{"format":1,"id":"118-hr-5917","congress":118,"number":"H.R. 5917","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","official_title":"To amend the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act to modify and extend that Act, and for other purposes.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To amend the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act to modify and extend that Act, and for other purposes."},{"type":"Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act"},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act"}],"outcome":"passed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2023-10-10","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2024-04-16","vote":{"id":"118-2024-h128","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass","title":"Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act","result":"Passed","yea":419,"nay":4,"present":0,"not_voting":8,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2024/roll128.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"na","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"na","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.","date":"2024-04-17"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2023-10-10","stage":"Introduced in House","blocks":[{"k":"h","t":"Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act"},{"k":"p","t":"This bill extends the authority of the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons using human shields through 2030 and requires the President to impose such sanctions on each foreign person determined to be a member of Palestine Islamic Jihad and orders, controls, or otherwise directs the use of human shields. Currently, such sanctions are (1) required for users of human shields who are members of Hamas or Hezbollah or supporters of those groups, and (2) authorized for other users of human shields."},{"k":"p","t":"The President must also determine if a person named in certain congressional requests meets the criteria for such sanctions and report on whether the President intends to impose sanctions on that person."},{"k":"p","t":"Additionally, the Department of Defense must report to Congress on the implications of the use of human shields by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestine Islamic Jihad."}],"words":150},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Amends the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act to add Palestine Islamic Jihad to its sanctions provisions and extend its end date to December 31, 2030, and requires a Department of Defense report on countering the use of human shields.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh#H764A883F685E47C287D9B45E614A29AE"},{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh#H644618A767B34E4BB3156272B185DB79"}]},"core_areas":["Sanctions on foreign persons who use civilians as human shields","Department of Defense reporting on countering the use of human shields"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Adds to the sanctions provisions of the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act each foreign person the President determines is a member of, or knowingly acts on behalf of, Palestine Islamic Jihad and knowingly orders, controls, or directs the use of protected civilians to shield military objectives from attack.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh#H764A883F685E47C287D9B45E614A29AE"}},{"text":"Requires the President, within 120 days of a request from the chairman and ranking member of an appropriate congressional committee, to determine whether a named foreign person meets the Act's sanctions criteria and to submit a written justification on whether sanctions were or will be imposed.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh#H764A883F685E47C287D9B45E614A29AE"}},{"text":"Defines Palestine Islamic Jihad in the Act as the entity designated as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or an agent or instrumentality of it on the Treasury Department's list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh#H764A883F685E47C287D9B45E614A29AE"}},{"text":"Changes the Act's sunset date by striking \"December 31, 2023\" and inserting \"December 31, 2030\".","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh#H764A883F685E47C287D9B45E614A29AE"}},{"text":"Adds a severability clause to the Act providing that if a provision is found unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act is not affected.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh#H764A883F685E47C287D9B45E614A29AE"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to congressional committees within 120 days of enactment, covering lessons learned, Department of Defense plans, allied cooperation, and participation in multinational centers of excellence on countering the use of human shields.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh#H644618A767B34E4BB3156272B185DB79"}}],"unexpected":[],"version":{"type":"Engrossed in House","date":"2024-04-16","rule":"passed","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text/eh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-01","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/118-hr-5917.png","v":"4a990e68849d","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 5917, 118th Congress: Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act. House: 419 Yea, 4 Nay. Outcome: Passed House, 16 Apr 2024."}}