Congress Votes to Continue Imposing Sanctions on Iran

On July 27, 2006, the US House of Representatives approved by voice vote to extend the Iran Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 (ILSA). ILSA was set to expire on August 5, 2006. H.R. 5877, the bill introduced by House International Relations Committee member Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Chairman Henry J. Hyde (R-IL), provides a simple extension of ILSA until September 29, 2006. On July 31, 2006, the Senate passed the House version of H.R. 5877. In the Senate, H.R. 5877 was read twice and then passed by unanimous consent.

During the House floor debate on H.R. 5877, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said an extension of the original ILSA would give the House and Senate “the additional time to finalize the text of the Iran Freedom Support Act.” The Iran Freedom Support Act (IFSA) passed in the House on April 26, 2006 and still awaits approval by the Senate. IFSA would eliminate sanctions on now-friendly Libya and impose stiffer sanctions on Iran. It would also provide funding for political opposition forces within Iran in promotion of regime change.

Text of H.R. 5877

109th CONGRESS
2d Session

H.R. 5877
To amend the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to extend the authorities provided in such Act until September 29, 2006.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 25, 2006 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Hyde, and Mr. Ackerman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, 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 amend the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to extend the authorities provided in such Act until September 29, 2006. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES UNDER THE IRAN AND LIBYA SANCTIONS ACT OF 1996. Section 13(b) of the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by striking "on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act'' and inserting "on September 29, 2006''.