H.R. 3542: Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-07-28 · International Affairs · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-07-28 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 74 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR3542 (2018-02-14), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act

Plain summary

Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act (Sec. 3) This bill states that it is U.S. policy to condemn Hamas's use of human shields and act against those engaging in or supporting the use of human shields. (Sec. 4) The President is urged to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (U.N.) to use U.S. influence at the Security Council to secure support for a resolution: (1) imposing multilateral sanctions against Hamas's use of human shields; and (2) specifying steps to prevent, and consequences for, the use of U.N. employees as human shields or facilities that enable that use. (Sec. 5) The President shall prohibit property transactions and U.S. entry (and revoke current visas) with respect to: (1) each foreign person or entity that is a member of or acting on behalf of Hamas and that is responsible for or complicit in Hamas's unlawful attempt to use civilians, civilian property, or other protected persons to shield military objectives from lawful attack; and (2) each foreign person or entity and each agency or instrumentality of a foreign state that has significantly facilitated or attempted to facilitate such an act. The President may waive a sanction for 180 days with prior congressional certification that such waiver is in U.S. national security interests.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] · 21 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3542, Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act (2017-12-08)

Cosponsors on this site

Seth Moulton (D-MA), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Andy Barr (R-KY), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), John R. Curtis (R-UT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] reported raising $1.0 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 74 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR3542 (2018-02-14): Passed

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr3542.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr3542 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115