This bill imposes terrorism-related sanctions on the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and requires reports on designating the PRC and Lions' Den as terrorist organizations.
Pete Ricketts
Senator
NE
The Accountability for Terrorist Perpetrators of October 7th Act imposes terrorism sanctions on the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and requires the President to sanction foreign individuals and entities affiliated with the PRC. It also mandates a report from the Secretary of State to Congress on whether the Lions' Den and PRC meet the criteria to be designated as specially designated global terrorists or foreign terrorist organizations, with ongoing reports on new entities operating under the PRC. The President has the authority to waive sanctions for national security interests and terminate them if the sanctioned entity ceases terrorist activities. The Act defines key terms such as "foreign person," "entity," and "United States person" to clarify the scope and applicability of the sanctions and reporting requirements.
New Bill Targets Popular Resistance Committees with Sanctions Following October 7th Attacks
This legislation, the Accountability for Terrorist Perpetrators of October 7th Act, directs the U.S. government to impose significant sanctions on the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), a group Congress notes has claimed responsibility for participating in the October 7th, 2023 attacks on Israel. The core idea is to block the PRC and its associates from using the U.S. financial system and to prevent its members from entering the country.
Locking Down Assets and Access
The bill mandates the President, starting 90 days after it becomes law, to apply sanctions against the PRC itself, its officials, agents, affiliates, anyone owned or controlled by them, and any armed groups operating under the PRC banner. What does this mean in practice? It means freezing assets. Any property or financial interests linked to these sanctioned individuals or groups that are within the U.S., come into the U.S., or are handled by a U.S. person (like a bank) are to be blocked. Think frozen accounts and seized assets.
Beyond finances, the bill hits travel. Individuals identified as being associated with the PRC will be barred from entering the United States – they're deemed inadmissible, ineligible for visas, and any existing visas get revoked immediately. There are narrow exceptions, mainly for fulfilling UN obligations or for authorized U.S. intelligence and law enforcement activities.
Watching and Reporting: Who's Next?
It's not just about the PRC as it exists now. The Secretary of State is tasked with reporting to Congress within 90 days on whether the PRC and another group, Lions' Den, meet the criteria to be formally designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists or Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This reporting continues every two years, specifically looking for new entities operating under the PRC umbrella and assessing if they warrant sanctions or official terrorist designations. If the Secretary decides not to designate a group identified as operating under the PRC, they need to explain why in detail.
Flexibility and Fine Print
While the sanctions are mandatory, the bill includes an escape hatch. The President can waive the sanctions for up to 180 days if deemed vital for U.S. national security, though Congress needs a 15-day heads-up. This waiver power provides flexibility but also raises questions about how consistently the sanctions might be applied. The bill also lays out definitions for terms like 'foreign person' and 'entity' to clarify who falls under these rules. Penalties for violating these sanctions fall under the existing International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which can include hefty fines and imprisonment.