The Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would impose stricter penalties on individuals convicted of committing crimes on behalf of foreign adversaries.

The Deterrence Act, sponsored by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Jim Banks (R-IN), seeks to impose longer prison sentences for criminals at the bidding of foreign agents.

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“It is a direct assault on our national security when foreign adversaries recruit criminals to commit violence on American soil,” Hassan said in a statement. “This bipartisan legislation will strengthen criminal penalties on gangs and criminals who engage in violent behavior on behalf of a foreign government. The Senate has sent a clear message that such behavior will be met with severe consequences, and I urge my colleagues in the House to quickly pass this bill to strengthen our national security.”

The legislation directly targets criminals who engage in murder-for-hire, including attempts on federal officials due to their official actions, assault on federal officials or their family members, threatening violence against federal officials, kidnapping, and stalking.

“If you commit crimes in America on behalf of foreign adversaries, you must face serious consequences,” Slotkin said.

The legislation’s passage through the Senate came as threats against the United States from Iran have increased. Just last November, the Department of Justice charged an Iranian American and two Jewish Americans living in New York for their plot to assassinate President Donald Trump.

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The motive behind the plot was to avenge the former leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a drone strike in January 2020.

“America will not allow foreign adversaries, like Iran, to finance violent crimes on our soil,” Ernst said in a statement. “Peace through strength is back, and that includes right here at home. I look forward to the House swiftly passing this commonsense bill to create severe consequences for those who wish to harm our citizens.”