House Passes Iran-Related Bills Following Attack on Israel

Explosions light up the sky in Hebron, West Bank, during an Iranian attack on Israel, on April 14, 2024, in a still from video. (AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)

The House of Representatives is scheduled on April 15 to vote on its first batch of legislation in response to Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said on April 13 that the House “will move from its previously announced legislative schedule ... to instead consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable.”

The No U.S. Financing for Iran Act of 2023 passed 294–105. It would “prohibit the secretary of the Treasury from authorizing certain transactions by a United States financial institution in connection with Iran, to prevent the International Monetary Fund from providing financial assistance to Iran, to codify prohibitions on Export-Import Bank financing for the Government of Iran, and for other purposes.”

The bill, introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), would only allow for American institutions giving humanitarian aid to Iran. The five-page measure would be repealed 30 days after the president certifies to Congress that Iran no longer backs terrorism and is not a place that tolerates money laundering.

Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act of 2023 passed 383–1. It would “impose restrictions on correspondent and payable-through accounts in the United States with respect to Chinese financial institutions that conduct transactions involving the purchase of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.”

No later than 180 days after the six-page bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), takes effect, the president would “determine whether any Chinese financial institution has engaged in a significant financial transaction” of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran. This would be reported to the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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Finally, a nine-page bill, introduced by Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) passed 382–11. It would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to terminate the tax-exempt status of terrorist-supporting organizations.” There are 68 terrorist groups designated by the United States, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Palestine Liberation Front.

Iran launched 170 drones, more than 120 ballistic missiles, and more than 30 cruise missiles at the Jewish state, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Almost all projectiles were intercepted by Israel and Western allies, including the United Kingdom and Jordan. This was said to be retaliation after Israel earlier this month killed Iranian army leaders in Damascus, Syria, at a headquarters of the IRGC, which is a U.S.-designated terrorist group.

In addition to the Iran-related bills, the House is looking to pass legislation to give Israel assistance. There have been calls for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to bring up the $95 billion Senate bill that would give $14 billion in assistance to the Jewish state. It also includes aid to Ukraine—a point of contention among some in the GOP, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who is critical of giving assistance to Kyiv, and has suggested she would bring forth a motion to strip Mr. Johnson of the gavel were he to bring up that bill.