HR 8282 United States House · 118th Congress

Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act

HR 8282, the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," imposes U.S. sanctions on foreign individuals or entities supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating or prosecuting "protected persons." Protected persons include U.S. military personnel, officials, and allied personnel (from non-ICC member countries) who are not under ICC jurisdiction. The bill requires the President to block assets and deny visas to targeted foreign persons and their immediate family members within 60 days of the ICC attempting such actions. It mandates congressional notification of sanctions and allows termination if the ICC ceases all such efforts against protected persons. The law focuses on restricting U.S. economic and travel access to ICC supporters targeting specific U.S. and allied personnel.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2024

Committee Review

Sep 2024

House Passage

Jun 2024

Senate Passage

President

Introduced May 7, 2024 Last action Sep 11, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 5 edits · Jun 4, 2024

MODERATE

The Engrossed version of HR 8282 adds a new findings section condemning the ICC's arrest warrant applications against Israeli leaders, makes sanctions an ongoing obligation rather than a one-time 60-day action, adds a presidential waiver mechanism for national security cases, and includes a new provision rescinding all existing ICC appropriations and prohibiting future funding. These changes significantly strengthen the bill by adding explicit political context, expanding enforcement scope over time, and cutting off financial support to the ICC.

SCOPE

New Section 2 adds congressional findings that explicitly condemn the ICC Prosecutor's May 20, 2024 arrest warrant applications for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant, declare ICC actions against Israel 'illegitimate and baseless,' and state the US must oppose any ICC action against the US, Israel, or allies.

REQUIREMENT

The sanctions trigger changed from a one-time obligation ('No later than 60 days after enactment') to a continuous obligation ('Not later than 60 days after enactment, and on an ongoing basis thereafter'), meaning the President must keep imposing sanctions as long as the ICC pursues protected persons.

ENFORCEMENT

New waiver provision (Section 2(e)) allows the President to waive sanctions on a case-by-case basis for up to 90 days at a time if determined vital to US national security interests, with required reporting to congressional committees including detailed rationale and actions taken to stop ICC efforts.

FISCAL

New Section 4 rescinds all amounts appropriated for the International Criminal Court that are available for obligation as of the enactment date, and prohibits any future appropriated funds from being used for the ICC.

TECHNICAL

Removed redundant 'has or' language from subsection (a)(1)(B) regarding who has materially assisted ICC efforts, a minor drafting cleanup.

Floor votes · House Jun 4, 2024

How they voted

247–155

Passed · 29 other

Total votes 431

Jun 4, 2024

D Democratic213

42 Yea 155 Nay 16

72% Nay

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican217

204 Yea 13

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Sep 11, 2024

Committee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

upper

Jun 4, 2024

Lower · Passed

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 155, 2 Present (Roll no. 242). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3596-3597)

lower

Jun 4, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 155, 2 Present (Roll no. 242). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3596-3597)

lower

Jun 4, 2024

Lower · Passed

Rule H. Res. 1269 passed House.

lower

Jun 3, 2024

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1269 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8580 and H.R. 8282. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8580 under a structured rule and H.R. 8282 under a closed rule. Rule provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.

lower

May 7, 2024

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

May 7, 2024

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 76 co-sponsors