[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8334 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8334
To provide for the suspension of bilateral and multilateral foreign
assistance to the Government of Somalia, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 16, 2026
Mr. Jackson of Texas (for himself, Mr. Barr, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr.
Baird, and Mr. Burchett) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the
Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the suspension of bilateral and multilateral foreign
assistance to the Government of Somalia, 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 ``Taxpayer Protection and Somalia
Accountability Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the President should direct the heads of appropriate
Federal agencies to restrict, prevent, or stop the transfer of
all remittances from individuals or entities in the United
States to individuals or entities in the Federal Republic of
Somalia until such time as the President determines--
(A) funds remitted are not United States funds
disbursed through Federal, State, or local government
support programs;
(B) the sender of the funds remitted is not
receiving financial or other support through a Federal,
State, or local program;
(C) the funds remitted to persons in Somalia are
not being transferred to officials within the national
Government of Somalia; and
(D) the funds remitted to individuals or
beneficiaries in Somalia are not being directed to or
benefitting foreign terrorist organizations; and
(2) the President should direct the heads of appropriate
Federal agencies to review all instances of reported or
suspected acts of fraud, waste, or abuse in United States
foreign assistance programs in Somalia in which such acts are
suspected to have been carried out by officials of the national
Government of Somalia or at their direction or for their
benefit.
SEC. 3. BRIEFING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall brief the appropriate
congressional committees on--
(1) evidence of United States funds being transferred to
persons or entities within the Federal Republic of Somalia,
including an identification of individuals who facilitate or
support the transfer of such funds;
(2) evidence of the remittance system between the United
States being used to benefit officials of the national
Government of Somalia; and
(3) evidence of remittances being received or otherwise
benefitting foreign terrorist organizations or organizations
benefitting from foreign terrorist organizations.
(b) Form.--The briefing required by this section shall--
(1) be provided in unclassified form; and
(2) include a classified annex as appropriate.
SEC. 4. SUSPENSION OF BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO
THE GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA.
(a) Bilateral Assistance.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, no bilateral foreign assistance, including assistance under the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act, should
be provided to the national Government of Somalia only if adequate
safeguards are in place to mitigate the risk of diversion of such
assistance.
(b) Multilateral Assistance.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, no contributions or funding to international organizations or
non-governmental organizations may be used by such organizations for
the direct benefit or use of the national Government of Somalia.
(c) Waiver.--The Secretary of State may waive the suspension of
bilateral foreign assistance to the national Government of Somalia
under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis if the Secretary certifies
to the appropriate congressional committees that the provision of such
assistance is in the national interests of the United States.
SEC. 5. VISA RESTRICTIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall apply the
restrictions under section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign
Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (division F of
Public Law 118-47; 8 U.S.C. 1182 note) to any current or former
official of the national Government of Somalia whom the Secretary has
information was involved in--
(1) significant corruption related to the diversion of
United States foreign assistance;
(2) the destruction or seizure of United States-funded
humanitarian facilities; or
(3) facilitating the provision of United States foreign
assistance to foreign terrorist organizations.
(b) Inclusion of Diplomatic and G Visas.--The Secretary of State
may not exempt individuals from the application of the restrictions
under subsection (a) if such individuals are holders of, or applicants
for, A-category (Diplomatic) or G-category (International Organization)
visas if such individuals are determined to be involved in the
activities described in subsection (a).
(c) Family Members.--The restrictions described in subsection (a)
shall also be applied to the immediate family members of individuals
who are determined to be involved in the activities described in
subsection (a).
SEC. 6. OTHER SANCTIONS.
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the President may impose the sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human
Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) with respect to any
foreign person that the President determines--
(1) is collaborating with the national Government of
Somalia to engage in corruption or other activities relating to
the diversion of United States funds intended for the people of
Somalia; or
(2) has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided
financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or
services in support of, corruption or other activities
described in paragraph (1).
SEC. 7. DEPARTMENT OF STATE REWARDS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall exercise authority
under section 36 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act (22
U.S.C. 2708) to offer rewards for information leading to--
(1) the identification and location of nationals of the
Federal Republic of Somalia or officials of the national
Government of Somalia involved in defrauding United States
Government programs; or
(2) the recovery of assets stolen or defrauded from the
United States Treasury by Somali-based networks.
(b) Funding.--Rewards under this section--
(1) may be paid from the Emergencies in the Diplomatic and
Consular Service account; and
(2) may not to exceed $250,000 per reward.
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
(2) the term ``foreign terrorist organization'' means an
organization designated by the Secretary of State pursuant to
section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1189).
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