Bill Summary
The "Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act of 2026" is a proposed legislation aimed at ensuring adequate food assistance for the civilian population of Gaza, particularly focusing on children and families. The Act mandates the Secretary of State to certify to Congress, within 30 days of enactment, that effective oversight policies are in place to guarantee that all children in Gaza receive at least three nutritious meals daily, and all other civilians receive at least two meals.
To achieve this, the Secretary of State must coordinate with various international organizations, including the World Food Program and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, as well as with other donors and stakeholders. The Act also requires the Secretary to submit a detailed report to Congress and the public on the distribution of food assistance, including the number of beneficiaries and the roles of various contributors. Furthermore, the Secretary must inform Congress of any incidents where food assistance has been denied or misused, including details about the assistance, the involved parties, and the Department of State's response. This legislation reflects a commitment to addressing food security issues in Gaza amidst ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Possible Impacts
The "Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act of 2026" could affect people in several significant ways:
1. **Improved Nutritional Access for Children**: The legislation aims to ensure that all children in Gaza receive at least three nutritious meals per day. This could lead to improved health outcomes for children, reducing malnutrition rates and promoting better physical and cognitive development. This is particularly important in conflict-affected areas where access to food can be severely limited.
2. **Increased Accountability and Transparency in Aid Distribution**: The requirement for the Secretary of State to report on food assistance distribution, including the number of people served and any instances of denied assistance, promotes transparency in how food aid is managed. This accountability could build trust among the civilian population in Gaza regarding international aid efforts, as they can see how resources are being allocated and whether their needs are being met.
3. **Coordination Among Aid Organizations**: By mandating collaboration with various international organizations, such as the World Food Program and the UN Relief and Works Agency, the legislation encourages a more coordinated approach to food assistance in Gaza. This could lead to a more efficient distribution of resources and reduce the risk of duplication or inefficiencies. For civilians, this means that food aid may be delivered more effectively, ensuring that those in need receive assistance in a timely manner.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7565 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7565
To ensure sufficient food assistance for the civilian population of
Gaza.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2026
Ms. Waters (for herself, Mr. Carson, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr.
Cohen, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Fields, Mrs. Foushee,
Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Johnson
of Georgia, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Lynch, Ms. McCollum, Mr. McGovern, and Ms.
Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure sufficient food assistance for the civilian population of
Gaza.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Food for Palestinian Children and
Families in Gaza Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. ENSURING SUFFICIENT FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR THE CIVILIAN POPULATION
OF GAZA.
(a) Certification.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall certify and report
to Congress that--
(1) oversight policies, processes, and procedures have been
established by the Department of State, as appropriate, and are
in use to ensure that sufficient food assistance is being
provided to the civilian population of Gaza to ensure that--
(A) all children in Gaza are able to eat at least
three nutritious meals each day; and
(B) all other civilians in Gaza are able to eat at
least two nutritious meals each day; and
(2) such policies, processes, and procedures have been
developed in coordination with the World Food Program, the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and other appropriate
United Nations agencies, other bilateral and multilateral
donors, international nongovernmental organizations, the
Government of Israel, and representatives of the Palestinian
people, as appropriate.
(b) Oversight Policy and Procedures.--The Secretary of State shall
submit to Congress, concurrent with the submission of the certification
required by subsection (a), a written description of the oversight
policies, processes, and procedures for the distribution of food
assistance in Gaza, including food assistance provided by the United
States, food assistance provided by other bilateral and multilateral
donors, and food assistance provided by international nongovernmental
organizations, and the role of the Government of Israel in the
oversight of such assistance.
(c) Requirement To Report.--The Secretary of State shall provide a
report to Congress, which shall be made available to the public, not
later than 30 days after the certification required by subsection (a),
on how much food assistance is being distributed in Gaza, how many
children and adults are being served in Gaza, the donors that are
providing the assistance, and how the food is being distributed.
(d) Requirement To Inform.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall promptly
inform Congress of each instance in which food assistance that
is made available for Gaza, for the purposes described in
(a)(1), has been denied entrance into Gaza or has been diverted
or misused in Gaza.
(2) Matters to be included.--The Secretary of State shall
include in the information required by paragraph (1) the type
of assistance, the donor that provided the assistance, a
description of the incident and parties involved, and an
explanation of the response of the Department of State, as
appropriate.
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