[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3900 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 504
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3900
To promote human rights, internet freedom and accountability in Iran,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 24, 2026
Mr. McCormick (for himself, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Curtis, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr.
Banks, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Collins, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Booker,
Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Justice, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Cornyn, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. Kaine) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
July 27, 2026
Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To promote human rights, internet freedom and accountability in Iran,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Human Rights, Internet
Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following
findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) For nearly five decades, the people of Iran
have endured brutal repression under the Government of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, a regime that denies basic human
rights, silences dissidents, and responds to peaceful protest
with violence.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) The people of Iran have repeatedly and
courageously taken to the streets to demand economic
opportunity, human rights, dignity, and freedom.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) During the 2026 protests, the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran responded with brutality by
reportedly killing tens of thousands of people and wounding
thousands more, arresting tens of thousands, and restricting
internet access and telephone lines.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) The people of Iran are protesting the Iranian
regime's economic mismanagement, corruption, internal
suppression, and unjust executions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Access to free expression, open information,
and uncensored communication are fundamental human rights and
critical to the survival of the Iranian protestors.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Thanks in part to United States-funded efforts
to support human rights and open internet access, the Iranian
people are consistently found to be one of the most pro-
American populations in the Middle East.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) The inspiring 2022 Women, Life, Freedom
protests demanded an end to the Islamic Republic and its
violence, particularly against Iranian women and ethnic
minorities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) The barbaric so-called ``morality police'' and
other arms of state suppression have a lengthy history of
repressing the Iranian people's fundamental freedoms.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) The Iranian regime has engaged in systematic
efforts to intimidate, harass, detain, and harm political
dissidents, activists, and journalists both within Iran and
beyond its borders.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) The people of Iran deserve the right to
dignity, democracy, and self-determination and to be free from
the brutality of the Government of the Islamic Republic of
Iran.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the
United States--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) to recognize the right of the Iranian people
to freely determine, through free and fair elections, the
future leadership of their country;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) to facilitate the immediate expansion of
unrestricted internet access and civilian lines of
communication across Iran;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) to support the internationally recognized
human rights of Iranians and United States programs to assist
Iranian civil society, including in their credible
documentation, reporting, and accountability efforts of abuses
in Iran;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) to fully enforce sanctions against regime
violators of internationally recognized human rights and their
family members, including any family members and associates in
the United States that continue to directly or indirectly
provide support to the regime; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) to work in coordination with its allies to
consider appropriate measures to deter further lethal violence
against protesters.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. IMPROVED COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO PROMOTE INTERNET
FREEDOM IN IRAN.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Duties of the Secretary of State.--The Secretary of
State shall be the Federal official with the primary responsibility
for--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) promoting widespread internet freedom in Iran
and expanding access to information for Iranian
citizens;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) coordinating all efforts carried out by
Federal departments and agencies that relate to digital freedom
initiatives in Iran; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) serving as the principal official responsible
for updating and carrying out the strategy required under
section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights
Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Updates to Comprehensive Strategy To Promote Internet
Freedom and Access to Information in Iran.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Updates.--Section 414 of the Iran Threat
Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754)
is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking ``Not later than'' and
inserting ``(A) Initial Strategy.--Not later
than'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by redesignating paragraphs (11) and
(12) as paragraphs (14) and (15),
respectively;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by inserting after paragraph (10) the
following new paragraphs:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(11) evaluate the use of virtual private
networks and direct-to-cell satellite technologies by civil
society and internationally recognized human rights activists
in Iran and develop strategies for increasing the accessibility
of such networks and technologies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(12) work with the Department of the Treasury
and the Department of Commerce to ensure enforcement of
sanctions does not impede companies providing to Iranian
civilians the technology and other tools necessary to access
the open internet;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(13) assess the ability of the Iranian regime to
cut off all access to the internet and develop a strategy to
circumvent internet blackouts for Iranian civil society;'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) by adding at the end of the following
new subsection:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(b) Updates.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the
heads of other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall
review the strategy under subsection (a) on an ongoing basis and update
the strategy as appropriate, taking into account the results of such
review.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Submission of first updates.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Submission.--Not later than 120 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of State shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) review and update the strategy
pursuant to section 414(b) of the Iran Threat
Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012
(22 U.S.C. 8754), as added by paragraph (1);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) submit such updated strategy
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Form.--The strategy under subparagraph
(A) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may
include a classified annex.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. INTERNET FREEDOM AND CENSORSHIP
CIRCUMVENTION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Internet Freedom Report.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Federal Communications Commission and the
Department of the Treasury, shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report
that updates and supplements the report required under section
5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2025 (Public Law 118-159).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Additional matters to be included.--Updates to
the strategy required in section 5124 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a) shall
also include the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) An assessment of the feasibility of
using direct-to-cell wireless communications
technologies to expand internet access for the people
of Iran, including technical, regulatory, and security
considerations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) An analysis of how drone-based
platforms, signal-jamming technologies, and related
countermeasures could impact the feasibility, security,
economics, and resilience of such direct-to-cell
wireless communications.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) A survey of terrestrial and non-
terrestrial telecommunications service providers
currently active in Iran, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) whether such providers are
state-owned or state-controlled;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) the extent of foreign
participation or investment in such
providers;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) the implications of such
ownership and control for communications
freedom and censorship; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iv) any other relevant
information to assess the opportunities and
risks associated with terrestrial and non-
terrestrial communications technologies in
Iran.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1)
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Extension and Increase of Authorization for Iran
Internet Freedom Grant Program.--Section 5124(b)(5)(A) of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C.
