Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1998) to require the imposition of sanctions with respect to foreign persons engaged in piracy, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1998
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 ``Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In 2011, there were 212 attempted attacks against vessels off of the Somali coast, more than 1,000 crew were held hostage, and 35 seafarers were killed.
(2) Over the past decade through the beginning of 2023, rates of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean subsided.
(3) Houthi attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on October 7th have impacted global shipping markets.
(4) There has been a surge in Somali pirate attacks, beginning in the fall of 2023 and lasting into 2024, that has coincided with and taken advantage of Houthi aggression. SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States Government should seek to stop piracy all around the world, including off the Somali Coast and in the Gulf of Aden; and
(2) the United States should seek to work with allies and partners around the globe to combat piracy around the globe and to curb the surge in piracy off of the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. SEC. 4. SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--The President shall impose sanctions described in subsection (b) with respect to any foreign person the President determines knowingly engages in piracy.
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this subsection are the following:
(1) Asset blocking.--Notwithstanding the requirements of section 202 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701), the President may exercise of all powers granted to the President by that Act to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of the foreign person if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person.
(2) Visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) In general.--An alien who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe, is described in subsection (a) is--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible for a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--The issuing consular officer, the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to an alien described in subparagraph (A) regardless of when the visa or other entry documentation is issued.
(ii) Effect of revocation.--A revocation under clause (i)--
(I) shall take effect immediately; and
(II) shall automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry documentation that is in the alien's possession.
(c) Exceptions.--
(1) Exception to comply with international obligations.-- Sanctions under subsection (b)(2) shall not apply with respect to the admission of an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the United States is necessary to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations.
(2) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions under this section may not be imposed with respect to transactions or the facilitation of transactions for--
(A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices;
(B) the provision of humanitarian assistance;
(C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian assistance; or
(D) transporting goods or services that are necessary to carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance.
(3) Exception for intelligence, law enforcement, and national security activities.--Sanctions under this section shall not apply to any authorized intelligence, law enforcement, or national security activities of the United States.
(d) Classified Information.--In any judicial review of a determination made under this section, if the determination was based on classified information (as defined in section 1(a) of the Classified Information Procedures Act) such information may be submitted to the reviewing court ex parte and in camera. This subsection may not be construed to confer or imply any right to judicial review.
(e) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out this section.
(2) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated to carry out this section to the same extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of that Act.
(f) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of sanctions imposed with respect to a foreign person under this section if the President certifies to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate not later than 15 days before such waiver is to take effect that the waiver is crucial to the national security interests of the United States.
(g) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.--
(1) In general.--The authorities and requirements to impose sanctions authorized under this section shall not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
(2) Good defined.--In this subsection, the term ``good'' means any article, natural or man-made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(2) United states person.--The term ``United States person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen;
(B) a permanent resident alien of the United States; or
(C) an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.
(3) Piracy.--The term ``piracy'' means any act in violation of one or more provisions of chapter 81 of title 18, United States Code.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1998, the Sanction Sea Pirates Act, introduced by my dear friend Representative Jackson.
This legislation is a strong statement of intent that Congress will not tolerate the sea piracy which threatens trade across the globe. By modern standards, sea piracy may seem like an age-old problem, but the reality is it is very brutal. Sea piracy is a violent crime that endangers the lives of merchant sailors, disrupts global trade, and can cause massive economic losses.
America has long stood strong against sea piracy. However, in recent years, piracy has been on the rise, Mr. Speaker. Pirates, often based out of Somalia, have taken advantage of disruptions created by Houthi aggression in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The result has been a disturbing spike in pirate attacks in the waters surrounding the Horn of Africa.
This bill uses economic power to support ongoing military efforts by the U.S. and its partners to combat piracy and safeguard trade in this vital strategic waterway. The bill imposes full financial and visa sanctions against any foreign person who engages in piracy.
By leveraging the economic power of the United States to supplement the work of our Armed Forces, we can help end sea piracy and ensure the safety of our merchant sailors. I support this legislation and reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, June 16, 2025. Hon. Brian Mast, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Mast: I write regarding H.R. 1998, the Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025. Provisions of this bill fall within the Judiciary Committee's Rule X jurisdiction, and I appreciate that you consulted with us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee agrees that it shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
The Committee takes this action with the understanding that forgoing further consideration of this measure does not in any way alter the Committee's jurisdiction or waive any future jurisdictional claim over these provisions or their subject matter. We also reserve the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees in the event of a conference with the Senate involving this measure or similar legislation.
I ask that you please insert this letter in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 1998 on the House floor. I appreciate the cooperative manner in which our committees have worked on this matter, and I look forward to working collaboratively in the future on matters of shared jurisdiction. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Jim Jordan, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, June 23, 2025. Hon. Jim Jordan, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Jordan: Thank you for consulting with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1998, the Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025, so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your committee or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would support your effort to seek appointments of any appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate conference of this legislation.
I will submit the exchange of letters to be published in the Congressional Record. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together on matters of shared jurisdiction during this Congress. Sincerely, Brian J. Mast, Chairman.
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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I urge the body to pass the Sanction Sea Pirates Act and send an unmistakable message: The United States of America stands firmly against sea piracy and is committed to ensuring freedom of navigation against crime in the high seas. I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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