[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4577 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4577
To reassess the United States-Tanzania bilateral relationship, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 19, 2026
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reassess the United States-Tanzania bilateral relationship, 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 ``Reassessing the United States-
Tanzania Bilateral Relationship Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Tanzania is one of Africa's fastest growing economies
with strong economic growth over the past decade due to the
expansion of key sectors, including agriculture, mining, and
tourism.
(2) Tanzania's reliability as a partner to the United
States is increasingly in question due to ongoing political
repression, violations of religious freedom and freedom of
expression, and persistent barriers to United States
investment.
(3) The October 29, 2025, general elections were marked by
significant political interference, including ballot
manipulation and vote tabulation irregularities, which favored
incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan and other candidates of
Tanzania's parliamentary majority party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi
(CCM).
(4) Leading up to the general elections in Tanzania's
October 29, 2025, election, multiple incidents of political
abductions and disappearances occurred in Tanzania, most
recently the abduction and subsequent disappearance of
Tanzanian Ambassador Humphrey Polepole on October 6, 2025.
(5) A range of actions by the CCM, a political party that
has continuously held a parliamentary majority and controlled
Tanzania's central government since the CCM's formation in
1977, has severely undermined democracy in the country.
(6) The ongoing treason trial of Chadema opposition figure
Tundu Lissu, terrorism charges against Chadema Deputy John
Heche, and charges and detentions of other opposition party
members are politically motivated and intended to prevent
opposition figures from standing for elections.
(7) The Government of Tanzania has engaged in violations of
religious freedom, including the revocation of registration for
religious institutions, harassment, detention, and attacks
against religious leaders, and restrictions on religious
worship and expression.
(8) During mass citizen protests against Tanzania's
fraudulent and illegitimate October 29, 2025, general
elections, the Tanzanian Police and Tanzania Defense Forces
killed hundreds of Tanzanian citizens and endangered the lives
of United States citizens and tourists visiting the country.
(9) While protestors faced attacks by Tanzanian Security
Forces, the Government of Tanzania imposed an internet shutdown
impacting online connections, communications, business, and
banking, disrupting regional trade and costing the country an
estimated $238,000,000 in the process.
(10) In response to this unprecedented violence and unrest
in Tanzania, the United States Embassy in Tanzania issued a
Security Alert on October 30, 2025, calling on United States
citizens in Tanzania to shelter-in-place.
(11) Following the electoral protests, the Tanzanian
electoral commission released disputed results from the
fraudulent election, declaring President Samia Suluhu Hassan
the winner with 98 percent of the vote.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress--
(1) that it is in the national security interests of the
United States to help counter democratic backsliding of key
partner nations where the United States has supplied billions
of dollars worth of investment, development, humanitarian
assistance, and security partnerships;
(2) that the actions by the Government of Tanzania have
subverted democracy, blatantly violated citizens' fundamental
human rights, disrupted regional trade, and endangered the
safety and security of Tanzanians, tourists, and the diplomatic
community;
(3) that these actions place United States national
interests in Tanzania at risk and threaten to undermine
regional stability and long-term bilateral cooperation;
(4) to support the decision to terminate Tanzania's
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) threshold program; and
(5) to express solidarity with the people of Tanzania,
recognizing the unprecedented levels of violence experienced in
Tanzania and support calls for an international independent
investigation into the pre- and post-election violence in
Tanzania leading those who conducted violence against Tanzania
civilians to be held accountable for human rights violations.
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES REASSESSMENT WITH TANZANIA.
(a) Bilateral Relationship Reassessment.--The Secretary of State,
in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the United States Trade
Representative, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall
conduct a comprehensive reassessment of the bilateral relationship
between the United States and Tanzania.
(b) Elements.--The reassessment required under subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) an analysis of the democratic priorities and trajectory
of Tanzania;
(2) a detailed strategy on the necessary democratic reforms
needed in Tanzania;
(3) an assessment of United States security assistance to
Tanzania to ensure that the Tanzanian Defense Forces and
Tanzanian Police are reliable partners that adhere to
Tanzania's constitutionally mandated human rights and rule of
law norms and protect the safety of citizens and all visitors
to the country of Tanzania;
(4) an assessment of how recent political unrest and
internet shutdown in Tanzania have impacted United States
business, investments, and partnerships in Tanzania; and
(5) an evaluation of the relationship between the
Government of Tanzania and the Government of the People's
Republic of China, including--
(A) military and security cooperation, including
training, exercises, arms transfers, and cooperation
between defense, intelligence, or law enforcement
entities;
(B) economic engagement, including investments,
loans, and financing involving Chinese-state-owned or
affiliated entities, and the impact of such activities
on market access, debt sustainability, and the
competitiveness of United States companies; and
(C) political cooperation with the Government of
the People's Republic of China that seeks to undermine
democratic principles, advance one-party consolidation,
and solidify anti-American and anti-Western sentiment
internally and internationally.
(c) Report on Findings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the findings
of the review required under subsection (a).