8754a(b)(5)(A)) is amended by inserting ``and not less than $20,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030'' after ``$15,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Development of Internet Access Technologies.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Department of State, in
coordination with the Department of Defense, the United States
Agency for Global Media, and other relevant Federal departments
and agencies, shall form a joint working group (referred to as
the ``Working Group'') to support the development of low-cost,
easily scalable, and rapidly deployable technologies to counter
internet shutdowns or limitations on network access abroad,
particularly those imposed by adversary countries, to enable
populations to overcome such restrictions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Objectives.--In carrying out the
responsibilities under subsection (a), the Working Group shall
prioritize the following objectives:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Identifying and supporting the
development of technologies capable of overcoming
internet blackouts and network disruptions imposed by
an adversary country and facilitating internet and
network access, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) low-earth orbit satellite
internet infrastructure;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) mesh networking solutions;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) portable and deployable
communication systems.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Virtual private networks (commonly
known as ``VPNs''), including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) collaborating with industry,
academia, and relevant stakeholders to
accelerate the research, development, and
deployment of such technologies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) conducting pilot programs and
field experiments to test the effectiveness and
scalability of developed solutions in real-
world settings; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) providing technical
assistance and resources to partner
organizations, governments, and nongovernmental
entities engaged in efforts to expand internet
access.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Identifying and evaluating off-the-
shelf technologies that could be rapidly procured and
deployed to address internet access challenges in
targeted regions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Collaboration with the federal acquisition
institute.--The Working Group shall collaborate with the
Federal Acquisition Institute to leverage expertise in
acquisition processes and practices related to carrying out the
objectives under paragraph (2) with the aim of--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) integrating best practices in defense
acquisition into the research, development, and
deployment processes of technologies developed by the
Working Group to facilitate internet access;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) ensuring that technologies developed
by the Working Group align with acquisition priorities
and strategies of the Department of State and the
Department of Defense;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) providing training and educational
opportunities for the Working Group on acquisition
principles, regulations, and procedures, with a focus
on technology development for countering censorship and
related restrictions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) fostering dialogue and exchange of
knowledge between acquisition professionals and
innovation specialists to enhance the effectiveness and
efficiency of defense technology acquisition related to
internet access technologies; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) collaborating on the development of
acquisition strategies that prioritize the rapid
acquisition and deployment of technologies aimed at
countering censorship and restrictions on internet
access.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Reporting.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the United
States Agency for Global Media, shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees an annual report detailing the
progress, challenges, and outcomes of the efforts undertaken
pursuant to this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary for each fiscal year 2027 through 2030 to carry out
the activities described in this subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Appropriate congressional committees
defined.--In this subsection, the term ``appropriate
congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Armed Services, the
Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Armed Services, the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 5. IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after receiving a
written request from the chairman or ranking member of any of the
appropriate congressional committees regarding whether a foreign person
has engaged in the conduct described in subsection (b), the President
shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) determine whether the foreign person has
engaged in such conduct; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) submit to such chairman or ranking minority
member a written justification detailing whether the President
imposed the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect
to such person.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Conduct Described.--The conduct described in this
subsection is knowingly providing material support for the Iranian
regime's abuses of internationally recognized human rights, censorship,
or repression of the Iranian people, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) selling, supplying, or transferring censorship
technology, surveillance tools, or internet shutdown
capabilities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) any conduct sanctionable under part 562 of
title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (Iranian Human Rights
Abuses Sanctions Regulations); or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) any conduct sanctionable under the Global
Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et
seq.).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on
Intelligence of the Senate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the
Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee
on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 6. STRATEGY ON IRAN BROADCASTING AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ASSISTANCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Strategy Required.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Chief Executive Officer of the United
States Agency for Global Media, shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a strategy to expand and enhance
United States and international broadcasting efforts and United
States programs to support the protection and promotion of
internationally recognized human rights in Iran.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Elements of the strategy.--The strategy
required under subsection (a) shall include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) a comprehensive review and assessment
of current United States Government and international
broadcasting efforts targeted at Iran, including Voice
of America Persian Service, Radio Farda, and other
relevant programs, including their reach,
effectiveness, and vulnerabilities to Iranian regime
censorship, as well as United States Government efforts
to support internationally recognized human rights and
democratic civil society, including efforts to assist
in the credible documentation of abuses of
internationally recognized human rights;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) specific plans and initiatives to
ensure the Iranian people have reliable access to
accurate, uncensored, and unbiased news coverage,
including through satellite broadcasting, digital
circumvention tools, shortwave radio, and emerging
technologies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) programs to support independent
Iranian journalists, media outlets, and citizen
journalists, including grants for equipment, training,
secure communication platforms, and capacity-building
for Persian and other local language media;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) programs to support and train Iranian
civil society;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) coordination mechanisms with
international partners, the private sector, and
diaspora communities to amplify credible independent
media;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) annual performance metrics and
benchmarks for audience reach, content impact, and
program outcomes; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (G) a multi-year budget and resource
requirements plan to implement the strategy.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Form.--The strategy required in subsection (a)
shall be transmitted in an unclassified form and may contain a
classified annex.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) GAO Report on Near East Regional Democracy (NERD)
Expenditures.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report examining Federal expenditures under the
Near East Regional Democracy (NERD) account over fiscal years
2024 and 2025.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Matters included.--The report shall include--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) a detailed accounting of all NERD
funds obligated and expended for Iran-related programs,
including broadcasting, media support, civil society
assistance, and human rights initiatives;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) an assessment of the processes used
for grant allocation, contractor oversight, vetting of
recipients, and measuring program outcomes;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) an evaluation of the effectiveness of
such programs in advancing United States policy
objectives, including expanding information access and
supporting independent media within Iran; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) recommendations for improving
transparency, accountability, and impact
measurement.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Form.--The strategy and the GAO report required under
this section shall each be submitted in unclassified form, but may
include a classified annex.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on Armed Services, the Select Committee on
Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the
Committee on Armed Services, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 7. CYBERSECURITY CAPACITY FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN
IRAN.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Training and Tools.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
establish programs--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) to deliver remote or in-person cybersecurity
training to journalists, defenders of internationally
recognized human rights, and civil-society actors in
Iran;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) to furnish vetted open-source or commercially
available digital-safety tools, including VPN services and end-
to-end encrypted messaging applications; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) to provide multilingual educational materials
that warn Iranian users about regime-controlled applications
and phishing campaigns.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Reporting and Evaluation.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Quarterly metrics.--The Secretary of State
shall track and, on a quarterly basis, make available to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives aggregate
metrics on the number of trainees, incident-response cases, and
unique users of supported digital safety tools.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Independent evaluation.--Not later than 3
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the program carried out under this
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to supersede or limit existing authority under section 404 of
the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C.
8754) or any other provision of law related to internet freedom
programming in Iran.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of
fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out the activities described in
this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing the
use of military force.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom,
and Accountability Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) For nearly five decades, the people of Iran have
endured brutal repression under the Government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, a regime that denies basic human rights,
silences dissidents, and responds to peaceful protest with
violence.
(2) The people of Iran have repeatedly and courageously
taken to the streets to demand economic opportunity, human
rights, dignity, and freedom.
(3) During the 2026 protests, the Government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran responded with brutality by reportedly killing
tens of thousands of people and wounding thousands more,
arresting tens of thousands, and restricting internet access
and telephone lines.
(4) The people of Iran are protesting the Iranian regime's
economic mismanagement, corruption, internal suppression, and
unjust executions.
(5) Free expression, open information, and uncensored
communication are fundamental human rights and critical to the
survival of the Iranian protestors.
(6) Thanks in part to United States-funded efforts to
support human rights and open internet access, the Iranian
people are consistently found to be one of the most pro-
American populations in the Middle East.
(7) The inspiring 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests
demanded an end to the Islamic Republic and its violence,
particularly against Iranian women and ethnic minorities.
(8) The barbaric so-called ``morality police'' and other
arms of state suppression have a lengthy history of repressing
the Iranian people's fundamental freedoms.
(9) The Iranian regime has engaged in systematic efforts to
intimidate, harass, detain, and harm political dissidents,
activists, and journalists both within Iran and beyond its
borders.
(10) The people of Iran deserve the right to dignity,
democracy, and self-determination and to be free from the
brutality of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United
States--
(1) to recognize the Iranian people's right to self-
determination;
(2) to facilitate the immediate expansion of open,
uncensored internet access and civilian lines of communication
for the people of Iran to communicate domestically and with the
outside world;
(3) to support the internationally recognized human rights
of Iranians and programs to assist Iranian civil society,
including in their credible documentation, reporting, and
accountability efforts of abuses in Iran;
(4) to fully enforce sanctions against regime violators of
internationally recognized human rights and their family
members; and
(5) to work in coordination with its allies and partners to
deter the regime's violence against the Iranian people.
SEC. 3. IMPROVED COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO PROMOTE INTERNET FREEDOM IN
IRAN.
(a) Duties of the Secretary of State.--The Secretary of State is
authorized to be the Federal official with the primary responsibility
for--
(1) promoting widespread internet freedom in Iran and
expanding open access to independent and impartial information
for Iranian citizens;
(2) coordinating all efforts carried out by Federal
departments and agencies that relate the objectives outlined in
paragraph (1); and
(3) serving as the principal official responsible for
updating and carrying out the strategy required under section
5124(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a).
(b) Updates to Comprehensive Strategy to Promote Internet Freedom
and Access to Information in Iran.--
(1) Updates.--Section 5124 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking subparagraphs
(A) through (G) and inserting the following new
subparagraphs:
``(A) An evaluation of the use of virtual private
networks, centralized networks, peer-to-peer
technologies, and other emerging circumvention tools by
civil society and internationally recognized human
rights activists in Iran and strategies for increasing
open access to such networks and technologies,
prioritizing tools with demonstrated effectiveness,
scalability, and acceptable user security risks in the
Iran context.
``(B) An assessment of United States Government
efforts to cultivate and expand viable alternatives to
virtual private networks, peer to peer technology, and
other emerging circumvention tools.
``(C) A breakdown of any limitations or
restrictions facing the development or deployment of
United States Government sponsored virtual private
networks, peer to peer technology, or other emerging
circumvention tools to support internet freedom in
Iran.
``(D) An assessment of the ability of the
Government of Iran to cut off all access to the global
internet in Iran, including the primary tools and
technology through which they may be able to do so.'';
(B) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection
(c); and
(C) by inserting after subsection (a) the following
new subsection:
``(b) Updates.--The Secretary of State and the heads of other
Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall review the
strategy under subsection (a) on an ongoing basis and update the
strategy as appropriate, taking into account the results of such
review.''.
(2) Submission of first updates.--
(A) Submission.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
State shall--
(i) review and update the strategy pursuant
to section 5124(a) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22
U.S.C. 8754a), as amended by paragraph (1); and
(ii) submit such updated strategy to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives.
(B) Form.--The strategy under subparagraph (A)
shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may
include a classified annex.
(3) Additional update.--Section 414 of the Iran Threat
Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754)
is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as
paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following
new paragraph:
``(11) work with the relevant Federal departments and
agencies to ensure enforcement of sanctions does not impede
companies providing to Iranian civilians the technology and
other tools necessary to access the open internet;''.
SEC. 4. INTERNET FREEDOM AND CENSORSHIP CIRCUMVENTION.
(a) Internet Freedom Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Federal Communications Commission and the
Department of the Treasury, shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report
that updates and supplements the report required under section
5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2025 (Public Law 118-159).
