[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1939 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1939
To require the imposition of sanctions with respect to conflict in
Sudan, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2025
Mr. Meeks (for himself, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Amo, Mrs.
Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr.
Keating, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Meng, Mr. Morelle, Ms. Omar, Mr.
Schneider, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the
Committees on Financial Services, the Judiciary, and Oversight and
Government Reform, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the imposition of sanctions with respect to conflict in
Sudan, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Engagement in
Sudanese Peace Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Statement of policy.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
TITLE I--SANCTIONS AUTHORITIES
Sec. 101. Report on international crimes and blocking humanitarian aid.
Sec. 102. Report on foreign entities violating the United Nations arms
embargo on Darfur.
Sec. 103. Sanctions required.
Sec. 104. Termination of sanctions.
Sec. 105. Definitions.
TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Strategy.
Sec. 202. Special Envoy for Sudan.
Sec. 203. Use of United States influence at the United Nations.
Sec. 204. Assistance to deploy and sustain a United Nations, African
Union, or multinational force.
Sec. 205. Empowering Sudanese women and youth.
Sec. 206. Prohibition on sale and licensing of major defense equipment.
Sec. 207. Certification and report on non-restriction of United States
humanitarian assistance in Sudan.
Sec. 208. Report on United States weapons being used in Sudan.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to support an inclusive diplomatic process, that
meaningfully includes women and youth leaders, and marginalized
communities, to establish a cease fire and a sustainable peace
agreement in Sudan;
(2) to support justice and accountability for violations of
international humanitarian law, genocide, war crimes, crimes
against humanity, and other serious human rights abuses by
armed actors in Sudan, especially those involved in the
conflict that began on April 15, 2023, those who perpetrated
the October 25, 2021, coup d'etat, and those who committed
human rights abuses during and in the wake of the state of
emergency declared by the military junta after the October 25,
2021, coup d'etat; and
(3) to pursue a strategy on Sudan that includes--
(A) leading and coordinating international efforts
to establish and facilitate a comprehensive and
inclusive peace process that meaningfully includes
civil society and seeks a sustainable end to the
country's conflicts;
(B) facilitating unrestricted delivery of
humanitarian aid throughout Sudan, across military
lines and across international borders, including
through local grassroots organizations;
(C) developing and advancing a plan for the
prevention of mass atrocities and for protecting
civilians;
(D) pursuing survivor-centered justice and
accountability for violations of international
humanitarian law, genocide, war crimes, crimes against
humanity, and other serious human rights abuses,
including conflict-related sexual and gender-based
violence; and
(E) supporting an inclusive dialogue aimed at
establishing a civilian-led transition to democracy,
including by promoting mechanisms that ensure the
meaningful leadership and inclusion of women, youth,
and traditionally marginalized communities.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, should--
(A) sanction the leadership of the Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)
responsible for strategic decisions that have directed
or enabled the commission of atrocities, including
genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity;
(B) sanction adult family members of those in the
leadership of the RSF and SAF unless such family member
has condemned the sanctionable activity and taken
tangible steps to oppose the activity; and
(C) designate the RSF for sanctions;
(2) the United Nations should expand its arms embargo to
all of Sudan;
(3) United Nations assessed contributions should be used
pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719
(2023) to fund an African Union force to protect civilians,
support ceasefire monitoring, or secure humanitarian operations
in Sudan if such a force is authorized; and
(4) the Department of State and United States Agency for
International Development should develop a plan to facilitate
greater funding to emergency response rooms and other local
mutual aid organizations providing humanitarian assistance in
Sudan, including use of market-based assistance.
TITLE I--SANCTIONS AUTHORITIES
SEC. 101. REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMES AND BLOCKING HUMANITARIAN AID.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report that identifies each foreign person
that has knowingly engaged in any of the following conduct in Sudan
since April 2023:
(1) Perpetrating, directing, or enabling the commission of
genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity against
civilians.
(2) Systematic blocking of and interference with the
delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.
(b) Update.--The President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees an update of the report required by subsection
(a) for each of the 5 calendar years following the calendar year in
which the initial report is submitted.
SEC. 102. REPORT ON FOREIGN ENTITIES VIOLATING THE UNITED NATIONS ARMS
EMBARGO ON DARFUR.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report that identifies each foreign person
determined to be violating the United Nations arms embargo on Darfur
imposed pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1556
(July 30, 2004) and 1591 (March 29, 2005).
