Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act of 2026

This bill, titled the "Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act of 2026," establishes a 10-member commission within the executive branch. Members are appointed by the President, with recommendations from congressional leadership, and must include a balance of government employees and individuals with direct experience living abroad or representing overseas citizens. The commission is designed to be bipartisan and draw on relevant expertise.

The primary duty of the Commission is to conduct a comprehensive study on how Federal laws and policies impact United States citizens living in foreign countries. This includes assessing the costs and burdens imposed by these laws, examining access to Federal benefits like those from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and scrutinizing financial reporting requirements such as FBAR and FATCA. The study will also cover the ability of overseas citizens to access financial institutions, navigate citizenship requirements for family members, and participate in Federal, State, and local elections.

Furthermore, the Commission will investigate how overseas citizens interact with Federal programs like Social Security and Medicare, and identify methods to improve inter-agency collaboration for programs serving this population. It will also analyze the impact of taxation and other Federal policies on retirement savings, remittances, and the ability to establish and operate small businesses abroad. The Commission is required to submit an initial report within one year, detailing its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for reducing burdens and increasing access to services, followed by an update report one year later on administrative actions taken by agencies. Federal agencies affected by the recommendations must respond within 180 days. The bill authorizes $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to support the Commission's work, which will terminate upon submission of its final update report.