Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025 | ChamberLight

PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 1998Foreign propertySanctions

Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025

INTRO MAR 10· LAST ACTION JUN 24

READING

6MIN

COSPONSORS

4BIPARTISAN

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

One chamber only

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

Voters should care about this bill because sea piracy disrupts global trade, increases shipping costs, and puts the lives of sailors at risk. Recent surges in pirate attacks, especially those linked to instability in areas like the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, have a direct impact on the supply chain and potentially on the prices consumers pay for goods.

If this bill becomes law, it would provide a clear and mandatory framework for the U.S. government to take strong action against pirates and their networks. This could help deter future attacks and contribute to safer international waters. If it doesn't pass, the U.S. would continue to rely on existing, potentially less targeted, mechanisms to address piracy, and the recent increase in attacks might continue to pose significant challenges to global commerce.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals or groups involved in piracy.

This makes sanctions against pirates mandatory, ensuring direct action against those engaged in sea piracy.

PROVISION 02

Sanctions include freezing assets in the U.S. and banning entry into the country for those found to be pirates.

These are strong financial and travel penalties designed to disrupt pirate operations and prevent their movement.

PROVISION 03

Includes exceptions for humanitarian aid, international obligations, and intelligence activities.

These exceptions ensure sanctions do not hinder crucial aid efforts or violate international agreements.

PROVISION 04

Authorizes the President to waive sanctions for U.S. national security interests, with Congressional notification.

Provides flexibility for the President to adapt the policy to changing geopolitical circumstances.

PROVISION 05

Explicitly states sanctions cannot include restrictions on the importation of goods.

This prevents the bill from inadvertently disrupting legitimate trade or harming consumers through import bans.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 4

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 100%

DEM 2 REP 2 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

12 EVENTS

JUN 24

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

SENATE · INTROREFERRAL

JUN 23

Mr. Burchett moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

HOUSE · FLOOR

JUN 23

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2845-2846, H2877-2878)

FLOOR

JUN 23

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1998.

FLOOR

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 1998

Congress119th

StatusPassed House

IntroducedMar 10, 2025

Last actionJun 24, 2025

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PASSED HOUSE· 119TH CONGRESS · FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 10, 2025

House BillHR 1998Foreign propertySanctions

Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025

INTRODUCED MAR 10, 2025· LAST ACTION JUN 24, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

6 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps Congress.gov

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 4 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals or groups involved in piracy.

This makes sanctions against pirates mandatory, ensuring direct action against those engaged in sea piracy.

high

Sanctions include freezing assets in the U.S. and banning entry into the country for those found to be pirates.

These are strong financial and travel penalties designed to disrupt pirate operations and prevent their movement.

med

Includes exceptions for humanitarian aid, international obligations, and intelligence activities.

These exceptions ensure sanctions do not hinder crucial aid efforts or violate international agreements.

med

Authorizes the President to waive sanctions for U.S. national security interests, with Congressional notification.

Provides flexibility for the President to adapt the policy to changing geopolitical circumstances.

med

Explicitly states sanctions cannot include restrictions on the importation of goods.

This prevents the bill from inadvertently disrupting legitimate trade or harming consumers through import bans.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than 15 days before such waiver is to take effect

President must certify to Congress that a waiver is crucial to national security interests before it takes effect.

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

TYPE	AMOUNT	WHO
civil	As provided by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)	A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated to carry out this section.
criminal	As provided by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)	A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations promulgated to carry out this section.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Sanctions: Economic and political penalties applied by one country against another, or against specific individuals or groups, to achieve a foreign policy goal.
Foreign Person: An individual or organization that is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or an entity organized under U.S. law.
Piracy: Acts of robbery or criminal violence committed at sea, as defined under U.S. federal law.
Asset Blocking: Freezing or seizing financial assets and property owned by sanctioned individuals or groups within a country's jurisdiction, preventing them from being used or moved.
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA): A U.S. law that allows the President to regulate international commerce after declaring a national emergency, often used to impose sanctions.
Ex Parte and In Camera: Refers to legal proceedings where information is presented to a judge without all parties present and in private within the judge's chambers, often to protect sensitive or classified information.

ACTION TIMELINE

12 EVENTS

JUN 24, 25

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

INTROREFERRAL

JUN 23, 25

Mr. Burchett moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

FLOOR

JUN 23, 25

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2845-2846, H2877-2878)

FLOOR

JUN 23, 25

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1998.

FLOOR

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Foreign Affairs CommitteeReferred

Apr 9, 2025

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Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals