No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3634 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3634
To express the sense of Congress regarding the conduct by the Netanyahu
administration in Gaza and to impose sanctions to discourage
governments from obstructing humanitarian assistance, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 14, 2026
Mr. Wyden introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To express the sense of Congress regarding the conduct by the Netanyahu
administration in Gaza and to impose sanctions to discourage
governments from obstructing humanitarian assistance, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Accountability for
Withholding Aid and Relief Essentials Act of 2026'' or the ``AWARE Act
of 2026''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 4. Statement of policy.
Sec. 5. Identification of covered persons obstructing humanitarian
assistance.
Sec. 6. Imposition of sanctions.
Sec. 7. Waiver for national security interests.
Sec. 8. Termination of sanctions.
Sec. 9. Congressional oversight.
Sec. 10. Sunset.
Sec. 11. Severability.
Sec. 12. Definitions.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) According to many credible nongovernmental
organizations, such as Doctors Without Borders, the Government
of Israel under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu has heavily restricted the distribution of food,
fuel, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance to civilians
in Gaza.
(2) The United States has at times had to take
extraordinary measures to work around the Netanyahu
administration's restrictions in order to provide aid to the
people of Gaza.
(3) In a longitudinal, cross-sectional study published in
``The Lancet'' in October 2025, medical scholars from the Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency found that, between January
2024 and August 2025, during the Netanyahu administration, tens
of thousands of preschool-aged children in Gaza were suffering
from preventable acute malnutrition and faced an increased risk
of mortality.
(4) The entire population of the Gaza Strip, an estimated
2,200,000 people, is facing acute levels of hunger and,
according to the United Nations, since January 2025, more than
20,000 children have been identified as suffering from acute
malnutrition, a telltale sign of imminent famine. To a great
extent, this is a result of the policies of Prime Minister
Netanyahu.
(5) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency states that
the amount of aid allowed into Gaza must reach a minimum of 500
to 600 truckloads of meaningful aid per day to meet the
necessary minimum to prevent starvation.
(6) During the Netanyahu administration, from May 19, 2025,
through January 7, 2026, according to the Monitoring and
Tracking Dashboard of the United Nations Office for Project
Services, fewer than 17,000 trucks of humanitarian aid had made
it to any of the crossings along Gaza's perimeter.
(7) According to the Netanyahu administration's Ministry of
Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, nongovernmental
organizations wishing to supply humanitarian assistance in Gaza
must be registered with and approved by an inter-ministerial
team led by the Director General of Ministry of Diaspora
Affairs and Combating Antisemitism.
(8) According to the Netanyahu administration's Ministry of
Defense of the State of Israel, Israel's Coordinator of
Government Activities in the Territories office, which assists
in determining the eligibility of a nongovernmental
organization in the registration approval process, requires
additional clearance for and coordination with nongovernmental
organizations.
(9) There already exist established, universal standards,
such as the Sphere standards and the United Nations coordinated
response guidance, that an organization must meet in order to
function as a credible, legitimate humanitarian organization.
(10) Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly denied the
existence of mass hunger and starvation in Gaza.
(11) According to Doctors Without Borders and Human Rights
Watch, Palestinians in Gaza in need of aid receive
contradictory and counterproductive information regarding aid
availability, often with very little notice from the Netanyahu
administration, which leads to confusion, puts them in
dangerous situations, and diminishes their ability to actually
secure aid.
(12) According to a July 23, 2025, statement from more than
100 nongovernmental organizations, the Netanyahu
administration's Coordinator of Government Activities in the
Territories office heavily restricted the humanitarian
assistance distributed outside of the Gaza Humanitarian
Foundation network.
(13) On July 1, 2025, more than 170 nongovernmental
organizations, such as Doctors Without Borders, called for the
dismantling of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as a result of
its violations of international norms associated with
humanitarian work and concerns of harm to civilians at
distribution centers of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
(14) During the Netanyahu administration, the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported
that more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed
seeking food, more than 800 of whom were killed at or around
distribution sites of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
(15) During the Netanyahu administration, Human Rights
Watch has reported that multiple sources, including former
staff of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, have witnessed
instances of the Israel Defense Forces opening fire on aid-
seeking Palestinians with live ammunition near distribution
sites of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
(16) The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation received on-ground
logistical and security support from Safe Reach Solutions and
UG Solutions.
