Ask AI
Public Law115th CongressInternational Affairs
H.R. 3342Became Law

Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

This bill became law

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary public law (Dec 21, 2018)

Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

(Sec. 2) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn the use of innocent civilians as human shields.

(Sec. 3) The President shall submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of:

  • each foreign person that is a member of Hizballah or Hamas or is knowingly acting on behalf of Hizballah or Hamas and knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, and
  • each foreign person or agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that knowingly and materially directs or supports any such act.

The President shall impose U.S.-based property-blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against a listed person, entity, or instrumentality.

The President is urged to submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of each foreign person or entity that knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, excluding those foreign persons included in the most recent mandatory sanctions list.

(Sec. 5) This bill shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2023.

What just happenedDec 21, 2018

Became Public Law No: 115-348.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8](R-WI)Sponsor
26 cosponsors11 D15 R
Read on Congress.gov
26cosponsors3committees34actions4amendments1related bills13subjects
  1. Dec 21, 2018President

    Became Public Law No: 115-348.

  2. Dec 21, 2018BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 115-348.

  3. Dec 21, 2018President

    Signed by President.

  4. Dec 21, 2018BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Dec 13, 2018Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Dec 13, 2018President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Dec 11, 2018ResolvingDifferencesH41931

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  8. Dec 11, 2018ResolvingDifferencesH41610

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection. (text: CR H10078-10079)

  9. Dec 11, 2018NotUsed19500

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.(text: CR H10078-10079)

  10. Dec 11, 2018FloorH8D000

    Mr. Royce (CA) asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H10078-10079)

  11. Oct 12, 2018Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  12. Oct 11, 2018Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

  13. Oct 11, 2018Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

  14. Oct 11, 2018Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6881)

  15. Oct 11, 2018Discharge

    Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  16. Oct 11, 2018Committee14500

    Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  17. Oct 26, 2017IntroReferral

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

    Foreign Relations Committee
  18. Oct 25, 2017FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  19. Oct 25, 2017FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8178-8179)

  20. Oct 25, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8178-8179)

  21. Oct 25, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3342.

  22. Oct 25, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8178-8183)

  23. Oct 25, 2017FloorH30300

    Mr. Royce (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  24. Oct 24, 2017CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 269.

  25. Oct 24, 2017DischargeH12300

    Committee on the Judiciary discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  26. Oct 24, 2017Committee5500

    Committee on the Judiciary discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  27. Oct 24, 2017CommitteeH12200

    Reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 115-367, Part I.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  28. Oct 24, 2017Committee5000

    Reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 115-367, Part I.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  29. Sep 28, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  30. Sep 28, 2017Committee

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  31. Jul 20, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Judiciary Committee
  32. Jul 20, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  33. Jul 20, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  34. Jul 20, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawDec 21, 201849

Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

(Sec. 2) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn the use of innocent civilians as human shields.

(Sec. 3) The President shall submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of:

  • each foreign person that is a member of Hizballah or Hamas or is knowingly acting on behalf of Hizballah or Hamas and knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, and
  • each foreign person or agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that knowingly and materially directs or supports any such act.

The President shall impose U.S.-based property-blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against a listed person, entity, or instrumentality.

The President is urged to submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of each foreign person or entity that knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, excluding those foreign persons included in the most recent mandatory sanctions list.

(Sec. 5) This bill shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2023.

Passed Senate amendedOct 11, 201835

Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

(Sec. 2) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn the use of innocent civilians as human shields.

(Sec. 3) The President shall submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of:

  • each foreign person that is a member of Hizballah or Hamas or is knowingly acting on behalf of Hizballah or Hamas and knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, and
  • each foreign person or agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that knowingly and materially directs or supports any such act.

The President shall impose U.S.-based property-blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against a listed person, entity, or instrumentality.

The President is urged to submit to Congress within one year, and annually thereafter, a list of each foreign person or entity that knowingly directs the use of civilians protected by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, excluding those foreign persons included in the most recent mandatory sanctions list.

(Sec. 5) This bill shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2023.

Passed House amendedOct 25, 201736

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

(Sec. 3) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn Hizballah's use of human shields as a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights and act against those that engage in such practice.

(Sec. 4) The President is urged to use U.S. influence at the United Nations Security Council to secure support for a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions against Hizballah for its use of human shields.

(Sec. 5) The President shall:

  • transmit to Congress and update a list of each foreign person or entity that is a member of, or acting on behalf of, Hizballah and that is responsible for, or complicit in, the use of human shields and each foreign person, entity, or instrumentality of a foreign state that has supported or facilitated such person or entity; and
  • impose U.S.-based property blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against such person, entity, or instrumentality.

The President may waive the application of sanctions for up to 120 days if the President reports to Congress that such waiver is vital to national security interests.

(Sec. 6) The President shall report to Congress on whether the following persons or instrumentalities meet sanctions criteria: (1) the Secretary General of Hizballah; (2) members of the Hizballah Politburo; (3) other senior members of Hizballah or other associated entities as the President determines appropriate; and (4) any person, agency, or instrumentality of a foreign state that provides material support to Hizballah's use of civilian human shields.

Reported to House without amendment, Part IOct 24, 201728

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

(Sec. 3) This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn Hizballah's use of human shields as a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights and act against those that engage in such practice.

(Sec. 4) The President is urged to use U.S. influence at the United Nations Security Council to secure support for a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions against Hizballah for its use of human shields.

(Sec. 5) The President shall:

  • transmit to Congress and update a list of each foreign person or entity that is a member of, or acting on behalf of, Hizballah and that is responsible for, or complicit in, the use of human shields and each foreign person, entity, or instrumentality of a foreign state that has supported or facilitated such person or entity; and
  • impose U.S.-based property blocking and visa sanctions, including revocation of existing visas, against such person, entity, or instrumentality.

The President may waive the application of sanctions for up to 120 days if the President reports to Congress that such waiver is vital to national security interests.

(Sec. 6) The President shall report to Congress on whether the following persons or instrumentalities meet sanctions criteria: (1) the Secretary General of Hizballah; (2) members of the Hizballah Politburo; (3) other senior members of Hizballah or other associated entities that the President determines appropriate; and (4) any person, agency, or instrumentality of a foreign state that provides material support to Hizballah's use of civilian human shields.

Introduced in HouseJul 20, 2017

Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act

This bill states that it shall be U.S. policy to condemn Hizballah's use of human shields as a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights.

The President is urged to use U.S. influence at the United Nations Security Council to secure support for a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions against Hizballah for its use of human shields.

The President shall:

  • transmit to Congress and update a list of each foreign person or entity that is a member of, or acting on behalf of, Hizballah and that is responsible for, or complicit in, the use of human shields and each foreign person, entity, or instrumentality of a foreign state that has supported or facilitated such person or entity;
  • impose asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against such person, entity, or instrumentality; and
  • report to Congress on whether specified persons or instrumentalities meet such sanctions criteria.

The President may waive the application of such sanctions for up to 120 days if the President reports that such waiver is vital to national security interests.

Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act — Informed