BANK Act of 2016

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 28, 2016

Block Access to North Korea Act of 2016 or BANK Act of 2016

This bill requires the President to impose sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, with specified waiver authority, against a person that continues to knowingly and directly provide specialized financial messaging services to, or to knowingly enable or facilitate access to such messaging services for:

the Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea),

a financial institution that facilitates any transaction or provides significant financial services for nuclear development or proliferation on North Korea's behalf, or

a person identified on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control for assisting North Korea's nuclear development or proliferation efforts.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5] · R–AZ

Committees

Foreign Affairs Committee

9 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Sep 28, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Sep 28, 2016
Introduced in House
Sep 28, 2016
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Sep 28, 2016 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.6281 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.6281, 114th Congress: BANK Act of 2016

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/6281

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-09-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr6281/BILLS-114hr6281ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:41Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.6281 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.6281 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.6281, 114th Congress: BANK Act of 2016

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/6281

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-09-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr6281/BILLS-114hr6281ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:41Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6281 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.6281 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss H.R.6281, 114th Congress: BANK Act of 2016

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/6281

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-09-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr6281/BILLS-114hr6281ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:41Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6281 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.6281 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6281, 114th Congress: BANK Act of 2016

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/6281

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-09-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr6281/BILLS-114hr6281ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:41Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.6281 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.