(17) The Government of Israel and Hamas entered into a
ceasefire on October 10, 2025.
(18) The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation suspended its
operations on October 10, 2025, following the start of the
ceasefire.
(19) Despite the suspension of operations by the Gaza
Humanitarian Foundation, numerous nongovernmental organizations
have reported that Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions plan
to continue operations in Gaza.
(20) Despite the ceasefire and the proposed increase in
humanitarian assistance, restrictions on delivery and
distribution persist under the Netanyahu administration and
actual levels of humanitarian assistance remain well below what
is needed.
(21) More than 40 nongovernmental organizations operating
on the ground in Gaza issued a statement on October 23, 2025,
stating that, despite the ceasefire, Israeli authorities under
the Netanyahu administration have continued to arbitrarily
reject shipments of humanitarian assistance into Gaza,
including items such as blankets, mattresses, food and
nutrition supplies, hygiene kits, sanitation materials,
assistive devices, and children's clothing, and have caused
almost $50,000,000 of essential goods to sit stockpiled at the
crossings, unable to be distributed.
(22) The Director General of the Ministry of Diaspora
Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, the Minister of Diaspora
Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, the Coordinator of
Government Activities in the Territories, the General Staff of
the Israel Defense Forces, the Chief of the General Staff of
Israel Defense Forces, the Defense Minister of Israel, and the
Prime Minister of Israel all have authorities to help ensure
the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Palestinian
civilians in Gaza.
(23) The Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating
Antisemitism, the Defense Minister of Israel, and the Prime
Minister of Israel all have authority to change policy to
ensure the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
(24) International humanitarian law, including customary
norms and treaty law, prohibits the use of starvation as a
method of warfare and requires the protection of civilians'
access to humanitarian assistance.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Israel has the right to self-defense and the United
States is committed to helping Israel safeguard its people from
future aggression;
(2) Hamas should be condemned in the harshest terms for its
premeditated, coordinated, and brutal terrorist attacks on
Israel;
(3) Hamas's abductions and threats made against hostages,
including threats to use hostages as human shields, are
abhorrent;
(4) Hamas should immediately cease its attacks against
Israel and return the body of the deceased hostage;
(5) the people killed by Hamas's terrorist attacks deserve
to be commemorated, and the hostages, people wounded, and their
families deserve the support of the people of the United
States;
(6) all countries should unequivocally condemn Hamas's war
on Israel, including Hamas's intentional targeting of, and
attacks against, civilians;
(7) the United States appreciates the global advocacy
efforts calling for the release of all hostages;
(8) Iran's support for global terrorism, including its
support for terrorist groups, such as Hamas and Palestinian
Islamic Jihad, should be condemned and opposed by all available
means;
(9) the blocking of the borders of Gaza by the
administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2025,
which prohibited entry of food, medicine, infant formula, fuel,
and other humanitarian assistance and essential services,
should be condemned;
(10) the vast majority of men, women, and especially
children in Gaza, are civilians and not agents of Hamas;
(11) actions by the Netanyahu administration that have
contributed to the humanitarian crisis and acute suffering of
Palestinians are horrifying;
(12) occupying powers have a responsibility to ensure the
safety and well-being of the civilians in the occupied
territory;
(13) the Netanyahu administration has implemented policies
that have regularly and deliberately undermined the delivery
and distribution of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in
Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza;
(14) the restrictions on aid are being carried out by the
political appointees and senior military leadership of the
Netanyahu administration;
(15) the restriction of aid by the Netanyahu administration
is not consistent with the State of Israel's core values and
commitment to human rights;
(16) the Netanyahu administration's conduct has eroded the
State of Israel's standing in the world by undermining the rule
of law and violating fundamental human rights;
(17) the United States can support the State of Israel's
right to exist while opposing the policies and conduct of the
Netanyahu administration;
(18) the United States condemns the Netanyahu
administration for restricting aid, but it continues to greatly
