HR 4681 United States House · 118th Congress

Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act of 2023

HR 4681, the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act of 2023, imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign individuals and entities involved in the illicit production and trafficking of Captagon - a stimulant drug. It directly affects foreign persons (including officials and networks linked to Syria’s government or Hezbollah) who materially contribute to Captagon trafficking. Key mechanisms include blocking their U.S. assets, denying visas or entry to the U.S., and imposing penalties for violations. The bill requires the President to identify and sanction specific targets within 180 days, such as Syrian officials named in the bill, to dismantle trafficking networks. The policy aims to disrupt transnational criminal organizations profiting from Captagon trafficking, consistent with U.S. national security interests.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2023

Committee Review

Apr 2024

House Passage

Apr 2024

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Jul 17, 2023 Last action Apr 17, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 4 edits · Apr 16, 2024

MODERATE

The Engrossed version of HR 4681 makes three substantive policy changes: it lowers the threshold for presidential sanctions waivers from 'vital national security interests' to 'important to the national security interests,' adds a new humanitarian waiver allowing the President to exempt nongovernmental organizations providing humanitarian assistance for renewable periods up to 2 years, and adds an exception clarifying that sanctions may not be imposed on the importation of goods. The remaining changes are typographical (curly quotes removed, line breaks adjusted, minor capitalization fixes).

ENFORCEMENT

The standard for a presidential waiver of sanctions was lowered from 'vital national security interests of the United States' to 'important to the national security interests of the United States,' making it easier for the President to grant waivers.

ELIGIBILITY

A new humanitarian waiver provision (section 4(e)) allows the President to waive sanctions for nongovernmental organizations providing humanitarian assistance, for renewable periods not exceeding 2 years, upon certification that the waiver is important to address a humanitarian need and consistent with national security interests. A briefing to Congress is required within 90 days of issuance and every 180 days thereafter.

SCOPE

A new exception (section 4(i)) states that sanctions authorities under this section do not include authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods. 'Good' is defined as any article, natural or manmade substance, material, supply, or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, and excluding technical data.

TECHNICAL

The descriptor 'a Syrian national' was removed from the name listing for Abdellatif Hamid in section 5(a)(7), leaving only his name.

Floor votes · House Apr 16, 2024

How they voted

410–13

Passed · 8 other

Total votes 431

Apr 16, 2024

D Democratic213

198 Yea 10 Nay 5

92% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican217

211 Yea 3 Nay 3

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 17, 2024

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

upper

Apr 16, 2024

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 410 - 13 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H2419-2420)

lower

Apr 16, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 410 - 13 (Roll no. 129). (text: CR H2419-2420)

lower

Apr 16, 2024

Introduced

Mr. Moran moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Nov 7, 2023

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.

lower

Nov 7, 2023

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Jul 17, 2023

Committee

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.

lower

Jul 17, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors