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Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026

USA119th CongressHR-7622| House 
| Updated: 2/20/2026
Michael Lawler

Michael Lawler

Republican Representative

New York

Cosponsors (44)
Barry Moore (Republican)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)Pete Sessions (Republican)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Dave Min (Democratic)Brian Jack (Republican)Jake Auchincloss (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)Andy Barr (Republican)Christopher H. Smith (Republican)Nancy Mace (Republican)Brad Finstad (Republican)Glenn Grothman (Republican)Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican)Brad Sherman (Democratic)August Pfluger (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Pete Stauber (Republican)David G. Valadao (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Nick LaLota (Republican)Grace Meng (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Craig A. Goldman (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Financial Services Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill seeks to support human rights and internet freedom in Iran, holding the regime accountable for its repression. It outlines U.S. policy to recognize the Iranian people's right to self-determination, facilitate unrestricted internet access, enforce sanctions against human rights violators, and coordinate with allies to deter violence against protesters. Congress finds that the Islamic Republic has brutally repressed its people for decades, denying basic rights, silencing dissidents, and responding to protests with violence and internet restrictions. To enhance internet freedom, the bill amends existing law to require an updated report assessing the feasibility of using direct-to-cell wireless and drone-based technologies to expand internet access in Iran. It also extends and increases authorization for the Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program, providing $30,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2030. Furthermore, the Defense Innovation Unit is tasked with developing low-cost, scalable technologies to counter internet shutdowns, prioritizing solutions like low-Earth orbit satellite internet, mesh networking, and virtual private networks. For accountability, the bill mandates a Treasury Department report on senior Iranian political figures, oligarchs, and parastatal entities, detailing their wealth, corruption indices, and non-Iranian business affiliations. It also establishes the Iran Kleptocracy Initiative within FinCEN to investigate, expose, and prosecute corruption, money laundering, and racketeering by Iranian government officials and their associates. This initiative will identify, trace, and catalog illicit assets, coordinating with international partners to freeze and repurpose them for the benefit of the Iranian people. The legislation grants Congress a new nomination authority, requiring the President to determine whether a foreign person has engaged in providing material support for the Iranian regime's human rights abuses or censorship upon a congressional request. Finally, a Sense of Congress states that U.S. policy should promote government and international broadcasting efforts to provide truthful reporting to Iranians, support independent Iranian journalists, and coordinate with international partners to amplify credible media.
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Timeline
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced in House
Feb 20, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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.
Feb 24, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-3900
Introduced in Senate
  • February 20, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • February 20, 2026
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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.


  • February 24, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-3900
    Introduced in Senate

International Affairs

Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026

USA119th CongressHR-7622| House 
| Updated: 2/20/2026
This bill seeks to support human rights and internet freedom in Iran, holding the regime accountable for its repression. It outlines U.S. policy to recognize the Iranian people's right to self-determination, facilitate unrestricted internet access, enforce sanctions against human rights violators, and coordinate with allies to deter violence against protesters. Congress finds that the Islamic Republic has brutally repressed its people for decades, denying basic rights, silencing dissidents, and responding to protests with violence and internet restrictions. To enhance internet freedom, the bill amends existing law to require an updated report assessing the feasibility of using direct-to-cell wireless and drone-based technologies to expand internet access in Iran. It also extends and increases authorization for the Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program, providing $30,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2030. Furthermore, the Defense Innovation Unit is tasked with developing low-cost, scalable technologies to counter internet shutdowns, prioritizing solutions like low-Earth orbit satellite internet, mesh networking, and virtual private networks. For accountability, the bill mandates a Treasury Department report on senior Iranian political figures, oligarchs, and parastatal entities, detailing their wealth, corruption indices, and non-Iranian business affiliations. It also establishes the Iran Kleptocracy Initiative within FinCEN to investigate, expose, and prosecute corruption, money laundering, and racketeering by Iranian government officials and their associates. This initiative will identify, trace, and catalog illicit assets, coordinating with international partners to freeze and repurpose them for the benefit of the Iranian people. The legislation grants Congress a new nomination authority, requiring the President to determine whether a foreign person has engaged in providing material support for the Iranian regime's human rights abuses or censorship upon a congressional request. Finally, a Sense of Congress states that U.S. policy should promote government and international broadcasting efforts to provide truthful reporting to Iranians, support independent Iranian journalists, and coordinate with international partners to amplify credible media.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced in House
Feb 20, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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.
Feb 24, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-3900
Introduced in Senate
  • February 20, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • February 20, 2026
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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.


  • February 24, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-3900
    Introduced in Senate
Michael Lawler

Michael Lawler

Republican Representative

New York

Cosponsors (44)
Barry Moore (Republican)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Young Kim (Republican)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)Pete Sessions (Republican)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Dave Min (Democratic)Brian Jack (Republican)Jake Auchincloss (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)Andy Barr (Republican)Christopher H. Smith (Republican)Nancy Mace (Republican)Brad Finstad (Republican)Glenn Grothman (Republican)Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican)Brad Sherman (Democratic)August Pfluger (Republican)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Pete Stauber (Republican)David G. Valadao (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Randy K. Sr. Weber (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Nick LaLota (Republican)Grace Meng (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Craig A. Goldman (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Financial Services Committee

International Affairs

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted