HR 7649
Humanitarian Theft Enforcement Act
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Bill overview
This bill aims to hold accountable foreign individuals or entities that divert or destroy U.S. humanitarian assistance. If the Secretary of State determines a foreign person or entity is responsible for such actions, they will be liable for the value of the assistance lost. The bill outlines procedures for recovering these funds and allows for waivers if deemed beneficial to national interests.
Key provisions
- Establishes liability for foreign persons/entities diverting or destroying U.S. humanitarian assistance.
- Defines ‘humanitarian assistance’ to include aid from international organizations funded by the U.S.
- Requires the Secretary of State to take steps to recover the value of diverted/destroyed assistance.
- Allows for the transfer of recovered funds to other federal agencies if the assistance was originally funded by them.
- Provides the Secretary of State with the authority to waive liability in the national interest.
Who is affected
- Foreign persons
- Foreign entities
- International organizations
- U.S. Government (Department of State, other federal agencies)
- Recipients of U.S. humanitarian assistance
Notable changes
- Creates a specific legal framework for addressing the theft of U.S. humanitarian aid.
- Expands the definition of ‘humanitarian assistance’ to include aid provided by international organizations.
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 7649
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To ensure that persons found responsible for the unauthorized diversion or destruction of United States humanitarian assistance are liable to the United States, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Humanitarian Theft Enforcement Act
.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, any foreign person or entity the Secretary of State determines is responsible for the unauthorized diversion or destruction of United States humanitarian assistance, including humanitarian assistance funded by the United States that is provided by an international organization, is liable to the United States for the value of the assistance the Secretary determines was so diverted or destroyed.
Upon determining that a foreign person or entity is responsible for the unauthorized diversion or destruction of assistance in the manner described in subsection (a), the Secretary of State should take appropriate steps to recover the value of such assistance from the foreign person or entity.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds received by the Secretary of State pursuant to a determination under this section may be credited to an appropriate account of the Department of State and shall remain available until expended. The Secretary of State may transfer such funds to an appropriate account of another Federal department or agency if the diverted or destroyed assistance was funded by such agency.
The Secretary of State may waive any liability incurred pursuant to subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that such a waiver is in the national interest.