Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2021

Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2021

This bill imposes sanctions related to the Taliban and addresses other related issues.

The President must impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that knowingly provide significant support to the Taliban or senior Taliban members.

The bill also repeals an exception to existing sanctions against certain entities related to energy, shipping, and shipbuilding in Iran. Specifically, the bill repeals a provision authorizing the President to exempt certain entities involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan from such sanctions.

No federal department or agency may take any action that states or implies recognition of the Taliban's claim of sovereignty over Afghanistan.

The bill also bars the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department of Defense from using federal funds to prepare or implement any policy that extends diplomatic recognition to the Taliban-controlled government in Afghanistan.

The State Department must designate (1) the government of Afghanistan as a state sponsor of terrorism, and (2) the Taliban as a foreign terrorist organization.

Furthermore, USAID must take appropriate steps to ensure that certain foreign assistance provided in or for certain countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, is not going to or through any individual or entity involved in terrorist activity.

The bill also prohibits using certain federal funds to provide direct assistance to any country where the duly elected head of government has been deposed in a coup or decree in which the military played a decisive role.

Bill 117 HR 5333, also known as the Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2021, was introduced in the US Congress with the aim of preventing the United States from recognizing any state that has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by the Department of State. The bill seeks to prohibit the US government from establishing diplomatic relations with such states or providing them with any form of assistance.

The bill specifically targets countries that have been identified as sponsors of terrorism, such as Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. These countries have a history of supporting terrorist organizations and activities that pose a threat to US national security interests.

If passed, the Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2021 would require the US government to take a firm stance against states that sponsor terrorism and to refrain from engaging in any form of diplomatic or economic relations with them. The bill aims to send a strong message that the US will not tolerate support for terrorism in any form. Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect US national security interests and to prevent the spread of terrorism around the world. They believe that by refusing to recognize and engage with terrorist states, the US can help to isolate and weaken these regimes. Opponents of the bill, however, argue that it could limit the US government's ability to engage in diplomatic efforts to address conflicts and promote peace in regions where terrorist states are present. They also raise concerns about the potential impact on US allies who may have diplomatic relations with these states. Overall, the Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist States Act of 2021 is a controversial piece of legislation that raises important questions about the US government's approach to dealing with states that sponsor terrorism. It remains to be seen how Congress will ultimately decide on this bill and what its implications will be for US foreign policy.