(b) Update.--The President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees an update of the report required by subsection
(a) for each of the 5 calendar years following the calendar year in
which the initial report is submitted.
SEC. 103. SANCTIONS REQUIRED.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which the
President--
(1) submits the report or update to the report required by
section 101, the President shall impose 6 or more of the
sanctions described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection
(b) on each foreign person identified in the report; and
(2) submits the report or update to the report required by
section 102, the President shall impose 4 or more of the
sanctions described in paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (6), and (7)
of subsection (b) on each foreign person identified in the
report.
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President shall pursuant to
the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701
et seq.), block and prohibit all transactions in all property
and interests in property of the foreign person if such
property and interests in property are in the United States,
come within the United States, or are or come within the
possession or control of a United States person.
(2) Export-import bank assistance for exports to sanctioned
persons.--The President shall direct the Export-Import Bank of
the United States not to give approval to the issuance of any
guarantee, insurance, extension of credit, or participation in
the extension of credit in connection with the export of any
goods or services to the foreign person.
(3) Loans from united states financial institutions.--The
President shall prohibit any United States financial
institution from making loans or providing credits to the
foreign person totaling more than $10,000,000 in any 12-month
period unless the person is primarily engaged in activities to
relieve human suffering and the loans or credits are provided
for such activities.
(4) Loans from international financial institutions.--The
President shall direct the United States executive director to
each international financial institution to use the voice and
vote of the United States to oppose any loan from the
international financial institution that would benefit the
foreign person.
(5) Loans from the international development finance
corporation and the united states trade and development
agency.--The President shall direct the Chief Executive Officer
of the United States International Development Finance
Corporation and the Director of the United States Trade and
Development Agency to prohibit any loan, loan guarantee, equity
investment, project assistance, or any other type of support to
a listed foreign person.
(6) Procurement sanction.--The United States Government may
not procure, or enter into any contract for the procurement of,
any goods or services from the foreign person.
(7) Exclusion of foreign individuals.--
(A) In general.--The President shall direct the
Secretary of State to deny a visa to, and the Secretary
of Homeland Security to exclude from the United States,
any individual identified in the report required by
subsection (a).
(B) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien who the
Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland
Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries)
knows, or has reason to believe, is described in
subparagraph (A) is--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible for a visa or other
documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted
or paroled into the United States or to receive
any other benefit under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(C) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--The issuing consular
officer, the Secretary of State, or the
Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee
of one of such Secretaries) shall, in
accordance with section 221(i) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1201(i)), revoke any visa or other entry
documentation issued to an alien described in
subparagraph (A) regardless of when the visa or
other entry documentation is issued.
(ii) Effect of revocation.--A revocation
under clause (i)--
(I) shall take effect immediately;
and
(II) shall automatically cancel any
other valid visa or entry documentation
that is in the alien's possession.
(c) Exceptions.--
(1) Exception to comply with international obligations.--
Sanctions under subsection (b)(7) shall not apply with respect
to the admission of an alien if admitting or paroling the alien
into the United States is necessary to permit the United States
to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the
United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and
entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United
Nations and the United States, or other applicable
international obligations.
(2) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian
assistance.--Sanctions under this section may not be imposed
with respect to transactions or the facilitation of
transactions for--
(A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food,
medicine, or medical devices;
(B) the provision of humanitarian assistance;
(C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian
assistance; or
(D) transporting goods or services that are
necessary to carry out operations relating to
humanitarian assistance.
(3) Exception for intelligence, law enforcement, and
national security activities.--Sanctions under this section
shall not apply to any authorized intelligence, law
enforcement, or national security activities of the United
States.
(4) Classified information.--In any judicial review of a
determination made under this section, if the determination was
based on classified information (as defined in section 1(a) of
the Classified Information Procedures Act) such information may
be submitted to the reviewing court ex parte and in camera.
This paragraph does not confer or imply any right to judicial
review.
(d) National Interest Waiver.--The President may waive the
imposition of sanctions under subsection (b) with respect to a person
if the President--
(1) determines that such a waiver is vital to the national
interests of the United States; and
(2) not more than 15 days after issuing the waiver, submits
to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of
the waiver and the reasons for the waiver.