(2) Additional matters to be included.--Updates to the
strategy required in section 5124 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a) shall
also include the following:
(A) An assessment of the feasibility of using
direct-to-cell wireless communications technologies to
expand internet access for the people of Iran,
including technical, regulatory, and security
considerations.
(B) An analysis of how drone-based platforms,
signal-jamming technologies, and related
countermeasures could impact the feasibility, security,
economics, and resilience of such direct-to-cell
wireless communications.
(C) A survey of terrestrial and non-terrestrial
telecommunications service providers currently active
in Iran, including--
(i) whether such providers are state-owned
or state-controlled;
(ii) the extent of foreign participation or
investment in such providers;
(iii) the implications of such ownership
and control for communications freedom and
censorship; and
(iv) any other relevant information to
assess the opportunities and risks associated
with terrestrial and non-terrestrial
communications technologies in Iran.
(3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex.
(b) Extension and Increase of Authorization for Iran Internet
Freedom Grant Program.--Section 5124(c)(5)(A) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a(c)(5)(A)), as
redesignated by section 3(b)(1)(B), is amended by striking ``each of
fiscal years 2025 and 2026'' and inserting ``each fiscal year through
fiscal year 2030''.
(c) Development of Internet Access Technologies.--
(1) In general.--The Department of State, in coordination
with the Department of Defense and other relevant Federal
departments and agencies, is authorized to utilize existing
interagency coordination mechanisms to the maximum extent
practicable, to support the development of low-cost, easily
scalable, and rapidly deployable technologies to counter
internet shutdowns or limitations on network access in Iran to
enable populations to overcome such restrictions.
(2) Objectives.--In carrying out the responsibilities under
subsection (a), the Department should prioritize the following
objectives:
(A) Identifying and supporting the development of
technologies capable of overcoming internet blackouts
and network disruptions imposed by the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran and facilitating open,
uncensored internet and network access, which could
include, among other things--
(i) mesh networking solutions; and
(ii) portable and deployable communication
systems.
(B) Expanding access to and the effectiveness
virtual private networks (commonly known as ``VPNs'' ),
including by--
(i) collaborating with industry, academia,
and relevant stakeholders to accelerate the
research, development, and deployment of such
technologies;
(ii) conducting pilot programs and field
experiments to test the effectiveness and
scalability of developed solutions in real-
world settings; and
(iii) providing technical assistance and
resources to partner organizations,
governments, and nongovernmental entities
engaged in efforts to expand uncensored
internet access.
(C) Identifying and evaluating off-the-shelf
technologies that could be rapidly procured and
deployed to address internet access challenges in
targeted regions.
(D) Ensuring that any technology supported under
this subsection is assessed for user safety,
detectability by hostile governments, cybersecurity
vulnerabilities, data protection, supply-chain risks,
sanctions and export-control compliance, and risk of
diversion to the Government of Iran, the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps, or sanctioned persons or
entities.
(3) Collaboration.--The Department should collaborate with
relevant Federal agencies to leverage expertise in acquisition
processes and practices related to carrying out the objectives
under paragraph (2) with the aim of--
(A) integrating best practices in acquisition into
the research, development, and deployment processes of
technologies to facilitate open, uncensored internet
access;
(B) providing training and educational
opportunities on acquisition principles, regulations,
and procedures, with a focus on technology development
for countering censorship and related restrictions;
(C) fostering dialogue and exchange of knowledge
between acquisition professionals and innovation
specialists to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency
of acquisition related to internet access technologies;
(D) collaborating on the development of acquisition
strategies that prioritize the rapid acquisition and
deployment of technologies aimed at countering
censorship and restrictions on internet access; and
(E) ensuring that strategies aimed at the rapid
acquisition and deployment of such technologies account
for the specific challenges presented by the country
context, including logistical barriers to large-scale
technology distribution and security risks to civilians
using the technologies.
(4) Reporting.--The Secretary of State shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees an annual report detailing
the progress, challenges, and outcomes of the efforts
undertaken pursuant to this section.
(5) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee
on Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 5. STRATEGY ON HUMAN RIGHTS ASSISTANCE.
(a) Strategy Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to
expand and enhance United States programs to support the
protection and promotion of internationally recognized human
rights in Iran.
