The Senate passed the bipartisan Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017 on Thursday, which would expand and strengthen the limits of economic sanctions against the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy that controls Lebanon and backs Syrian President Bashar Assad while threatening the State of Israel.
Introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the measure would enable sanctions against not just foreign governments, per the 2015 version with the same title, but also against foreign individuals and companies aiding the group’s fundraising or recruitment activities, including backing its media outlets.
Among other measures, it also imposes sanctions against Hezbollah for its transnational criminal activities, including drug trafficking.
The House of Representatives passed its version last month. The bill now goes to the president to sign it into law.
