House passes Yoho’s anti-state sponsors of terrorism bill

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the State Sponsors of Terrorism Review Enhancement Act, H.R. 5484, authored by U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL).

“Today, Congress sent a message to supporters of terrorism, if you engage in terrorist activity or are a state sponsor of terror; you will be held accountable and labeled a pariah in the world community,” Yoho said. “No nation that supports the murder of innocents should be delisted for politically motivated reasons, as was the case with North Korea and Cuba. My bill will protect against such egregious actions.”

The bill would quadruple the time from six to 24 months that a designated country must refrain from sponsoring terrorism before any elected official can remove it from the sponsor list. The bill also increases congressional oversight by doubling the time Congress has to review the president’s proposed removal, from the current 45 days to 90 days.

“The designation then triggers unilateral sanctions by the United States,” U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) said. “These sanctions include a ban on weapons exports and sales, limits on financing and economic assistance, and restrictions on exports that can be used by that country to enhance its military capability or its ability to support terrorism. These are important and powerful tools.”

The bill now awaits a vote in the Senate.