value its relationship with the State of Israel;
(19) the Netanyahu administration's restrictions on aid
create dire conditions for the civilians of Gaza, including
death from starvation;
(20) children dying of starvation serves no military aims
for Israel;
(21) such dire conditions undermine Israel's future
security;
(22) Prime Minister Netanyahu or his successor should
immediately facilitate the delivery of neutral, independent,
impartial, and safe distribution of humanitarian assistance by
all legitimate local and international actors to end the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza as soon as possible;
(23) legitimate local and international actors delivering
and distributing humanitarian assistance should at all times be
safe from deliberate, incidental, and collateral harm from
operations by Israel and its surrogates, including under the
Netanyahu administration; and
(24) the President, the Secretary of State, and the heads
of other relevant United States Government agencies should
urgently use all available diplomatic tools--
(A) to maintain the ceasefire and hostage release
agreement agreed to by Israel and Hamas on October 10,
2025;
(B) to bring about an immediate and sustained surge
in humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in
Gaza; and
(C) to lay the groundwork for a broader regional
peace through implementation of the 20-point plan
included in the agreement described in subparagraph
(A).
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States that--
(1) protected persons are entitled at all times to
sufficient humanitarian assistance;
(2) if a government is unable or unwilling to ensure
delivery and distribution of sufficient humanitarian assistance
to a territory under its control, that government must allow
any and all United States and internationally recognized
humanitarian organizations to deliver and distribute sufficient
humanitarian assistance to the protected persons in that
territory; and
(3) any covered persons acting on behalf of a government
found to be restricting, diminishing, undermining, or
preventing the delivery and distribution of sufficient
humanitarian assistance to protected persons, including
protected persons residing in a territory under the
government's control, are in violation of the policy described
in paragraphs (1) and (2).
SEC. 5. IDENTIFICATION OF COVERED PERSONS OBSTRUCTING HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees and leadership a
report that includes--
(1) a list of all covered persons the President determines
are in violation of the policy described in section 4;
(2) for each such person--
(A) a justification for inclusion of the person on
the list, including a description of the information
supporting the inclusion of the person;
(B) a statement of which, if any, of the sanctions
described in section 6 have been imposed, or will be
imposed, with respect to the person within 30 days of
the submission of the report; and
(C) if sanctions under section 6 have not been
imposed and will not be imposed within 30 days of the
submission of the report with respect to the person--
(i) an identification of the specific
authority under which otherwise applicable
sanctions are being waived, have otherwise been
determined not to apply, or are not being
imposed; and
(ii) a complete justification of the
decision to waive or otherwise not apply the
sanctions;
(3) if few or no such persons have been added to that list
during the year preceding submission of the report, a
description, prepared jointly by the Secretary of the Treasury
and the Secretary of State, of the reasons for not adding more
such persons to the list; and
(4) a description, prepared jointly by the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Secretary of State, of efforts by the
executive branch to encourage the governments of other
countries to impose sanctions that are similar to the sanctions
imposed under this Act.
(b) Form of Report.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2), each
report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in an
unclassified form.
(2) Exception.--The name of a person to be included in the
list required by subsection (a)(1) may be submitted in a
classified annex to the report required by subsection (a) only
if the President--
(A) determines that it is vital for the national
security interests of the United States to do so;
(B) uses the annex in a manner consistent with the
intent of Congress and the purposes of this Act; and
(C) not less than 15 days before submitting the
name in a classified annex, provides to the appropriate
congressional committees and leadership--
(i) notice of, and a justification for,
including or continuing to include the person
in the classified annex despite any publicly
available credible information indicating that
the person engaged in an activity in violation
of the policy described in section 4; and
(ii) notice of, and a justification for the
issuance of any waiver issued with respect to
the person.
