Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support my bill, H.R. 1998, Sanction Sea Pirates Act. Over the last few years, we have seen and also been reminded how fragile global supply chains can be and how the closing of narrow physical chokepoints can lead to shortages and inflation. More than 30 percent of global container trade passes through the Red Sea. If these waters cannot be navigated because of pirates and terrorism, Americans will continue to feel the costs here at home.

Unfortunately, we are now seeing exactly what we are trying to prevent. Ships traversing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden now face two major threats--and more mounting--from the Houthis, who continue to perpetrate piracy on the high seas, and from Somalian pirates, who are plundering and pillaging at rates unseen in a decade.

My bill imposes sanctions on any pirates around the world, blocking assets in or associated with the United States and denying them entry into our country. As an international leader in trade and security, the United States must seek to stop piracy around the world. This is America at its finest trying to help facilitate global trade. We must secure global waterways for the safety of ships, crew members, and critical ship-dependent supply chains.

Mr. Speaker, my bill is also a necessary step to ensure the development of African economies and generate greater prosperity through stability in Somalia. No country can be expected to grow and prosper while facing serious piracy threats. We cannot allow violent criminals and terrorists to continue stunting the economic development of Somalia and the surrounding region.

Beyond direct threats to the United States and Somalia, piracy is often linked to terrorism and crime. This bill reaffirms the United States' position as a global economic and security leader, and I thank my colleagues for helping to move this bill through the House. We strongly believe that this is a necessary step toward greater stability and safety for both the United States and East Africa. Attacks on maritime shipping endanger innocent lives, raise the cost of goods, and destabilize local communities in Yemen and the Horn of Africa.

For American national and economic security, we must pass this legislation and crack down on global piracy. I encourage all of my colleagues to join in supporting this legislation, and reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, to advance global security and economic prosperity, the United States must seek to stop piracy around the world.

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