Congress arms president to sanction maritime pirates globally
H.R. 1998 — Sanction Sea Pirates Act of 2025 · Filed by Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 10, 2025 · Passed chamber
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What it does
This bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities engaged in maritime piracy, including asset freezes, visa revocations, and travel bans. The sanctions apply to anyone knowingly committing piracy under U.S. law, with exceptions for humanitarian aid, intelligence operations, and UN headquarters access; the bill does not restrict imports of goods.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward sanctions regime targeting foreign pirates, using existing presidential authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to block assets and restrict travel.
What the text implies
- The bill grants broad presidential discretion to designate foreign persons as pirates with minimal procedural guardrails; judicial review is explicitly disclaimed for classified-information determinations, potentially limiting transparency in individual sanction decisions.
- Asset-blocking authority extends to any property 'in the US, come within the US, or are or come within the possession or control of a US person,' which may capture assets held by third parties (banks, brokers, intermediaries) and impose compliance burdens on U.S. financial institutions.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
maritime insurance and reinsurance companies; shipping and logistics firms; defense contractors providing maritime security services