Bill Summary
The "Humanitarian Theft Enforcement Act" is legislation aimed at holding foreign individuals or entities accountable for the unauthorized diversion or destruction of U.S. humanitarian assistance. Under this act, if the Secretary of State determines that a foreign party is responsible for such actions, that party is liable to the U.S. government for the value of the assistance affected.
The act outlines procedures for the recovery of these funds, allowing the Secretary of State to take necessary actions to reclaim the value of the assistance. Additionally, any recovered funds can be credited to an appropriate account within the Department of State and can be used as needed. The Secretary also has the discretion to waive liability if deemed necessary for national interests. Overall, this legislation seeks to protect U.S. humanitarian efforts by ensuring accountability for those who undermine them.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Humanitarian Theft Enforcement Act" could affect people:
1. **Increased Accountability for Foreign Entities**: The legislation holds foreign persons or entities accountable for unauthorized diversion or destruction of U.S. humanitarian assistance. This could lead to increased scrutiny and regulation of organizations operating in regions where humanitarian aid is provided. For individuals and organizations in those areas, this might mean stricter compliance requirements, which could impact their ability to distribute aid effectively.
2. **Reallocation of Resources**: If the U.S. government successfully recovers funds from entities responsible for the diversion or destruction of humanitarian assistance, those funds can be redirected to other humanitarian efforts. This could positively affect communities in need by ensuring that more resources are available for essential services and support, potentially improving access to food, healthcare, and shelter.
3. **Potential Diplomatic Tensions**: The enforcement of this act could lead to diplomatic strain between the United States and foreign governments or organizations that are deemed responsible for the misappropriation of humanitarian aid. Individuals in those countries may face heightened political instability or conflict as their governments respond to U.S. actions, which could adversely affect local populations relying on humanitarian assistance during crises.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7649 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7649
To ensure that persons found responsible for the unauthorized diversion
or destruction of United States humanitarian assistance are liable to
the United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 23, 2026
Mr. McCormick introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure that persons found responsible for the unauthorized diversion
or destruction of United States humanitarian assistance are liable to
the United States, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Humanitarian Theft Enforcement
Act''.
SEC. 2. HUMANITARIAN THEFT ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Liability.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law or
regulation, any foreign person or entity the Secretary of State
determines is responsible for the unauthorized diversion or destruction
of United States humanitarian assistance, including humanitarian
assistance funded by the United States that is provided by an
international organization, is liable to the United States for the
value of the assistance the Secretary determines was so diverted or
destroyed.
(b) Recovery.--Upon determining that a foreign person or entity is
responsible for the unauthorized diversion or destruction of assistance
in the manner described in subsection (a), the Secretary of State
should take appropriate steps to recover the value of such assistance
from the foreign person or entity.
(c) Crediting of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, any funds received by the Secretary of State pursuant to a
determination under this section may be credited to an appropriate
account of the Department of State and shall remain available until
expended. The Secretary of State may transfer such funds to an
appropriate account of another Federal department or agency if the
diverted or destroyed assistance was funded by such agency.
(d) Waiver.--The Secretary of State may waive any liability
incurred pursuant to subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that
such a waiver is in the national interest.
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