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H.R. 2718: Maximum Pressure Act

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H.R. 2718: Maximum Pressure Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-04-21 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-04-21 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Maximum Pressure Act

Plain summary

Maximum Pressure Act This bill expands sanctions and economic penalties on Iran. It also restricts the President from unilaterally lifting or waiving the sanctions or penalties and increases congressional oversight of them. Specifically, the bill requires the President to impose visa- and asset-blocking sanctions. Additionally, it modifies existing sanctions, including by (1) providing statutory authority for executive orders imposing sanctions; (2) applying sanctions to additional sectors of Iran's economy; and (3) broadening sanctionable conduct to cover, for example, assisting Iran with the acquisition of ballistic missiles and the complicity of Iranian officials in human rights violations in specified countries. The bill also requires reporting on licenses that authorize activities subject to sanctions. The bill prohibits U.S. representatives at the International Monetary Fund from voting to allow Iran's access to special drawing rights (a currency support tool) and places restrictions on financial transactions with Iran. The restrictions include requiring domestic financial institutions to implement special measures with respect to foreign financial institutions that conduct significant transactions connected to the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (a European mechanism that bypasses U.S. sanctions when carrying out trade with Iran). The Department of State must maintain the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' designation as a terrorist organization and must designate Ansharallah (or Houthis), which operates in Syria, as a foreign terrorist organization. The bill also requires reports on U.S. sanctions concerning Iran, the status of Iran's nuclear weapons program, and other matters.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Maximum Pressure Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3] · 137 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Joe Wilson (R-SC), Ralph Norman (R-SC), David Rouzer (R-NC), John Joyce (R-PA), Thomas P. Tiffany (R-WI), W. Gregory Steube (R-FL), William R. Timmons IV (R-SC), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), J. French Hill (R-AR), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), Lisa C. McClain (R-MI), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), August Pfluger (R-TX), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Michael R. Turner (R-OH), Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Austin Scott (R-GA), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Andy Barr (R-KY), Jodey C. Arrington (R-TX), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Ted Budd (R-NC), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Roger Williams (R-TX), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Tom McClintock (R-CA) and 77 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3] reported raising $2.7 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
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).
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr2718 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117