H.R. 3315 — No Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act

This section states congressional findings on Hezbollah's expanding networks in Latin America, including its terrorist designation in only five countries (Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Paraguay); support from regimes such as Venezuela's; limited local monitoring and prosecution absent such designations; and recent focus on infiltrating criminal networks, money laundering, and smuggling operations.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should pursue aggressive efforts against Iranian proxy networks in the Western Hemisphere, including by (1) demanding that governments end impunity for designated individuals and entities or face consequences under this Act; (2) working with allies, potentially through forums such as the Financial Action Task Force, to greylist government entities cooperating with Hezbollah; (3) engaging Latin American governments to ensure they have adequate legislative tools to investigate terrorist activities and combat terrorism financing; and (4) persuading Latin American allies to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization using Argentina's model as a blueprint.

This section defines the term “appropriate congressional committees” as (1) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; (2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; (3) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (4) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; (5) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and (6) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

This section requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Homeland Security, Attorney General, and heads of other relevant federal agencies, to assess within 180 days of enactment whether any country, region, or jurisdiction in Latin America qualifies as a terrorist sanctuary under section 140(d)(4) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)(4)), and submit the results to the appropriate congressional committees. In conducting the assessment, the Secretary must consider (1) the extent to which Hezbollah or other designated foreign terrorist organizations operate freely, raise or transfer funds, recruit, or obtain safe haven in the area; (2) whether the host government has knowingly tolerated such activities or failed to address them; and (3) other relevant factors.

This section authorizes the President to impose visa revocation and admission sanctions on government officials of any foreign state, subdivision, or municipality designated as a terrorist sanctuary under section 5, unless the official has taken significant, verifiable steps to stop such activity or the jurisdiction no longer qualifies as a sanctuary under 22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)(4). Sanctions include inadmissibility to the United States, ineligibility for visas or other entry documentation, and immediate revocation of any existing visas (which automatically cancels other valid documentation in the individual's possession), with the Secretary of State required to issue implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment. The section provides exceptions for law enforcement objectives or U.N. Headquarters Agreement obligations; case-by-case waivers for individuals (up to 180 days) or jurisdictions (up to one year) vital to U.S. national security or national interests, with reports to congressional committees at least 15 days prior; and termination of sanctions upon presidential determination (with 15-day advance report) that the individual has ceased relevant activities, provided assurances, or that termination serves national security interests. The President must issue regulations to implement the section.