All Roll Calls
Yes: 392 • No: 14
119-hr-1998119th Congress
Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
Passed House
Summary
Establishes mandatory U.S. sanctions against foreign persons who knowingly engage in piracy. It uses asset freezes and visa and entry bans to deter and punish maritime piracy while carving out humanitarian, international-law, and national-security exceptions.
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- Foreign individuals and entities tied to piracy can have all property in the United States blocked and face ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole, with any issued visas revoked immediately.
- U.S. persons and financial institutions must block and avoid transactions in property of designated pirates, and violations can be punished under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
- Humanitarian groups and shipments of food, medicine, and medical devices are exempted, and the law also allows exceptions to meet international obligations and for intelligence and law enforcement activities.
- The President may waive sanctions for national security reasons after certifying the waiver to designated congressional committees at least 15 days before it takes effect.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Asset freezes and transaction bans on foreign pirates
If enacted, the President would impose sanctions on foreign people who knowingly commit piracy. U.S. authorities would freeze their property and stop U.S. persons from doing business with it. This would apply when the property is in the United States, comes here, or is held by a U.S. person. Humanitarian aid, food, medicine, medical devices, and approved intelligence or law‑enforcement work would be exempt. The bill would not let the President ban imports of goods, and a waiver could apply after 15 days' notice to Congress.
Visa and entry bans for pirates
If enacted, noncitizens known or reasonably believed to engage in piracy would be barred from visas, admission, or parole. They would be ineligible for other immigration benefits under the immigration law. State or Homeland Security could revoke any existing visa right away. Revocation would take effect immediately and cancel other valid visas or entry documents.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 6/23/2025
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
Yes: 392 • No: 14