SEC. 104. TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the
President may terminate the application of sanctions under this section
with respect to a person if the President determines and reports to the
appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days before the
termination of the sanctions that--
(1) credible information exists that the person did not
engage in the activity for which sanctions were imposed;
(2) the person has credibly demonstrated a significant
change in behavior, has paid an appropriate consequence for the
activity for which sanctions were imposed, and has credibly
committed to not engage in an activity described in subsection
(a) in the future; or
(3) the termination of the sanctions is in the vital
national interests of the United States.
(b) Sanctions Relating to Blocking the Provision of Humanitarian
Aid to Civilians.--The authority to impose sanctions under section
101(3) shall terminate if a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict
is reached and implemented between the warring parties in Sudan.
SEC. 105. DEFINITIONS.
In this title--
(1) the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
Senate;
(2) the term ``foreign person'' means an individual or
entity that is not a United States person; and
(3) the term ``United States person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen;
(B) a permanent resident alien of the United
States; or
(C) an entity organized under the laws of the
United States or of any jurisdiction within the United
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.
TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate a strategy to support the protection of
civilians, the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and progress
towards a sustainable peace in Sudan that includes--
(1) plans for establishing and leading a diplomatic
mechanism for negotiations that lead to a comprehensive
ceasefire and a sustainable peace;
(2) actions in multilateral fora and with regional
institutions in support of protection of civilians, sustained
and unimpeded humanitarian access, enforcement of the United
Nations arms embargo and the expansion of the United Nations
arms embargo to include all of Sudan;
(3) plans to support an inclusive civilian political
dialogue, including activities to improve and increase women's
and youth's meaningful leadership and participation in
political negotiations, related to the development of a
constitutional framework and a pathway that will lead to
civilian rule;
(4) efforts to support grassroots organizations that are
currently providing humanitarian and peacebuilding assistance
to the Sudanese people in conflict-affected areas that
traditional implementing partners cannot reach, including
through the development of mechanisms through which to fund
organizations and the facilitation of electronic means and
other technology enabling communication;
(5) efforts to provide training and other support for
doctors, lawyers, and other human rights defenders, as well as
those working at the grassroots providing humanitarian
assistance, on activities undertaken to--
(A) support accountability for human rights abuses,
including gathering witness testimony and preservation
of forensic evidence; and
(B) provide psychosocial support for Sudanese
civilians who experienced violence, particularly
victims of conflict related sexual and gender-based
violence;
(6) a comprehensive sanctions strategy focused on deterring
genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, ending
hostilities, and supporting accountability by--
(A) targeting actors, both within Sudan and
internationally, who are responsible for gross
violations of human rights and international
humanitarian law and whose actions enable those
responsible for such violations; and
(B) targeting actors providing arms, material, and
financial support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and
the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) or individuals
belonging to or affiliated with these individuals; and
(7) an identification of countries supporting the RSF or
SAF through provision of materiel or other resources or
equipment.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the
strategy required by subsection (a) is submitted to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate, and every 180 days thereafter for 4
years, the Secretary of State shall submit to such committees a report
on implementation of the strategy that includes substantive updates of
the matters described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a).
SEC. 202. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SUDAN.
(a) In General.--Section 7204 of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``with the advice and
consent of the Senate'' and inserting ``consistent with section
1(j) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22
U.S.C. 2651a(j))''; and
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ``shall terminate on the
date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act'' and inserting ``shall terminate on the date that is 5
years after the date of the enactment of this Act''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to
carry out the amendments made by subsection (a).
SEC. 203. USE OF UNITED STATES INFLUENCE AT THE UNITED NATIONS.
The Secretary of State and the United States Permanent
Representative to the United Nations shall use the voice, vote, and
influence of the United States at the United Nations and other
multilateral bodies to--
(1) advocate for unimpeded humanitarian access and an
immediate end to bureaucratic impediments to humanitarian
assistance in Sudan;
(2) support the documentation of atrocities including
possible genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity;
(3) ensure development of plans for protection of civilians
in Sudan; and
(4) advocate for an end to hostilities in Sudan.
SEC. 204. ASSISTANCE TO DEPLOY AND SUSTAIN A UNITED NATIONS, AFRICAN
UNION, OR MULTINATIONAL FORCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, is authorized to provide assistance to deploy and sustain
a United Nations, African Union, or multinational force to advance
civilian protection, facilitate humanitarian operations, and monitor
any prospective ceasefire in Sudan.
