the President submits a report, the bill provides Congress with a 30-day period to review it; this period is extended to 60 days for reports submitted between July 10 and September 7. During this period, Congress may enact a joint resolution approving or disapproving the action.
During the review period, the President may not take the action unless Congress passes a joint resolution of approval; if Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval, the bill prohibits the President from taking the action.
The bill also outlines procedures for the introduction and consideration of these types of joint resolutions.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 488 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 488
To provide for congressional review of actions to terminate or waive
sanctions imposed with respect to Iran.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 25, 2021
Mr. Hagerty (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Blunt,
Mr. Cramer, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Lummis, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Ms. Ernst, Mrs.
Blackburn, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Young, Mr. Sasse,
Mr. Lankford, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Marshall, Mrs. Capito, and
Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for congressional review of actions to terminate or waive
sanctions imposed with respect to Iran.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF CERTAIN ACTIONS RELATING TO SANCTIONS
IMPOSED WITH RESPECT TO IRAN.
(a) Submission to Congress of Proposed Action.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, before taking any action described in paragraph (2), the
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees and leadership a report that describes the proposed
action and the reasons for that action.
(2) Actions described.--
(A) In general.--An action described in this
paragraph is--
(i) an action to terminate the application
of any sanctions described in subparagraph (B);
(ii) with respect to sanctions described in
subparagraph (B) imposed by the President with
respect to a person, an action to waive the
application of those sanctions with respect to
that person; or
(iii) a licensing action that significantly
alters United States foreign policy with
respect to Iran.
(B) Sanctions described.--The sanctions described
in this subparagraph are sanctions with respect to Iran
provided for under--
(i) the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public
Law 104-172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note);
(ii) the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions,
Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22
U.S.C. 8501 et seq.);
(iii) section 1245 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22
U.S.C. 8513a);
(iv) the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria
Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8701 et
seq.);
(v) the Iran Freedom and Counter-
Proliferation Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8801 et
seq.);
(vi) the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 note); or
(vii) any other statute or Executive order
that requires or authorizes the imposition of
sanctions with respect to Iran.
(3) Description of type of action.--Each report submitted
under paragraph (1) with respect to an action described in
paragraph (2) shall include a description of whether the
action--
(A) is not intended to significantly alter United
States foreign policy with respect to Iran; or
(B) is intended to significantly alter United
States foreign policy with respect to Iran.
(4) Inclusion of additional matter.--
(A) In general.--Each report submitted under
paragraph (1) that relates to an action that is
intended to significantly alter United States foreign
policy with respect to Iran shall include a description
of--
(i) the significant alteration to United
States foreign policy with respect to Iran;
(ii) the anticipated effect of the action
on the national security interests of the
United States; and
(iii) the policy objectives for which the
sanctions affected by the action were initially
imposed.
(B) Requests from banking and financial services
committees.--The Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate or the Committee on
Financial Services of the House of Representatives may
request the submission to the Committee of the matter
described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A)
with respect to a report submitted under paragraph (1)
that relates to an action that is not intended to
significantly alter United States foreign policy with
respect to Iran.
(5) Confidentiality of proprietary information.--
Proprietary information that can be associated with a
particular person with respect to an action described in
paragraph (2) may be included in a report submitted under
paragraph (1) only if the appropriate congressional committees
and leadership provide assurances of confidentiality, unless
that person otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.
(6) Rule of construction.--Paragraph (2)(A)(iii) shall not
be construed to require the submission of a report under
paragraph (1) with respect to the routine issuance of a license
that does not significantly alter United States foreign policy
with respect to Iran.
(b) Period for Review by Congress.--
(1) In general.--During the period of 30 calendar days
beginning on the date on which the President submits a report
under subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in the case of a report that relates to an
action that is not intended to significantly alter
United States foreign policy with respect to Iran, the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives should, as appropriate, hold
hearings and briefings and otherwise obtain information
in order to fully review the report; and
(B) in the case of a report that relates to an
action that is intended to significantly alter United
States foreign policy with respect to Iran, the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives should, as appropriate, hold hearings
and briefings and otherwise obtain information in order
to fully review the report.
