Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025

What this does

The bill requires the President to impose sanctions on any foreign person the President determines knowingly engages in piracy, defined as any act violating chapter 81 of title 18 of the U.S. Code. The sanctions are two. The President may block all property and interests in property of the person that are in the United States or in the control of a U.S. person, using International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorities. And any such alien is barred from entering the United States, made ineligible for a visa, and has existing visas revoked immediately. The bill carves out exceptions: for admissions required by U.S. obligations to the United Nations, for humanitarian assistance and the sale of food, medicine, and agricultural goods, and for authorized intelligence, law enforcement, and national security activities. It excludes any authority to sanction the importation of goods. In court challenges, classified information behind a determination may be submitted to the judge in secret. The President may waive a sanction by certifying to the foreign affairs committees, at least 15 days ahead, that the waiver is crucial to national security. The bill also records congressional findings on the surge in Somali and Houthi attacks and states a sense of Congress that the United States should work with allies to stop piracy.