HR2012-119

What This Bill Does

The Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act gives Congress a review gate before major Iran sanctions relief. Before terminating covered sanctions, waiving covered sanctions for a person, or issuing a license that significantly alters U.S. foreign policy toward Iran, the President must report the proposed action and reasons to congressional committees and leadership. Covered sanctions include the Iran Sanctions Act, CISADA, section 1245 of the FY2012 NDAA, the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act, the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act, IEEPA, and any other statute or executive order requiring or authorizing Iran sanctions. Reports must state whether the action significantly alters Iran policy, and significant actions must explain the policy change, national-security effects, and original sanctions objectives. Congress receives 30 calendar days, or 60 days for reports submitted from July 10 through September 7, to review. During review the President may not act unless Congress enacts approval. Passed disapproval resolutions impose additional 12-day and 10-day veto-related delays, and enacted disapproval blocks the action. The bill creates tightly worded approval and disapproval resolutions and expedited committee discharge and floor procedures.

Who Benefits and How

Congressional foreign-affairs and banking committees benefit because they receive reports, review periods, and expedited resolution procedures before major Iran sanctions relief. Members of Congress favoring sanctions pressure benefit from a statutory tool to delay or block relief. Sanctions enforcement advocates benefit because routine licensing is separated from policy-altering relief that must face review. Persons with proprietary information benefit from confidentiality assurances before sensitive details are included in reports.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The President must submit reports and wait through review periods before taking covered Iran sanctions relief actions. Treasury and State sanctions officials must classify actions, prepare reports, and support committee review. Sanctioned persons seeking waivers or terminations face congressional delay and possible disapproval. Iranian government and commercial actors face reduced certainty that U.S. sanctions relief will take effect quickly.

Key Provisions

• Requires presidential reports before terminating, waiving, or materially licensing relief from Iran sanctions.
• Requires 30-day review, extended to 60 days for reports submitted between July 10 and September 7.
• Blocks action during review unless Congress enacts approval.
• Provides disapproval, veto-delay, and enacted-disapproval consequences.
• Creates expedited procedures for approval and disapproval resolutions in both chambers.