Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act

Senate Bill

S. 159

119th Congress

Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 21, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Steve Daines

Senator

Republican

MT

Cosponsors

20

Quick Stats

Policy Area

International Affairs

Summary

This bill requires the State Department to designate Ansarallah (the Houthis) as a foreign terrorist organization and mandates presidential sanctions on the group and its affiliates. Sanctions include property blocking and visa restrictions on members, agents, affiliates, and entities owned or controlled by the Iran-backed Yemeni movement, which has attacked international shipping in the Red Sea.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires the State Department to designate Ansarallah (the Houthis) as a foreign terrorist organization and mandates presidential sanctions on the group and its affiliates. Sanctions include property blocking and visa restrictions on members, agents, affiliates, and entities owned or controlled by the Iran-backed Yemeni movement, which has attacked international shipping in the Red Sea.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Standing Against Houthi Aggression ActThis bill requires (1) the Department of State to designate Ansarallah, the Iran-backed movement in Yemen also known as the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization; and (2) the President to impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions with respect to Ansarallah and any foreign person who is a member, agent, or affiliate of, or owned or controlled by, Ansarallah.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Mandates Houthi designation as foreign terrorist organization
Requires property-blocking sanctions on Ansarallah
Imposes visa restrictions on members and affiliates
Covers agents and entities controlled by Houthis
Targets Iran-backed Yemen movement

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This legislation responds to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea that have disrupted global trade. The terrorist designation and mandatory sanctions go beyond current executive actions, making it harder to reverse the policy. The bill reflects congressional frustration with the Biden administrations 2021 removal of the terrorist designation and aims to increase pressure on Iran.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

International Affairs

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

159, 119th Congress (2025). "Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-159