MAHSA Act Passes Senate as Part of Aid Package
Washington, DC — PAAIA is thrilled to announce that the MAHSA Act was passed in the Senate today as part of a Supplemental National Security Package. President Biden is expected to sign it into law in the coming days.
“This is a huge achievement for our community,” said Dr. Neda Bolourchi, PAAIA’s Executive Director. “After nearly two years of dedicated advocacy in support of the MAHSA Act, the legislation is just steps away from becoming law.”
The Mahsa Amini Human rights and Security Act (MAHSA Act ) effectively requires the Executive Branch impose sanctions on Islamic Republic leaders and their offices because of their participation in human rights abuses and terrorism. As the Iranian regime continues to commit atrocities against its citizens, holding perpetrators accountable remains imperative. The MAHSA Act is one way we can do that.
“PAAIA sincerely thanks Representative Jim Banks for originally introducing the bill, Senators Marco Rubio and Alex Padilla for introducing it in the Senate, and Chairman McCaul for including it within the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act,” said Dr. Bolourchi. “We are grateful to all the Iranian American organizations and individuals who worked tirelessly to support this legislation. Our collective efforts have helped ensure that Iranian leaders will be held accountable for their human rights abuses and show the people of Iran that we stand with them in their fight for freedom.”
The MAHSA Act text was embedded in Division H of the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act that passed in the House of Representatives last Saturday as part of a larger foreign aid package. Today, the Senate voted 79-18 to pass the entire legislative package. President Biden is expected to sign it in the coming days.
Now that the MAHSA Act is set to become law, PAAIA is turning its focus toward Internet freedom as another way to support the Iranian people. As we continue working on our domestic legislation to help Iranian American families wishing to visit, we are also working with Members of Congress to address access to telecommunications tools. The Internet is used not only to connect loved ones but also to organize acts of civil disobedience and communicate both within and outside of the country. An open and free internet remains an extremely valuable tool for the Iranian people, and we will continue working with legislators and providers to determine actionable steps the U.S. can take to help facilitate access.