(3) Public availability.--The unclassified portion of the
report required by subsection (a) shall be made available on a
publicly available internet website of the Federal Government
not later than 30 days after the report is submitted to the
appropriate congressional committees and leadership.
SEC. 6. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--The President shall impose sanctions under
subsections (b) and (c) with respect to each covered person included in
the list required by section 5(a)(1).
(b) Diplomatic Sanctions.--
(1) In general.--A covered person included in the list
required by section 5(a)(1) is--
(A) inadmissible to the United States;
(B) ineligible for a visa or other documentation to
enter the United States; and
(C) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled
into the United States or to receive any other benefit
under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101 et seq.).
(2) Visa and other entry documentation revocation.--
(A) In general.--The issuing consular officer, the
Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland
Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries)
shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)),
revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to
any covered person included in the list required by
section 5(a)(1), regardless of when the visa or other
entry documentation was issued.
(B) Immediate effect.--The revocation of a visa or
other entry documentation under subparagraph (A)
shall--
(i) take effect immediately; and
(ii) automatically cancel any other valid
visa or entry documentation that is in the
possession of the covered person.
(3) Exception to comply with international obligations.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary of State may issue a
visa otherwise prohibited under paragraph (1) or not
revoke a visa otherwise required to be revoked under
paragraph (2) if the Secretary determines that doing so
is necessary--
(i) to enable the President to receive an
ambassador or other public minister under
section 3 of article II of the Constitution of
the United States in a manner consistent with
the Vienna Conventions; or
(ii) to permit the United States to comply
with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters
of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success
June 26, 1947, and entered into force November
21, 1947, between the United Nations and the
United States, or with any other applicable
international obligations.
(B) Limits on exceptional visas.--A visa issued
pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be strictly limited
in scope and duration to the minimum required for the
purpose for which the visa is issued.
(c) Financial Sanctions.--
(1) Blocking of property.--The President shall exercise all
powers granted by the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except that the requirements of
section 202 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) to
the extent necessary to block and prohibit all transactions in
all property and interests in property of a covered person
included in the list required by section 5(a)(1) if such
property and interests in property are in the United States,
come within the United States, or are or come within the
possession or control of a United States person.
(2) Exceptions.--
(A) National security.--Sanctions under paragraph
(1) shall not apply to a covered person if the
President determines that not applying the sanctions
with respect to the person is vital for the national
security interests of the United States.
(B) Humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions under
paragraph (1) may not be imposed with respect to a
transaction or the facilitation of a transaction for
the provision of humanitarian assistance to protected
persons, including a transaction relating to--
(i) the delivery and distribution of
humanitarian assistance to protected persons;
or
(ii) transporting goods or services that
are necessary to carry out the delivery and
distribution of humanitarian assistance to
protected persons.
(C) Relating to importation of goods.--
(i) In general.--The authorities and
requirements to impose sanctions under this Act
shall not include the authority or a
requirement to impose sanctions on the
importation of goods.
(ii) Good defined.--In this clause, the
term ``good'' means any article, natural or
manmade substance, material, supply or
manufactured product, including inspection and
test equipment, and excluding technical data.
(3) Enforcement.--
(A) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of
paragraph (1) or any regulation, license, or order
issued to carry out that paragraph shall be subject to
the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of
section 206 of the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a
person that commits an unlawful act described in
subsection (a) of such section.
(B) Requirements for financial institutions.--Not
later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe
or amend regulations to require each financial
institution that is a United States person and has
within its possession or control property or interests
in property of a covered person included in the list
required by section 5(a)(1) to certify to the Secretary
that, to the best of the knowledge of the financial
institution, the financial institution has blocked all
such property and interests in property.
(C) Regulatory authority.--The Secretary of the
Treasury shall issue such regulations, licenses, and
orders as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
SEC. 7. WAIVER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS.
(a) In General.--Not withstanding any other provision of law, the
President may, for renewable periods not to exceed 180 days each,
waive, in part or in whole, the application of sanctions under this Act
with respect to a covered person if the President--
(1) determines that such a waiver is in the national
security interests of the United States;
(2) submits to the appropriate congressional committees and
leadership a report that describes the waiver or renewal and
the reasons for that waiver or renewal; and
(3) a joint resolution of disapproval relating to the
report submitted under subsection (b) is not enacted into law
pursuant to section 9.
