Issa, Phillips Introduce Legislation to Counter Houthi Human Rights Abuses, Anticipate Markup

WASHINGTON – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Dean Phillips (MN-03), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, introduced the Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act (H.R. 9564). The legislation will address human rights abuses, student indoctrination, and attempted aid diversion by the Houthis in Yemen. The legislation has been noticed for markup in the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, September 24.

“The Houthis campaign of terror has expanded from a serious regional concern to a daily crisis in a part of the world that is increasingly unstable with armed conflict across multiple nations,” said Rep. Issa. “Their blatant human rights abuses, teaching of antisemitic hate, and outright theft of international aid are happening every day, and the Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act puts a spotlight where it belongs, tells the truth about these terrorists, and will put our national interest on a better course to deal with it.”

“The Houthis, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, wreak havoc not only across the region through its relentless attacks in the Red Sea, but also on the Yemeni people,” said Rep. Phillips. “I am appalled by the Houthis' continued human rights abuses against Yemeni civilians, especially children, as well as the continued detention of international aid workers. This brutal behavior must be held to account, which is why I am pleased to introduce the Houthi Human Rights Accountability Act with Rep. Issa.”   

The Houthi movement, officially known as Ansarallah, is a longtime terrorist group based in Yemen. It has also received material and monetary support from Iran for the express purpose of committing terrorism within Yemen as well as regionally. Additionally, since October 7th of last year, the Houthis have carried out a daily campaign of firing drones, rockets, and missiles to significantly disrupt international shipping in and around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden while frequently attacking U.S. Navy vessels.

Specifically, H.R. 9564:

• Affirms the sense of Congress that the Houthi antisemitic indoctrination is a threat to regional stability
• Requires the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to inform Congress on Houthi indoctrination, on gross violations of human rights abuses by the Houthis, and how the Houthis have attempted to interfere with humanitarian aid delivery in Yemen.
• Requires a determination on whether Houthis involved in blocking humanitarian aid and human rights abuses should be sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act.
• Requires a determination on whether Houthis should be sanctioned for hostage-taking under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. 

The text of the bill can be found here.