SEIZE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5623
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-30: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T14:53:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 5623: Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization Act of 2025 (SEIZE Act of 2025)
Purpose
This bill aims to give the U.S. President authority to repurpose weapons and materials seized from shipments originating in Iran and destined for the Houthis in Yemen. By treating these seized items as U.S. property, the legislation seeks to strengthen U.S. efforts to disrupt Iran's support for the Houthis and provide aid to allied nations without needing to acquire new resources.
Key Provisions
- Short Title (Section 1): The act is officially named the "Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization Act of 2025" or the "SEIZE Act of 2025."
- Disposition of Seized Items (Section 2(a)): The President is authorized to classify any weapons or materials (such as equipment or supplies) seized by the U.S. during transit from Iran to the Houthis as official U.S. stocks.
- Drawdown Authority (Section 2(b)): Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (a law governing U.S. foreign aid) to allow the President to draw down—meaning withdraw and transfer—these seized items from U.S. stocks to provide to foreign partners, in addition to existing aid limits.
- Reporting Requirements (Section 2(c)): The President must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the bill's enactment, and annually afterward, detailing:
- How many times the seizure authority was used.
- An inventory (detailed list) of seized items treated as U.S. stocks.
- An inventory of items transferred to foreign partners.
- Definition of Congressional Committees (Section 2(d)): Specifies the "appropriate committees" for receiving reports as the Senate and House Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations/Affairs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new paragraph (4) to Section 506(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2318(a)), which previously allowed the President to draw down U.S. defense articles and services for emergencies but did not explicitly cover seized foreign weapons. This expands the President's flexibility to use intercepted arms in foreign assistance without counting against standard aid caps.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances the U.S. Department of Defense and State Department's ability to counter Iranian arms smuggling efficiently, potentially reducing costs for military aid by reusing seized materials. Increases administrative burdens due to required reporting.
- On Citizens: Minimal direct impact on U.S. citizens, though it could indirectly support national security by bolstering allies against threats like Houthi attacks on shipping routes, which affect global trade and energy prices.
- On International Relations: Strengthens U.S. partnerships with nations opposing Iran and the Houthis (e.g., in the Middle East), while escalating tensions with Iran and the Houthis. May encourage more aggressive U.S. interdiction operations in international waters, affecting maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. President and Executive Branch: Gains expanded authority for foreign policy and military decisions.
- U.S. Congress: Receives oversight through mandatory reports, ensuring accountability.
- Foreign Partners: Countries receiving the transferred weapons (likely U.S. allies like Israel, Saudi Arabia, or UAE) benefit from additional aid to combat Houthi threats.
- Iran and Houthis: Face increased disruption of arms supplies, potentially weakening their military capabilities in Yemen's conflict.
- U.S. Military and Intelligence Agencies: Involved in seizures and distributions, with potential for more operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing U.S. authorities for seizing contraband under international law (e.g., UN sanctions on Iran), but formalizes their reuse, avoiding potential disputes over property rights of seized goods. The reporting mandate promotes transparency and congressional oversight, aligning with separation of powers.
- Constitutional: Reinforces the President's role as Commander-in-Chief in foreign affairs while maintaining checks through Congress, without raising major constitutional challenges.
- Political: Introduced by bipartisan sponsors, it signals unified U.S. support for countering Iran amid ongoing Yemen conflict and Red Sea disruptions. Could influence broader U.S. policy on sanctions and aid, but risks criticism for escalating regional tensions without new funding.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-30: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-09-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-30 — PDF (3 pages)