(b) Requirements.--For each waiver granted under subsection (a),
the President shall--
(1) limit the duration and scope of the waiver to the
minimum required to serve the national security interests for
which the waiver is issued; and
(2) upon expiration of the waiver, immediately determine
whether the covered person covered by the waiver still meets
the criteria for inclusion in the list required by section
5(a)(1).
(c) Persons Meeting Criteria for Sanctions.--If the President
determines under subsection (b)(2) that a covered person still meets
the criteria for inclusion in the list required by section 5(a)(1)
after the expiration of a waiver applicable to the person, the
President shall apply sanctions under section 6 with respect to the
person.
(d) Persons Not Meeting Criteria for Sanctions.--If the President
determines under subsection (b)(2) that a covered person no longer
meets the criteria for inclusion in the list required by section
5(a)(1) after the expiration of a waiver applicable to the person, the
President shall--
(1) pursuant to sections 8 and 9, notify Congress of the
intent of the President to terminate the application of
sanctions under this Act with respect to the person; and
(2) resume making annual determinations with respect to
whether the person meets the criteria for inclusion in the list
required by section 5(a)(1).
SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS.
(a) Termination of Sanctions on Individual Persons.--
(1) In general.--The President may terminate the
application of sanctions under this Act with respect to a
covered person if--
(A) the President determines that--
(i) credible and verifiable information
exists that the person never met the criteria
for inclusion in the list required by section
5(a)(1);
(ii) credible and verifiable information
exists that the person--
(I) no longer meets such criteria;
and
(II) has credibly committed to not
engage in any activity that would meet
such criteria in the future; or
(iii) the termination of the sanctions is
in the national security interests of the
United States;
(B) the President submits to the appropriate
congressional committees and leadership a report that
includes--
(i) a request to terminate the application
of sanctions under this Act with respect to the
person; and
(ii) a description of the reasons for that
request; and
(C) a joint resolution of disapproval relating to
the report submitted under subparagraph (B) is not
enacted into law pursuant to section 9.
(2) Confidentiality of proprietary information.--
Proprietary information that can be associated with a request
to terminate sanctions with respect to a specific covered
person may be included in a report submitted under paragraph
(1)(B) only if--
(A) the appropriate congressional committees and
leadership provide assurances of confidentiality; or
(B) the covered person consents in writing to the
inclusion of the information.
(b) Termination of Sanctions Program.--The President may terminate
the application of all sanctions under this Act with respect to a
country if--
(1) the President determines that there no longer exists
any covered person in that country that meets the criteria for
inclusion in the list required by section 5(a)(1);
(2) the President submits to the appropriate congressional
committees and leadership a report that includes--
(A) a request to terminate the application of
sanctions under this Act; and
(B) a description of the reasons for that request;
and
(3) a joint resolution of disapproval relating to the
report submitted under paragraph (2) is not enacted into law
pursuant to section 9.
SEC. 9. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.
(a) Congressional Requests for Determinations of Specific Covered
Persons.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after receiving a
request from the chairman and ranking member of one of the
appropriate congressional committees with respect to whether a
covered person meets the criteria for inclusion in the list
required by section 5(a)(1), the President shall--
(A) determine if the person meets those criteria;
and
(B) submit to the chairman and ranking member a
report with respect to that determination that includes
a statement of whether or not the President imposed or
intends to impose sanctions under this Act with respect
to the person.
(2) Form.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1)(B)
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex if necessary.
(b) Submission to Congress of Proposed Action.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, before taking any action described in paragraph (2), the
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees and leadership a report that describes the proposed
action and the reasons for that action.
(2) Actions described.--An action described in this
paragraph is--
(A) an action to waive the application of any
sanctions pursuant to section 7; or
(B) an action to terminate the application of any
sanctions pursuant to section 8.
