S.Amdt. 6650

SA 6650, submitted by Mrs. Shaheen and Mr. Cruz, aims to add a new subtitle titled "Degrading Houthi Networks in the Horn of Africa" to bill S. 4784.

The purpose of this amendment is to address the national security interests of the United States by degrading Houthi support networks in the Horn of Africa, which is intended to further degrade Iran's proxy terrorist network.

The amendment adds the following requirements:

• Strategy Development: The Secretary of State must work with other Federal departments and agencies to create a strategy to identify, degrade, and counter smuggling networks in the Horn of Africa that provide financial and material support to the Houthis. This strategy must include:

  • Descriptions of main smuggling routes from countries like Somalia, Djibouti, and Eritrea.
  • The types of materials and dual-use items being funneled to Houthis for weapons manufacturing.
  • Identification of individuals, companies, or networks subject to U.S. sanctions under Executive Order 13224.
  • Plans to analyze how to best deter these networks.

• Accountability and Reporting:

  • Senior officials must provide a briefing to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding the implementation plan.
  • The Secretary of State must submit an annual report for five years describing the implementation of the strategy.
  • These reports must cover the feasibility of using sanctions and the extent of Houthi collaboration with regional terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as how those collaborations threaten U.S. national security.