H.R. 2052 — Combating Houthi Threats and Aggression Act

This section establishes the policy of the United States to work with allies and partners to safeguard maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including by supporting interdiction efforts and opposing attacks on international shipping that threaten commerce, endanger mariners, and violate international law.

This section directs the President, not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report assessing the capability of the Houthis (also known as Ansar Allah) to threaten U.S. national security and foreign policy goals. The report must include (1) an assessment of senior Houthi leadership’s intentions and capacity to conduct and sustain military operations from Yemen targeting the United States, Israel, or global shipping; (2) a description of funding, materiel, training, and other support received from Iran, Hezbollah, or other Iranian proxies, including for indigenous weapons production; (3) a description of ballistic missile and unmanned delivery systems, including those covered under Category 1 or 2 of the Missile Technology Control Regime and their precision and reach; (4) a description of maritime capabilities, including sea missiles and drones; (5) an analysis of current indigenous weapons production capabilities and how control of Al-Hudaydah port and Sana’a International Airport enables sustainment; and (6) an assessment of stockpiles and employment of commercial off-the-shelf dual-use drone technology, including countries of origin. Appropriate congressional committees are defined as the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services and the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Armed Services.

This section directs the President to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, not later than 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter, on Houthi attacks threatening freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The report must include (1) a summary of such attacks; (2) an assessment of their impact on U.S. security interests; (3) an assessment of their impact on the global economy, including the U.S. economy; (4) an assessment of Iran's role, including provision of targeting assistance; (5) a description of China's presence in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden during the reporting period; and (6) an assessment of the attacks' impact on Russia, China, and Iran's freedom of navigation relative to that of the United States and its partners. The initial report covers the period beginning October 7, 2023, and ending 90 days after enactment, with subsequent reports covering one-year periods thereafter. In this section, the appropriate congressional committees are the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services and the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Armed Services.

This section directs the President to submit to the appropriate congressional committees (i.e., House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees; Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees), not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, a report on (1) violations or attempted violations of the United Nations arms embargo against Yemen under UN Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015) and successor resolutions, and (2) incidents in which the United States or other countries interdicted weapons or components believed intended for the Houthis—including for each incident the conducting entity, circumstances and location, seized items and their believed origins, and seizure authority; U.S. government resources and authorities devoted to such efforts; and U.S. coordination with international partners. The initial report covers the period from January 1, 2022, through 90 days after enactment; subsequent reports cover the one-year period following the prior report.

This section requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons determined on or after enactment to be responsible for, complicit in, or materially supporting Houthi (also known as Ansar Allah) attacks threatening international shipping in the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden, or providing arms, materiel, or related assistance to such persons. Sanctions include (1) blocking all property and interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA, 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and (2) rendering such persons ineligible for U.S. visas, admission, or parole under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), with immediate revocation of existing visas. Violations are subject to IEEPA civil and criminal penalties (50 U.S.C. 1705(b)-(c)); the President may waive sanctions case-by-case for up to 180 days upon determining they serve U.S. national security interests, with required congressional notifications (15 days prior) and briefings (60 days after issuance and every 180 days thereafter); implementation uses specified IEEPA authorities (50 U.S.C. 1702, 1704); regulations must be promulgated within 120 days after enactment (with 10 days' prior congressional notice); and exceptions apply to U.S. intelligence activities and certain international or law enforcement obligations.