Also passes bill to promote role of women in resolving conflict

Washington, D.C. – Today the House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), passed two measures addressing state sponsors of terrorism and a bill to promote the role of women in resolving conflict.  A summary of the committee action, including adopted amendments, is available HERE.

The first measure, Rep. Ted Yoho’s (R-FL) H.R. 5484, the State Sponsors of Terrorism Review Enhancement Act, strengthens congressional oversight and extends the time a designated country must refrain from sponsoring terrorism – from six months to 24 months – before the president can remove it from the official list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

In remarks prior to passage of H.R. 5484, Chairman Royce said:  “The designation of a foreign government as a ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’ is one of our government’s most powerful statements. In addition to imposing sanctions and other restrictions, the designation itself earns a state pariah status internationally.  That’s deserved – after all, these are countries whose governments back the killing of innocents as a matter of policy.  Yet under current law, to de-list a state-sponsor, the administration only needs to certify that the country has refrained from supporting terrorism for a mere six months. We shouldn’t be giving terrorist regimes a clean bill of health in such a short time. Period.

“To address this, Mr Yoho’s legislation quadruples the time that a designated country must refrain from sponsoring terrorism before the President can remove that country from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list – from six months to 24 months.  And it doubles the time that Congress has to review, and potentially overturn, the President’s proposed removal of a country from that list – from 45 days to 90 days – strengthening Congressional oversight.”

The second measure, H.R. 5208, the North Korea State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act of 2016, introduced by Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), was passed by the committee as amended.  The bill requires the administration to produce a report on the designation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.

In remarks prior to passage of H.R. 5208, Chairman Royce said:  “In 2008, North Korea’s designation was rescinded following commitments it made to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.  North Korea got its delisting, but kept its nuclear program – as evidenced by its fourth nuclear test earlier this year.  Since 2008, not only has North Korea’s nuclear weapons program advanced, so too has its support for terrorism.  The Kim regime has reportedly continued to supply surface-to-air missiles and explosives to Hamas and Hezbollah, shelled South Korean civilians on Yeongpyeong Island, and attempted assassinations of North Korean dissidents living abroad.  This legislation requires the State Department to examine these actions and report to Congress on whether North Korea should be re-listed as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.” 

The committee also passed, as amended, H.R. 5332, the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2016, introduced by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD).  The bill ensures that the United States promotes the meaningful participation of women in mediation and negotiations processes seeking to prevent, mitigate, or resolve violent conflict.

In remarks prior to passage of H.R. 5332, Chairman Royce said:  “In March, this committee held a hearing where we heard powerful testimony about the importance of including women in peace processes around the world.  Simply put, when women are at the negotiating table, peace is more likely.  This bill recognizes that it is in our national interest to advance women’s participation in preventing and resolving conflict globally, and requires a government-wide strategy to that effect.” 

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