(2) Exception.--The period for congressional review under
paragraph (1) of a report required to be submitted under
subsection (a)(1) shall be 60 calendar days if the report is
submitted on or after July 10 and on or before September 7 in
any calendar year.
(3) Limitation on actions during initial congressional
review period.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
during the period for congressional review provided for under
paragraph (1) of a report submitted under subsection (a)(1)
proposing an action described in subsection (a)(2), including
any additional period for such review as applicable under the
exception provided in paragraph (2), the President may not take
that action unless a joint resolution of approval with respect
to that action is enacted in accordance with subsection (c).
(4) Limitation on actions during presidential consideration
of a joint resolution of disapproval.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, if a joint resolution of disapproval
relating to a report submitted under subsection (a)(1)
proposing an action described in subsection (a)(2) passes both
Houses of Congress in accordance with subsection (c), the
President may not take that action for a period of 12 calendar
days after the date of passage of the joint resolution of
disapproval.
(5) Limitation on actions during congressional
reconsideration of a joint resolution of disapproval.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a joint
resolution of disapproval relating to a report submitted under
subsection (a)(1) proposing an action described in subsection
(a)(2) passes both Houses of Congress in accordance with
subsection (c), and the President vetoes the joint resolution,
the President may not take that action for a period of 10
calendar days after the date of the President's veto.
(6) Effect of enactment of a joint resolution of
disapproval.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a
joint resolution of disapproval relating to a report submitted
under subsection (a)(1) proposing an action described in
subsection (a)(2) is enacted in accordance with subsection (c),
the President may not take that action.
(c) Joint Resolutions of Disapproval or Approval.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Joint resolution of approval.--The term ``joint
resolution of approval'' means only a joint resolution
of either House of Congress--
(i) the title of which is as follows: ``A
joint resolution approving the President's
proposal to take an action relating to the
application of certain sanctions with respect
to Iran.''; and
(ii) the sole matter after the resolving
clause of which is the following: ``Congress
approves of the action relating to the
application of sanctions imposed with respect
to Iran proposed by the President in the report
submitted to Congress under section 2(a)(1) of
the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2021 on
_______ relating to ________.'', with the first
blank space being filled with the appropriate
date and the second blank space being filled
with a short description of the proposed
action.
(B) Joint resolution of disapproval.--The term
``joint resolution of disapproval'' means only a joint
resolution of either House of Congress--
(i) the title of which is as follows: ``A
joint resolution disapproving the President's
proposal to take an action relating to the
application of certain sanctions with respect
to Iran.''; and
(ii) the sole matter after the resolving
clause of which is the following: ``Congress
disapproves of the action relating to the
application of sanctions imposed with respect
to Iran proposed by the President in the report
submitted to Congress under section 2(a)(1) of
the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2021 on
_______ relating to ________.'', with the first
blank space being filled with the appropriate
date and the second blank space being filled
with a short description of the proposed
action.
(2) Introduction.--During the period of 30 calendar days
provided for under subsection (b)(1), including any additional
period as applicable under the exception provided in subsection
(b)(2), a joint resolution of approval or joint resolution of
disapproval may be introduced--
(A) in the House of Representatives, by the
majority leader or the minority leader; and
(B) in the Senate, by the majority leader (or the
majority leader's designee) or the minority leader (or
the minority leader's designee).
(3) Floor consideration in house of representatives.--If a
committee of the House of Representatives to which a joint
resolution of approval or joint resolution of disapproval has
been referred has not reported the joint resolution within 10
calendar days after the date of referral, that committee shall
be discharged from further consideration of the joint
resolution.
(4) Consideration in the senate.--
(A) Committee referral.--A joint resolution of
approval or joint resolution of disapproval introduced
in the Senate shall be--
(i) referred to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs if the joint
resolution relates to a report under subsection
(a)(3)(A) that relates to an action that is not
intended to significantly alter United States
foreign policy with respect to Iran; and
(ii) referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations if the joint resolution relates to a
report under subsection (a)(3)(B) that relates
to an action that is intended to significantly
alter United States foreign policy with respect
to Iran.
