Enhancing exemptions from United States sanctions

(a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, shall take the following actions: (1) Modify the North Korea Sanctions Regulations to eliminate pre-activity reporting requirements entirely, in line with the precedent set by previous general licenses. (2) Adopt a post-activity reporting process, facilitating urgently needed humanitarian assistance without diminishing oversight or compliance. (b) Modification to North Korea Sanctions Regulations Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall modify the North Korea Sanctions Regulations so that personal computers and related peripherals that support authorized humanitarian activities by nongovernmental organizations are not considered to be luxury goods and do not require export license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, including in circumstances where such items may otherwise be authorized for export pursuant to section 740.14 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, which would permit authorization for temporary exports by United States persons traveling with baggage, including certain tools of the trade, for work abroad. (c) Modification To export administration regulations Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall amend the Export Administration Regulations, including section 746.4(b)(1) of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, as necessary to exclude personal computers and related peripheral equipment that support authorized humanitarian activities by nongovernmental organizations from the definition of luxury goods. (d) Guidance Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, shall issue plainly worded guidance intended for financial institutions, shipping companies, foreign customs officials, and others involved in transactions related to humanitarian assistance that— (1) clarifies the applicability of the humanitarian exception under the North Korea Sanctions Regulations; and (2) describes best practices for ensuring that activities are consistent with that exception. (e) Report required Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 120 days thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control and in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes— (1) a list of requests for specific licenses or comfort letters related to humanitarian assistance in North Korea denied by the Office of Foreign Assets Control during such 120-day period, including explanations for the denials; (2) a list of requests for specific licenses or comfort letters related to humanitarian assistance in North Korea that have been pending for 60 days or more as of the date on which the report is submitted, including explanations for the delays; and (3) a description of recent efforts to streamline the process by which nongovernmental organizations engaged in humanitarian activity in North Korea apply for and are granted specific licenses or comfort letters.