(b) Conditions.--
(1) In general.--Assistance provided under subsection (a)
may not be provided until the force has agreed not to transfer
title to, or possession of, any such assistance to anyone not
an officer, employee or agent of the force, and not to use or
to permit the use of such assistance for any purposes other
than those for which such assistance was furnished, unless the
consent of the President has first been obtained, and written
assurances reflecting all of the forgoing have been obtained
from the force by the President.
(2) Congressional notification.--If the President consents
to the transfer of such assistance to anyone not an officer,
employee, or agent of the force, or agrees to permit the use of
such assistance for any purposes other than those for which
such assistance was furnished, the President shall immediately
notify the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate in accordance with the procedures applicable to
reprogramming notifications under section 634A of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1).
(c) Additional Civilian Protection Options.--The Secretary of
State, in consultation with the Administrator of USAID, shall engage
the United Nations, African Union, and other international, regional,
and local stakeholders to develop additional civilian protection
options in Sudan, including community-based mechanisms, and
international monitoring or observation mechanisms.
(d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary
of State, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Administrator
of the United States Agency for International Development are
authorized to detail or second staff and to provide other technical
assistance to the African Union to analyze conditions and plan for the
potential establishment of a multinational civilian protection force in
Sudan.
SEC. 205. EMPOWERING SUDANESE WOMEN AND YOUTH.
(a) Sudanese Women.--Consistent with the Women, Peace, and Security
Act of 2017, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development, in coordination with heads
of other relevant Federal agencies and supported by the U.S.
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, should take all
available measures to actively facilitate the safe and meaningful
leadership and participation of Sudanese women in--
(1) all formal and informal conflict prevention and
conflict resolution processes to address the conflict in Sudan,
as well as post-conflict relief, recovery, justice,
accountability, and democratic governance efforts;
(2) all gender-based violence prevention, mitigation, and
response efforts; and
(3) planning and delivery of humanitarian relief and
protection efforts to promote increased safety and access to
humanitarian assistance by women and girls.
(b) Sudanese Youth.--The Secretary of State and the Administrator
of the United States Agency for International Development should
actively facilitate the safe and meaningful leadership and
participation of Sudanese youth in--
(1) all conflict prevention and conflict resolution
processes to address the conflict in Sudan, as well as post-
conflict relief, recovery, justice, accountability, and
democratic governance efforts;
(2) all gender-based violence prevention, mitigation, and
response efforts; and
(3) planning and delivery of humanitarian relief and
protection efforts.
SEC. 206. PROHIBITION ON SALE AND LICENSING OF MAJOR DEFENSE EQUIPMENT.
(a) In General.--No sale, export, or transfer of major defense
equipment (as such term is defined in section 47(6) of the Arms Export
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794(6)) may be provided to any country that the
President identifies as supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) or
the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) pursuant to section 201(7).
(b) Waiver.--The President may waive the prohibition in subsection
(a) on a case-by-case basis if the President--
(1) determines such a waiver is vital to the national
interests of the United States; and
(2) not more than 15 days after issuing the waiver, submits
to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of
the waiver and a detailed description and justification for the
utilization of the waiver.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate.
SEC. 207. CERTIFICATION AND REPORT ON NON-RESTRICTION OF UNITED STATES
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN SUDAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate a certification and report consistent
with the requirements of section 620I(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 describing and assessing the extent to which any country
prohibits or otherwise restricts, directly or indirectly, the transport
or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance in Sudan,
including any United States Government-supported international efforts
to provide such humanitarian assistance.
(b) Use of Exception.--The certification and report required by
subsection (a) shall include a description of any uses of the exercise
of the authority described in section 620I(b) of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 and the date such waiver was exercised in the continued
provision of assistance to such country.
(c) Form.--The certification and report required by subsection (a)
shall be provided in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex if submitted separately from the unclassified portion.
SEC. 208. REPORT ON UNITED STATES WEAPONS BEING USED IN SUDAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, shall
submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report on
United States-origin weapons or military equipment being used by
belligerents in Sudan.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The report shall include the
following:
(1) An assessment of whether United States-origin weapons
have been or are currently being used by belligerents in Sudan
and by which actors.
(2) A list of the types of United States-origin weapons
identified as having been used by belligerents in Sudan.
(3) An analysis of the chain of control for any United
States-origin weapons identified as having been used by
belligerents in Sudan.
(4) A summary of actions already taken or steps necessary
to prevent any United States-origin weapons from being used by
belligerents in Sudan.
(c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted
in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex if submitted
separately from the unclassified portion.
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