(c) Congressional Review of Requests for Proposed Action.--
(1) In general.--During the period of 30 calendar days
beginning on the date on which the President submits a report
under section 7 or 8, the appropriate congressional committees
should, as appropriate, hold hearings and briefings and
otherwise obtain information in order to fully review the
report.
(2) Exception.--The period for congressional review under
paragraph (1) of a report submitted under section 7 or 8 shall
be 60 calendar days if the report is submitted on or after July
10 and on or before September 7 in any calendar year.
(3) Limitation on actions during initial congressional
review period.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
during the period for congressional review provided for under
paragraph (1) of a report submitted under section 7 or 8,
including any additional period for such review as applicable
under the exception provided in paragraph (2), the President
may not take the requested action unless a joint resolution of
approval with respect to that action is enacted in accordance
with subsection (d).
(4) Limitation on actions during presidential consideration
of a joint resolution of disapproval.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, if a joint resolution of disapproval
relating to a report submitted under section 7 or 8 passes both
Houses of Congress in accordance with subsection (d), the
President may not take that action for a period of 12 calendar
days after the date of passage of the joint resolution of
disapproval.
(5) Limitation on actions during congressional
reconsideration of a joint resolution of disapproval.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a joint
resolution of disapproval relating to a report submitted under
section 7 or 8 passes both Houses of Congress in accordance
with subsection (d), and the President vetoes the joint
resolution, the President may not take that action for a period
of 10 calendar days after the date of the President's veto.
(6) Effect of enactment of a joint resolution of
disapproval.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a
joint resolution of disapproval relating to a report submitted
under section 7 or 8 is enacted in accordance with subsection
(d), the President may not take that action.
(d) Joint Resolutions of Approval or Disapproval Defined.--
(1) Joint resolution of approval.--In this subsection, the
term ``joint resolution of approval'' means only a joint
resolution of either House of Congress--
(A) the title of which is as follows: ``A joint
resolution approving the President's proposal to waive
or terminate the application of certain sanctions with
respect to the obstruction of humanitarian
assistance.''; and
(B) the sole matter after the resolving clause of
which is the following: ``Congress approves of the
action relating to the application of sanctions imposed
with respect to the obstruction of humanitarian
assistance set forth in the report submitted to
Congress under _______ of the Accountability for
Withholding Aid and Relief Essentials Act of 2026 on
_______ relating to _______.'', with the first blank
space being filled with either section 7 or 8, as
applicable, the second blank space being filled with
the appropriate date, and the third blank space being
filled with a short description of the proposed action.
(2) Joint resolution of disapproval.--The term ``joint
resolution of disapproval'' means only a joint resolution of
either House of Congress--
(A) the title of which is as follows: ``A joint
resolution disapproving the President's proposal to
waive or terminate the application of certain sanctions
with respect to the obstruction of humanitarian
assistance.''; and
(B) the sole matter after the resolving clause of
which is the following: ``Congress disapproves of the
action relating to the application of sanctions imposed
with respect to the obstruction of humanitarian
assistance set forth in the report submitted to
Congress under _______ of the Accountability for
Withholding Aid and Relief Essentials Act of 2026 on
_______ relating to _______.'', with the first blank
space being filled with either section 7 or 8, as
applicable, the second blank space being filled with
the appropriate date, and the third blank space being
filled with a short description of the proposed action.
(3) Introduction.--During the period of 30 calendar days
provided for under subsection (c), including any additional
period as applicable under the exception provided in paragraph
(2) of that subsection, a joint resolution of approval or joint
resolution of disapproval may be introduced--
(A) in the Senate, by the majority leader (or the
majority leader's designee) or the minority leader (or
the minority leader's designee); and
(B) in the House of Representatives, by the
majority leader or the minority leader.
(4) Floor consideration in house of representatives.--If a
committee of the House of Representatives to which a joint
resolution of approval or joint resolution of disapproval has
been referred has not reported the joint resolution within 10
calendar days after the date of referral, that committee shall
be discharged from further consideration of the joint
resolution.