(B) Reporting and discharge.--If the committee to
which a joint resolution of approval or joint
resolution of disapproval was referred has not reported
the joint resolution within 10 calendar days after the
date of referral of the joint resolution, that
committee shall be discharged from further
consideration of the joint resolution and the joint
resolution shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
(C) Proceeding to consideration.--Notwithstanding
Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in
order at any time after the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs or the Committee on Foreign
Relations, as the case may be, reports a joint
resolution of approval or joint resolution of
disapproval to the Senate or has been discharged from
consideration of such a joint resolution (even though a
previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed
to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the
joint resolution, and all points of order against the
joint resolution (and against consideration of the
joint resolution) are waived. The motion to proceed is
not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to
postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the
motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in
order.
(D) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals
from the decisions of the Chair relating to the
application of the rules of the Senate, as the case may
be, to the procedure relating to a joint resolution of
approval or joint resolution of disapproval shall be
decided without debate.
(E) Consideration of veto messages.--Debate in the
Senate of any veto message with respect to a joint
resolution of approval or joint resolution of
disapproval, including all debatable motions and
appeals in connection with the joint resolution, shall
be limited to 10 hours, to be equally divided between,
and controlled by, the majority leader and the minority
leader or their designees.
(5) Rules relating to senate and house of
representatives.--
(A) Treatment of senate joint resolution in
house.--In the House of Representatives, the following
procedures shall apply to a joint resolution of
approval or a joint resolution of disapproval received
from the Senate (unless the House has already passed a
joint resolution relating to the same proposed action):
(i) The joint resolution shall be referred
to the appropriate committees.
(ii) If a committee to which a joint
resolution has been referred has not reported
the joint resolution within 2 calendar days
after the date of referral, that committee
shall be discharged from further consideration
of the joint resolution.
(iii) Beginning on the third legislative
day after each committee to which a joint
resolution has been referred reports the joint
resolution to the House or has been discharged
from further consideration thereof, it shall be
in order to move to proceed to consider the
joint resolution in the House. All points of
order against the motion are waived. Such a
motion shall not be in order after the House
has disposed of a motion to proceed on the
joint resolution. The previous question shall
be considered as ordered on the motion to its
adoption without intervening motion. The motion
shall not be debatable. A motion to reconsider
the vote by which the motion is disposed of
shall not be in order.
(iv) The joint resolution shall be
considered as read. All points of order against
the joint resolution and against its
consideration are waived. The previous question
shall be considered as ordered on the joint
resolution to final passage without intervening
motion except 2 hours of debate equally divided
and controlled by the sponsor of the joint
resolution (or a designee) and an opponent. A
motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the
joint resolution shall not be in order.
(B) Treatment of house joint resolution in
senate.--
(i) Receipt before passage.--If, before the
passage by the Senate of a joint resolution of
approval or joint resolution of disapproval,
the Senate receives an identical joint
resolution from the House of Representatives,
the following procedures shall apply:
(I) That joint resolution shall not
be referred to a committee.
(II) With respect to that joint
resolution--
(aa) the procedure in the
Senate shall be the same as if
no joint resolution had been
received from the House of
Representatives; but
(bb) the vote on passage
shall be on the joint
resolution from the House of
Representatives.
(ii) Receipt after passage.--If, following
passage of a joint resolution of approval or
joint resolution of disapproval in the Senate,
the Senate receives an identical joint
resolution from the House of Representatives,
that joint resolution shall be placed on the
appropriate Senate calendar.
(iii) No companion measure.--If a joint
resolution of approval or a joint resolution of
disapproval is received from the House, and no
companion joint resolution has been introduced
in the Senate, the Senate procedures under this
subsection shall apply to the House joint
resolution.
(C) Application to revenue measures.--The
provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in the
House of Representatives to a joint resolution of
approval or joint resolution of disapproval that is a
revenue measure.
(6) Rules of house of representatives and senate.--This
subsection is enacted by Congress--
(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the
Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively,
and as such is deemed a part of the rules of each
House, respectively, and supersedes other rules only to
the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and
(B) with full recognition of the constitutional
right of either House to change the rules (so far as
relating to the procedure of that House) at any time,
in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the
case of any other rule of that House.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees and Leadership Defined.--
In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees and
leadership'' means--
(1) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs,
the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the majority and
minority leaders of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and the Speaker, the majority leader, and the
minority leader of the House of Representatives.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
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