[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5886 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5886
To restrict the diplomatic travel of officials and representatives of
state sponsors of terrorism, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 24, 2008
Mr. Broun of Georgia (for himself, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Akin, Mr. Manzullo,
Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. Goode, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr.
Doolittle, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Garrett of New Jersey, Mr.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Kline of Minnesota, Mr. Sessions,
and Mr. Sali) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To restrict the diplomatic travel of officials and representatives of
state sponsors of terrorism, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Limiting the Intrusive Miles of
International Terrorist Sponsors Act of 2008'' or the ``LIMITS Act of
2008''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism
represent a threat to the national security of the United
States.
(2) The United States is obligated to permit officials and
other representatives of countries designated as state sponsors
of terrorism to travel to New York City to attend meetings and
conduct official business at the United Nations.
(3) Individuals from countries not otherwise legally
permitted to travel to the United States are given visas for
delegates and representatives to the United Nations and other
related diplomatic purposes.
(4) In connection with the September 2007 meeting of the
United Nations General Assembly, 21 delegates from Cuba, 144
delegates from Iran, 6 delegates from North Korea, 7 delegates
from Syria, and 16 delegates from Sudan were issued visas by
the Department of State for travel to New York City.
(5) These delegates and representatives are in addition to
the number of domestically assigned nationals assigned to the
United States.
(6) Between 2002 and 2007, the Department of State issued,
with full diplomatic immunity, 1823 visas to delegates and
representatives from Cuba, 2782 visas to delegates and
representatives from Iran, 132 visas to delegates and
representatives from North Korea, 1242 visas to delegates and
representatives from Sudan, and 706 visas to delegates and
representatives from Syria.
(7) The delegates and representatives from Iran, North
Korea, and Cuba, which are all state sponsors of terrorism, are
currently permitted to travel up to 25 miles from Columbus
Circle in New York City for United Nations activities, far
beyond the necessary working vicinity of the United Nations,
giving them access not only to Manhattan, but to surrounding
cities and States.
(8) The delegates and representatives from Syria and Sudan,
both state sponsors of terrorism, are currently permitted to
travel throughout the United States without any mileage
restrictions.
(9) In June 2002, November 2003, and June 2004, Iranian
diplomatic personnel from the Iranian Mission to the United
Nations were caught photographing and videotaping the New York
City subway and other popular landmarks.
(10) The Department of State expelled these individuals for
being engaged in activities not consistent with their duties.
(11) Issuing approximately 6685 visas over the past 5 years
to personnel from countries designated as state sponsors of
terrorism, without proper boundaries, creates a major security
vulnerability within the United States.
(12) The presence of hundreds of individuals with
diplomatic immunity from countries designated as state sponsors
of terrorism is overwhelming United States counterterrorism and
intelligence resources.
(13) The United States has an obligation to protect the
American people against such threats.
SEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON DIPLOMATIC TRAVEL OF OFFICIALS AND
REPRESENTATIVES OF STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and
except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), the President shall
restrict to the designated area the travel of officials and
representatives of countries that are designated as state sponsors of
terrorism who are visiting the United Nations headquarters complex in
connection with official business at the United Nations headquarters
complex.
(b) Waiver.--The President may waive the travel restriction
described in subsection (a) if the President--
(1) determines that it is in the interest of national
defense of the United States to do so; and
(2) submits to Congress a report that contains the reasons
for such determination.
(c) Exceptions.--
(1) Ingress and egress.--For purposes of this section, the
restriction on travel referred to in subsection (a) shall not
include travel to and from John F. Kennedy International
Airport or LaGuardia Airport to the designated area in
connection with meetings at the United Nations headquarters
complex. Travel between the designated area and such airports
shall be direct and without any intervening stops.
(2) Accommodations.--For purposes of this section, the
restriction on travel referred to in subsection (a) shall not
include travel to and from any lodgings or other hotel
accommodations in which an official or representative is
staying if such lodging or other hotel accommodation is within
the designated area. Such permissible travel within the
designated area may be made only by land.
(3) Medical emergencies.--For purposes of this section, the
restriction on travel referred to in subsection (a) shall not
include travel to and from New York University medical center
or Bellevue Hospital Center for emergency medical care.
(d) Rules of Construction.--
(1) On travel.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
prohibit the placement of additional restrictions by the City
of New York, the State of New York, or the law enforcement
agencies of such City or State on the travel within the
designated area of officials and representatives of countries
that are designated as state sponsors of terrorism.
(2) Other restrictions.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to prohibit the placement by the President of
additional restrictions on officials and representatives of
countries that are designated as state sponsors or terrorism.
(e) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on the date that is
60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(f) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Designated area.--The term ``designated area'' means an
area not greater than one-half of one mile (0.5 miles) in any
direction on the island of Manhattan from the United Nations
headquarters complex, but does not include any waterway.
(2) State sponsor of terrorism.--The term ``state sponsor
of terrorism'' means a country the government of which has been
determined by the Secretary of State, for purposes of section
6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, section 620A of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, section 40 of the Arms
Export Control Act, or other provision of law, is a government
that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international
terrorism.
(3) United nations headquarters complex.--The term ``United
Nations headquarters complex'' means the complex of United
Nations buildings located in the City of New York, on First
Avenue between 42nd Street and 48th Street, with the street
address of 760 United Nations Plaza.
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