Humanitarian Theft Enforcement Act

Richard McCormick

Republican · GA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• James R. Baird (R-IN-4)· 2026-03-03

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 45 - 1.

2026-03-26

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would create new legal tools to prosecute and punish theft of humanitarian aid and supplies intended for disaster relief or vulnerable populations, both domestically and internationally. It aims to protect food, medicine, and other assistance from being stolen by criminals or corrupt officials before it reaches people in need. The measure would likely increase penalties for those caught diverting or looting humanitarian shipments and could expand law enforcement authority to investigate such crimes.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7649 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7649 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. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 23, 2026 Mr. McCormick introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ 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. 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 ``Humanitarian Theft Enforcement Act''. SEC. 2. HUMANITARIAN THEFT ENFORCEMENT. (a) Liability.--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. (b) Recovery.--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. (c) Crediting of Funds.--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. (d) Waiver.--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. <all>

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