House Bill Would Impose Sanctions, Export Controls for Havana Syndrome Attacks

The House’s top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee introduced a bill that would impose new sanctions and export restrictions against foreign governments and people responsible for radio-frequency attacks against U.S. personnel abroad. The Havana Syndrome Attacks Response Act, introduced Aug. 3 by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, would sanction those who the president determines “knowingly directed or carried out these attacks,” which have caused brain injuries to U.S. personnel in Cuba and other countries. The bill would also require the U.S. to restrict certain exports -- including arms sales -- and export licenses for shipments to foreign governments behind the attacks. The export controls would be applied to shipments of items controlled under the Arms Export Control Act, licenses for items on the U.S. Munitions List and other exports pursuant to the Export Control Reform Act. The bill has 15 Republican co-sponsors.