(5) Consideration in the senate.--
(A) Committee referral.--A joint resolution of
approval or joint resolution of disapproval introduced
in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(B) Reporting and discharge.--If the Committee on
Foreign Relations has not reported the joint resolution
within 10 calendar days after the date of referral of
the joint resolution, that committee shall be
discharged from further consideration of the joint
resolution and the joint resolution shall be placed on
the appropriate calendar.
(C) Proceeding to consideration.--Notwithstanding
Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in
order at any time after the Committee on Foreign
Relations reports a joint resolution of approval or
joint resolution of disapproval to the Senate or has
been discharged from consideration of such a joint
resolution (even though a previous motion to the same
effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the
consideration of the joint resolution, and all points
of order against the joint resolution (and against
consideration of the joint resolution) are waived. The
motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not
subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider
the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed
to shall not be in order.
(D) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals
from the decisions of the Chair relating to the
application of the rules of the Senate to the procedure
relating to a joint resolution of approval or joint
resolution of disapproval shall be decided without
debate.
(E) Consideration of veto messages.--Debate in the
Senate of any veto message with respect to a joint
resolution of approval or joint resolution of
disapproval, including all debatable motions and
appeals in connection with the joint resolution, shall
be limited to 10 hours, to be equally divided between,
and controlled by, the majority leader and the minority
leader or their designees.
(6) Rules relating to senate and house of
representatives.--
(A) Treatment of senate joint resolution in house
of representatives.--In the House of Representatives,
the following procedures shall apply to a joint
resolution of approval or a joint resolution of
disapproval received from the Senate (unless the House
of Representatives has already adopted a joint
resolution relating to the same proposed action):
(i) The joint resolution shall be referred
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives.
(ii) If the Committee on Foreign Affairs
has not reported the joint resolution within 2
calendar days after the date of referral, that
committee shall be discharged from further
consideration of the joint resolution.
(iii) Beginning on the third legislative
day after the Committee on Foreign Affairs
reports the joint resolution to the House of
Representatives or has been discharged from
further consideration thereof, it shall be in
order to move to proceed to consider the joint
resolution in the House of Representatives. All
points of order against the motion are waived.
Such a motion shall not be in order after the
House of Representatives has disposed of a
motion to proceed on the joint resolution. The
previous question shall be considered as
ordered on the motion to its adoption without
intervening motion. The motion shall not be
debatable. A motion to reconsider the vote by
which the motion is disposed of shall not be in
order.
(iv) The joint resolution shall be
considered as read. All points of order against
the joint resolution and against its
consideration are waived. The previous question
shall be considered as ordered on the joint
resolution to final adoption without
intervening motion except 2 hours of debate
equally divided and controlled by the sponsor
of the joint resolution (or a designee) and an
opponent. A motion to reconsider the vote on
adoption of the joint resolution shall not be
in order.
(B) Treatment of house of representatives joint
resolution in senate.--
(i) Receipt of house resolution before
adoption of senate resolution.--If, before the
adoption by the Senate of a joint resolution of
approval or a joint resolution of disapproval,
the Senate receives an identical joint
resolution from the House of Representatives,
the following procedures shall apply:
(I) That joint resolution shall not
be referred to a committee.
(II) With respect to that joint
resolution--
(aa) the procedure in the
Senate shall be the same as if
no joint resolution had been
received from the House of
Representatives; but
(bb) the vote on adoption
shall be on the joint
resolution from the House of
Representatives.
(ii) Receipt of house resolution after
adoption of senate resolution.--If, following
adoption of a joint resolution of approval or a
joint resolution of disapproval in the Senate,
the Senate receives an identical joint
resolution from the House of Representatives,
that joint resolution shall be placed on the
appropriate Senate calendar.
(iii) No senate companion.--If a joint
resolution of approval or a joint resolution of
disapproval is received from the House of
Representatives, and no companion joint
resolution has been introduced in the Senate,
the Senate procedures under this subsection
shall apply to the joint resolution from the
House.