SEC. 5. REPORT ON CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN
TANZANIA.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Financial Services of the
House of Representatives a report that includes a list of each foreign
person that the Secretary determines--
(1) holds a senior position in the Government of Tanzania,
the leadership of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, the Tanzania Police
Force, the Tanzanian People's Defense Force, or the Tanzanian
Intelligence and Security Service; and
(2) is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or
indirectly engaged in--
(A) ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing
abductions, enforced disappearances, or arbitrary
detention of political opponents, journalists, or civil
society actors;
(B) the targeting harassment, intimidation,
detention, or use of violence against journalists,
media organizations, or activists to suppress dissent
or silence public reporting on human rights violations;
(C) censorship, shutdowns, or other restrictions on
media, internet access, or freedom of expression
intended to conceal human rights abuses or prevent the
dissemination of credible information;
(D) severe violations of religious freedom,
including the persecution of individuals or groups on
account of religion, prohibitions or restrictions on
religious worship, assembly, or expression, or acts of
violence, coercion, or discrimination against religious
communities;
(E) the use of transnational repression tactics
that target foreign nationals, Tanzanian citizens, and
diaspora members regionally and internationally;
(F) extrajudicial killings, torture, or gross
violations of internationally recognized human rights;
or
(G) other actions that violate or undermine
internationally recognized human rights or the civil
liberties guaranteed to Tanzanian citizens under the
Constitution of Tanzania.
SEC. 6. SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the submission of the
report, the President may impose sanctions described in subsection (b)
with respect to any foreign person identified in the report required
under section 5(a)(1) that the Secretary determines meets the criteria
described in section 5(a)(2)(A).
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this paragraph
are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President may exercise all
authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), to the extent necessary to block
and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in
property of a foreign person if such property and interests in
property are in the United States, come within the United
States, or come within the possession or control of a United
States person.
(2) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien
described in subsection (a) shall be--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other
documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) 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.).
(B) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--The visa or other entry
documentation of any alien described in
subsection (a) is subject to revocation
regardless of the issue date of the visa or
other entry documentation.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under
clause (i) shall, in accordance with section
221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1201(i))--
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) cancel any other valid visa or
entry documentation that is in the
possession of the alien.
(c) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all
authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and
1704) for purposes of carrying out this section.
(2) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections
(b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person
that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or
causes a violation of this section or any regulations
promulgated to carry out this section to the same extent that
such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act
described in section 206(a) of that Act.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural
commodity'' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of
the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
(2) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means a
person that is not a United States person.
(3) Medical device.--The term ``medical device'' has the
meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(4) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the meaning given
the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(e) Termination of Sanctions.--The President may terminate the
application of a sanction imposed pursuant to this section with respect
to a person if the President certifies to the appropriate committees of
Congress that--
(1) the person is not engaging in the activity that was the
basis for such sanction or has taken significant verifiable
steps toward stopping such activity; and
(2) the President has received reliable assurances that the
person will not knowingly engage in activity subject to such
sanction in the future.
(f) Exceptions.--
(1) Humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions authorized under
this section shall not apply to--
(A) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction
for the provision of agricultural commodities, food,
medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or
for humanitarian purposes; or
(B) transactions that are necessary for, or
ordinarily incident to, the activities described in
subparagraph (A).
(2) Compliance with international obligations and law
enforcement activities.--Sanctions authorized under this
section shall not apply with respect to an alien if admitting
or paroling such alien is necessary--
(A) to comply with United States obligations
under--
(i) the Agreement between the United
Nations and the United States of America
regarding the Headquarters of the United
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947,
and entered into force November 21, 1947;
(ii) the Convention on Consular Relations,
done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into
force March 19, 1967; or
(iii) any other international agreement; or
(B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity
in the United States.
(3) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions
authorized under this section shall not apply to--
(A) any activity subject to the reporting
requirements under title V of the National Security Act
of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or
(B) any authorized intelligence activities of the
United States.
(4) Exception relating to importation of goods.--
(A) In general.--The requirement to block and
prohibit all transactions in all property and interests
in property under this section shall not include the
authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on the
importation of goods.
(B) Good defined.--In this paragraph, the term
``good'' means any article, natural or man-made
substance, material, supply or manufactured product,
including inspection and test equipment, and excluding
technical data.
(g) Rulemaking.--The President is authorized to promulgate such
rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions
of this section (which may include regulatory exceptions), including
under section 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1704).
SEC. 7. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE AND INVESTMENTS
FOR TANZANIA.
(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (c), none of the
following may be obligated, expended, or otherwise made available for
any entity in Tanzania:
(1) Security assistance, as defined in section 502B(d)(2)
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)(2)).
(2) Assistance, grants, loans, loan guarantees, insurance,
equity investments, or other support provided by--
(A) the United States International Development
Finance Corporation;
(B) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; or
(C) the United States Trade and Development Agency.
(b) Certification.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall
terminate beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date on which
the Secretary of State submits to the appropriate committees of
Congress a written certification that the Government of Tanzania has--
(1) enacted electoral reforms to advance free, fair, and
transparent elections;
(2) suspended politically motivated or illegitimate
criminal proceedings, corrected flawed or improper judicial
judgments, and released opposition leaders and other
individuals detained on politically motivated grounds;
(3) taken demonstrable steps to hold government officials,
members of the security forces, and law enforcement personnel
accountable for political abductions, electoral violence, and
actions that undermine democratic institutions; and
(4) ceased the political intimidation and censorship of
media figures, journalists, and civil society actors.
(c) Exceptions.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not
apply to--
(1) humanitarian assistance;
(2) health assistance; and
(3) assistance to support democracy, human rights,
governance, and civil society in Tanzania.
SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION FUNDS FOR
TANZANIA.
(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no
Millennium Challenge Corporation funds may be committed, obligated,
expended, or otherwise made available for support for any threshold or
compact activities in Tanzania.
(b) Certification.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall
terminate beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date on which
the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, acting
through the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation, submits to the appropriate committees of Congress a
written certification that the Government of Tanzania has demonstrated
an ongoing commitment to just and democratic governance in accordance
with the criteria described in section 607 of the Millennium Challenge
Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7706).
SEC. 9. APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
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