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119-s-363119th Congress

STOP MADNESS Act

Sponsored By: Senator Scott, Tim [R-SC]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a sanctions tool to punish foreign governments and actors that block repatriation or knowingly help unlawful immigration. The bill would let the President use International Emergency Economic Powers Act authority to block property, bar transactions, and impose penalties, with limited national security waivers.

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  • Foreign governments and foreign persons: The bill would allow designation of those who knowingly refuse repatriation or knowingly facilitate unlawful immigration. Designated targets could have property blocked and all transactions prohibited in U.S. jurisdiction.
  • U.S. persons and businesses: The bill would bar transactions with designated targets and make violations subject to civil and criminal penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
  • Executive authority and oversight: The President could exercise IEEPA authorities and grant waivers for national security. The bill would require annual reports to Congress, then reports every seven years, with unclassified summaries and classified annexes allowed.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Who counts as a United States person

This bill would define who counts as a "United States person." It would include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, people admitted temporarily (for work, study, tourism, or other temporary reasons), and any entity organized under U.S. law, including foreign branches. It would also define who counts as a foreign government and a foreign person. The bill would define "knowingly" to mean actual knowledge or that someone should have known. If enacted, more people and businesses could be covered by the sanctions rules and face higher compliance or legal risk.

Annual presidential reports to Congress

This bill would require the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees within 180 days of enactment and then every year until seven years after enactment. Reports must list actions under the Act, new or revised rules, sanctions imposed, information collected, OFAC licenses issued or ended, pending enforcement actions, and mitigation steps. Reports should be unclassified but may include a classified annex.

New sanctions for foreign governments and people

If enacted, the President could sanction foreign governments that refuse to repatriate citizens or foreign governments or persons that knowingly facilitate unlawful immigration. The President could use emergency economic powers to block property and transactions with those targets and enforce penalties under existing law. The President could waive sanctions for national security reasons. The bill would not apply to authorized intelligence activities or activities needed to assist U.S. law enforcement.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scott, Tim [R-SC]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 2/3/2025

  • Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 2/6/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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