Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), who serves as vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, touted three national security bills that were recently signed into law.
“We have seen the violent acts carried out by the Iranian regime, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and other terrorist affiliates,” Rubio said in an official news release. For too long, the U.S. was either unable or unwilling to punish these actions. One of Iran’s prime sponsors, the Chinese Communist Party, did not face significant consequences for aiding and abetting the regime’s illicit activities. I encourage the Biden Administration to move quickly and use these new authorities to punish the violent acts carried out by these entities and help put an end to their cruelty.”
The three bills signed into law were:
- Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act: According to reports, as of February 2023, Chinese refineries were processing, refining, or engaging with approximately 1.2 million barrels of Iranian oil per day. This new law sanctions illicit purchases of Iranian oil and holds the regime’s enablers accountable. Rubio introduced the bill in June 2023 with Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
- Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability (MAHSA) Act: This new law requires an assessment of whether sanctions should be imposed on top leaders of the oppressive Islamic regime, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and the President of Iran, due to systemic human rights violations in Iran. Rubio introduced the bill in July 2023 with Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).
- Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad International Terrorism Support Prevention Act of 2024: Foreign financial and material support fueled Hamas’ terrorism against the Jewish State of Israel, including the deadly October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks that killed 1,200 people. This new law sanctions foreign entities and governments supporting Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist affiliates. Rubio first introduced the bill in October 2019.
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