WASHINGTON, DC — Today, October 21, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) sent a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, urging them to bring a bill on redesignating the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) to the floor for a vote. 

“Since Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, the Houthis have openly declared their unwavering support for Hamas and its barbaric acts of terrorism perpetrated against Israelis. Like Hamas and Hezbollah, which are also designated FTOs by the United States, the Houthis are actively attacking Israel and U.S. national security interests. The Houthis have been targeting ships they believe are destined for Israel using ballistic missiles, drones, and even hijacking vessels by boarding them from a helicopter. Since March 14th, there have been more than 77 reported attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels. The Houthis’ indiscriminate targeting threatens the more than 117,000 ships that travel through the Bab el Mandeb Strait annually,” wrote Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5) in a letter to Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell.

Gottheimer continued, “In recent months, the Houthis, as part of Iran’s Axis of Evil, have escalated their attacks, launching drones and ballistic missiles directly at Israel. On July 19, the Houthis launched a long range drone into downtown Tel Aviv, killing an Israeli citizen and injuring dozens. On September 15, they fired a long range missile that landed in central Israel. On the anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks, the Houthis again launched missiles and drones at central Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas and Hezbollah. Despite this escalation, the State Department reaffirmed their decision to not reimpose the FTO designation on the Houthis. This is deeply troubling, and underscores the need for Congressional action.”

Full text of the letter sent to Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell can be found here and below:

October 21, 2024

The Honorable Chuck Schumer 

Majority Leader of the Senate 

322 Hart Senate Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell 

Minority Leader of the Senate 

317 Senate Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Leaders Schumer and McConnell:

I am writing to urge the Senate to bring up for consideration H.R. 6046, a bill to redesignate the Houthis, also known as Ansarallah, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The Houthis are an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that have targeted U.S. service-members, U.S. allies, and international commercial shipping vessels in retaliation for Israel acting in self-defense after one of the deadliest days for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Their actions support the advancement of Tehran’s maligned influence in the region, including the Axis of Evil — Russia, China, and North Korea, and pose a significant threat to the safety and security of maritime activities. In April, the House voted 285-135 to advance this bill that would designate the Houthis as an FTO. I urge the Senate to also pass legislation to designate the Houthis as an FTO.

Since Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, the Houthis have openly declared their unwavering support for Hamas and its barbaric acts of terrorism perpetrated against Israelis. Like Hamas and Hezbollah, which are also designated FTOs by the United States, the Houthis are actively attacking Israel and U.S. national security interests. The Houthis have been targeting ships they believe are destined for Israel using ballistic missiles, drones, and even hijacking vessels by boarding them from a helicopter. Since March 14th, there have been more than 77 reported attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels. The Houthis’ indiscriminate targeting threatens the more than 117,000 ships that travel through the Bab el Mandeb Strait annually and has forced thousands of ships belonging to companies such as A.P. Moller-Maersk,Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and BP to reroute their vessels away from the Red Sea and delay the delivery of goods key to the international supply chain.

In recent months, the Houthis, as part of Iran’s Axis of Evil, have escalated their attacks, launching drones and ballistic missiles directly at Israel. On July 19, the Houthis launched a long range drone into downtown Tel Aviv, killing an Israeli citizen and injuring dozens. On September 15, they fired a long range missile that landed in central Israel. On the anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks, the Houthis again launched missiles and drones at central Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas and Hezbollah. Despite this escalation, the State Department reaffirmed their decision to not reimpose the FTO designation on the Houthis. This is deeply troubling, and underscores the need for Congressional action. Currently, a similar version of this bill exists in the Senate, with bipartisan support.

The Houthis have forged alliances with anti-democratic, authoritarian regimes that violate the values our two nations strive to promote and uphold. Recently, the Houthis reached an agreement with Russian authoritarian Vladimir Putin and the Chinese Communist Party, pledging not to target Russian or Chinese vessels. This new alignment potentially bolsters the Houthis militarily and grants significant economic advantages to Russia and China at the expense of our economies and national security. This situation allows our adversaries to profit while imposing significant hardships on our trade routes.

In the interest of combating terrorism, maintaining international order, and protecting the United States’ national and economic security, I urge you to take up this crucial legislation when the Senate returns to session, that would redesignate the Houthis as an FTO. Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your timely response.

Sincerely,

Josh Gottheimer

MEMBER OF CONGRESS