(C) Application to revenue measures.--The
provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in the
House of Representatives to a joint resolution of
approval or a joint resolution of disapproval that is a
revenue measure.
(7) Rules of senate and house of representatives.--This
subsection is enacted by Congress--
(A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the
Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively,
and as such is deemed a part of the rules of each House
of Congress, respectively, and supersedes other rules
only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such
rules; and
(B) with full recognition of the constitutional
right of either House to change the rules (so far as
relating to the procedure of that House) at any time,
in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the
case of any other rule of that House.
SEC. 10. SUNSET.
This Act shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 11. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act, or the application of any such
provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be
unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act, and the
application of those provisions to any other person or circumstance,
shall not be affected.
SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees and leadership.--
The term ``appropriate congressional committees and
leadership'' means--
(A) the appropriate congressional committees;
(B) the majority leader and the minority leader of
the Senate; and
(C) the Speaker, the majority leader, and the
minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(3) Covered person.--The term ``covered person'' means a
foreign person who is any of the following:
(A) The prime minister or head of state of a
foreign government or any official in the office of the
prime minister or head of state in a foreign
government.
(B) A cabinet member or any official serving in the
office of a cabinet member of a foreign government.
(C) Any official of a foreign government who
reports to a cabinet official.
(D) Any official of a foreign government overseeing
civilian coordination.
(E) Any official of a foreign government
facilitating humanitarian projects.
(F) Any official of a foreign government
facilitating infrastructure projects.
(G) Any commissioned officer serving in the
military of a foreign country with a rank equivalent to
the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher in the United
States Armed Forces.
(H) Any other individual of equivalent rank serving
in a security agency affiliated with, associated with,
or working on behalf of a foreign government.
(I) Any entity, including a foundation or economic
conglomerate, overseen by an individual described in
any of subparagraphs (A) through (H), or owned or
controlled by such an individual, that is complicit in
financing or resourcing the restriction of humanitarian
assistance to protected persons.
(J) Any person determined by the President--
(i)(I) to be complicit in financing or
resourcing the restriction of humanitarian
assistance to protected persons; and
(II) appointed by an individual described
in any of subparagraphs (A) through (H) to a
position--
(aa) as an official of a foreign
government; or
(bb) the head of a nongovernmental
entity;
(ii) to have materially assisted,
sponsored, or provided financial, material, or
technological support for, or goods or services
to or in support of any person the property and
interests in property are blocked pursuant to
section 6(c);
(iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to
have acted or purported to act for or on behalf
of, directly or indirectly any person the
property and interests in property of which are
blocked pursuant to section 6(c); or
(iv) to be a member of the board of
directors or a senior executive officer of any
person the property and interests in property
of which are blocked pursuant to section 6(c).
(4) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(5) Humanitarian assistance.--The term ``humanitarian
assistance'' includes the provision of food, water, shelter,
health services and medicines, hygiene products, clothing,
essential services, and basic service delivery items, such as
fuel.
(6) Protected person.--The term ``protected person'' means
an individual who--
(A) is a civilian, noncombatant, and takes no part
in hostilities; and
(B) performs no work for, and provides no material
support to, any United States recognized terrorist or
insurgent organization.
(7) United states and internationally recognized
humanitarian organization.--The term ``United States and
internationally recognized humanitarian organization'' means
any international organization or nongovernmental organization
that--
(A) provides humanitarian assistance that is
recognized by and in good standing with the United
Nations and the United States Government; or
(B) complies with established professional
standards, such as the Sphere humanitarian standards or
the United Nations coordinated response guidance.
(8) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the
United States or any jurisdiction within the United
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity;
or
(C) any person in the United States.
(9) United states recognized terrorist or insurgent
organization.--The term ``United States recognized terrorist or
insurgent organization'' means an organization that is
designated as a foreign terrorist organization under section
219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
(10) Vienna conventions.--The term ``Vienna Conventions''
means--
(A) the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,
done at Vienna April 18, 1961 (23 UST 3227); and
(B) the Convention on Consular Relations, done at
Vienna April 24, 1963 (21 UST 77).
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
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