Sanctions Lists Harmonization Act

Bill Number

H.R. 4291

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-03: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 49 - 0.

Last Updated

2026-05-27T17:46:56Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Sanctions Lists Harmonization Act (H.R. 4291) aims to improve coordination among U.S. federal agencies by requiring them to review and potentially expand sanctions on individuals or entities already listed on one sanctions list to determine if they should be added to others. This promotes consistency and efficiency in applying economic and trade restrictions related to national security, foreign policy, and countering threats like terrorism or military proliferation.

Key Provisions

• Notification Requirement: Within 30 days of adding an individual or entity to one of the specified sanctions lists, the administering federal official must notify officials responsible for the other lists.
• Review and Determination Process:
• Receiving officials must start a review within 30 days of notification.
• They must decide within 90 days whether to add the individual or entity to their list, based on whether the criteria for inclusion are met.
• Reporting Mandate: Within one year of enactment, each relevant federal agency must submit a report to designated congressional committees. The report must:
• Certify compliance with the notification and review processes.
• Describe the agency's decision-making steps.
• List any new additions to sanctions lists resulting from this process.
• Be submitted in unclassified form, with an optional classified section for sensitive details.
• Specified Lists: The bill applies to six key U.S. sanctions lists:
• Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (administered by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control; blocks assets and prohibits transactions).
• Entity List (from Export Administration Regulations, administered by Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security; restricts exports for national security reasons).
• Department of Defense's list under Section 1260H (targets Chinese military companies).
• Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List (Treasury; restricts investments in certain Chinese firms).
• Sectoral Sanctions List (Treasury; targets specific sectors like energy in countries such as Russia).
• Military End User List (Commerce; limits exports to entities involved in military activities).
• Definitions: Includes explanations of "appropriate congressional committees" (key House and Senate panels on foreign affairs, defense, intelligence, and finance) and "Export Administration Regulations" (rules governing U.S. exports).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces mandatory inter-agency notifications and timed reviews, which were not previously required; sanctions lists currently operate somewhat independently across agencies.
• Adds a congressional reporting requirement to ensure accountability and track outcomes, potentially leading to more unified application of sanctions without needing new legislation for each addition.
• Does not create new sanctions authorities but streamlines existing ones, focusing on cross-list harmonization.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload for Treasury, Commerce, and Defense officials through required notifications, reviews, and reports; may foster better inter-agency collaboration but could strain resources if many entities are involved.
• Citizens and Businesses: U.S. individuals and companies may face broader restrictions on dealings with sanctioned parties, affecting trade, investments, and financial transactions; could enhance national security but raise compliance costs.
• International Relations: Strengthens U.S. sanctions enforcement, potentially deterring foreign adversaries (e.g., in China or Russia) by making restrictions more comprehensive and harder to evade; may escalate tensions with targeted countries or strain alliances if sanctions expand rapidly.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: Primarily the Departments of Treasury, Commerce, and Defense, which administer the lists and must coordinate.
• Congressional Committees: House and Senate panels overseeing foreign policy, defense, and finance, which receive reports and can influence implementation.
• Sanctioned Individuals and Entities: Foreign persons or companies on these lists, who could face additional restrictions like asset freezes, export bans, or investment prohibitions.
• U.S. Businesses and Financial Institutions: Entities engaging in international trade or finance, required to screen for and avoid sanctioned parties.
• Foreign Governments and International Actors: Nations or organizations targeted by sanctions, potentially facing heightened economic pressure.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Enhances enforcement of existing sanctions laws (e.g., under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) by mandating reviews, without altering due process for designations; reports to Congress promote transparency while allowing classified handling for security.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over foreign commerce and national defense (Article I, Section 8); no apparent conflicts with executive powers, as it directs agency actions without overriding presidential discretion.
• Political: Signals bipartisan support for tougher, more coordinated sanctions (introduced by Reps. Fine and Moskowitz); could politicize sanctions if used to target specific regimes, influencing U.S. foreign policy debates, but focuses on procedural efficiency rather than new substantive rules.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-03: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 49 - 0.
• 2025-12-03: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-07-02: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.
• 2025-07-02: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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.
• 2025-07-02: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-02: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Sanctions Lists Harmonization Act — issued 2025-07-02 — PDF (5 pages)