Rockland Reporter

Congressmen Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) are urging the U.S. Senate to take immediate action on the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act. The bipartisan legislation, aimed at weakening Iran's ability to fund terrorist activities, has been stalled in the Senate despite passing the House of Representatives with strong support.

The lawmakers emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "For months, the U.S. Senate has sat on the SHIP Act and failed to pass it. After this weekend’s unprecedented attack from Iran on Israel, it’s clearer than ever that the U.S. must further sanction Iran and weaken their ability to promote terror across the Middle East. That's a message the Senate must get behind."

The SHIP Act, introduced last year, gained momentum following a terrorist attack in Israel orchestrated by Iranian-backed Hamas. The legislation imposes sanctions on foreign ports and refineries involved in processing petroleum exported from Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. It also extends sanctions to entities dealing with Iranian petroleum products, including vessels engaged in ship-to-ship transfers.

The bill garnered significant support in the House, passing with a wide margin and receiving approval from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Despite these advancements, the Senate has yet to take decisive action on the SHIP Act, prompting Lawler and Moskowitz to push for immediate consideration.

In light of the escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly Iran's aggressive actions, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to review the SHIP Act's Senate companion bill. The proposed legislation seeks to curb Iran's ability to support terrorist proxies across the region by imposing stringent sanctions on entities involved in illicit oil trade.

The SHIP Act's provisions aim to disrupt Iran's financial resources and hinder its support for destabilizing activities in the Middle East. Representatives Lawler and Moskowitz are calling on their Senate colleagues to prioritize national security interests by advancing the bipartisan legislation without delay.