(2) Elements of the strategy.--The strategy required under
subsection (a) shall include--
(A) United States Government efforts to support
internationally recognized human rights and democratic
civil society, including efforts to assist in the
credible documentation of abuses of internationally
recognized human rights;
(B) specific plans and initiatives to ensure the
Iranian people have reliable access to accurate,
uncensored, and unbiased news coverage, including
through digital circumvention tools, shortwave radio,
and emerging technologies;
(C) programs to support independent Iranian
journalists, media outlets, and citizen journalists,
including grants for equipment, training, secure
communication platforms, and capacity-building for
Persian and other local language media;
(D) programs to support and train Iranian civil
society;
(E) coordination mechanisms with international
partners, the private sector, and diaspora communities
to amplify credible independent media;
(F) annual performance metrics and benchmarks for
audience reach, content impact, and program outcomes;
and
(G) a multi-year budget and resource requirements
plan to implement the strategy.
(3) Form.--The strategy required in subsection (a) shall be
transmitted in an unclassified form and may contain a
classified annex.
(b) GAO Report on Near East Regional Democracy (NERD)
Expenditures.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report examining Federal expenditures under the
Near East Regional Democracy (NERD) account over fiscal years
2024 and 2025.
(2) Matters included.--The report shall include--
(A) a detailed accounting of all NERD funds
obligated and expended for Iran-related programs,
including broadcasting, media support, civil society
assistance, and human rights initiatives;
(B) an assessment of the processes used for grant
allocation, contractor oversight, vetting of
recipients, and measuring program outcomes;
(C) an evaluation of the effectiveness of such
programs in advancing United States policy objectives,
including expanding information access and supporting
independent media within Iran; and
(D) recommendations for improving transparency,
accountability, and impact measurement.
(3) Protection of sensitive information.--The Comptroller
General of the United States shall ensure that the report
required under this subsection does not publicly disclose
personally identifiable information, implementing-partner
identities, sub-grantee identities, operational details,
cybersecurity methods, secure communications channels, or other
information that the Secretary of State determines could
endanger individuals, compromise ongoing programs, or undermine
the national security interests of the United States. Such
information may be provided in a classified annex or otherwise
protected consistent with applicable law.
(c) Form.--The strategy and the GAO report required under this
section shall each be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Armed Services, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Armed Services, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 6. CYBERSECURITY CAPACITY FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN IRAN.
(a) Training and Tools.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State should establish
programs--
(1) to deliver remote or in-person cybersecurity training
to journalists, defenders of internationally recognized human
rights, and civil-society actors in Iran;
(2) to furnish vetted open-source or commercially available
digital-safety tools, including prioritizing VPN services and
other software-based solutions that minimize physical detection
risks, including end-to-end encrypted messaging applications;
and
(3) to provide multilingual educational materials that warn
Iranian users about regime-controlled applications and phishing
campaigns.
(b) Reporting and Evaluation.--
(1) Metrics.--The Secretary of State shall track and make
available to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives, in classified form or otherwise protected form
as appropriate, aggregate metrics on the number of trainees,
incident-response cases, and unique users of supported digital
safety tools. Such metrics shall be aggregated and reported
biannually in a manner that protects user safety, operational
security, implementing partners and the integrity of supported
tools and platforms.
(2) Independent evaluation.--Not later than 3 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General
of the United States shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees an evaluation of the effectiveness of
the program carried out under this section.
(c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section may be construed to
supersede or limit existing authority under section 404 of the Iran
Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754) or
any other provision of law related to internet freedom programming in
Iran.
(d) Coordination With Existing Programs.--In carrying out this
section, the Secretary of State shall coordinate with and build upon
existing Iran internet freedom programs, including those established
under section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a), to avoid duplication and maximize
effectiveness.
SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing the use of
military force.
SEC. 8. SANCTIONS AND EXPORT CONTROL SAVINGS CLAUSE.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any transaction
prohibited by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the
Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, the Export Control
Reform Act of 2018, the Export Administration Regulations, or any other
applicable sanctions or export-control authority, except pursuant to a
general or specific license, regulatory authorization or other
authorization issued by the relevant agency.
SEC. 9. DERIVATION OF FUNDS.
Amounts made available to carry out this Act shall be derived from
amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to
the Department of State.
Calendar No. 504
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3900
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To promote human rights, internet freedom and accountability in Iran,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 27, 2026
Reported with an amendment