Text of Senate Amendment 5902

On 2026-06-22, Senator David McCormick (R-PA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5902" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 5902

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 104 (Monday, June 22, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 104 (Monday, June 22, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3022-S3024] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5902. Mr. McCORMICK (for himself and Ms. Rosen) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title XII, add the following: Subtitle F--Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 SEC. 1281. SHORT TITLE. This subtitle may be cited as the ``Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026''. SEC. 1282. FINDINGS; STATEMENT OF POLICY. (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings: (1) For nearly five decades, the people of Iran have endured brutal repression under the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a regime that denies basic human rights, silences dissidents, and responds to peaceful protest with violence. (2) The people of Iran have repeatedly and courageously taken to the streets to demand economic opportunity, human rights, dignity, and freedom. (3) During the 2026 protests, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran responded with brutality by reportedly killing tens of thousands of people and wounding thousands more, arresting tens of thousands, and restricting internet access and telephone lines. (4) The people of Iran are protesting the Iranian regime's economic mismanagement, corruption, internal suppression, and unjust executions. (5) Free expression, open information, and uncensored communication are fundamental human rights and critical to the survival of the Iranian protestors. (6) Thanks in part to United States-funded efforts to support human rights and open internet access, the Iranian people are consistently found to be one of the most pro- American populations in the Middle East. (7) The inspiring 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests demanded an end to the Islamic Republic and its violence, particularly against Iranian women and ethnic minorities. (8) The barbaric so-called ``morality police'' and other arms of state suppression have a lengthy history of repressing the Iranian people's fundamental freedoms. (9) The Iranian regime has engaged in systematic efforts to intimidate, harass, detain, and harm political dissidents, activists, and journalists both within Iran and beyond its borders. (10) The people of Iran deserve the right to dignity, democracy, and self-determination and to be free from the brutality of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. (b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United States-- (1) to recognize the Iranian people's right to self- determination; (2) to facilitate the immediate expansion of open, uncensored internet access and civilian lines of communication for the people of Iran to communicate domestically and with the outside world; (3) to support the internationally recognized human rights of Iranians and programs to assist Iranian civil society, including in their credible documentation, reporting, and accountability efforts of abuses in Iran; (4) to fully enforce sanctions against regime violators of internationally recognized human rights and their family members; and (5) to work in coordination with its allies and partners to deter the regime's violence against the Iranian people. SEC. 1283. IMPROVED COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO PROMOTE INTERNET FREEDOM IN IRAN. (a) Duties of the Secretary of State.--The Secretary of State is authorized to be the Federal official with the primary responsibility for-- (1) promoting widespread internet freedom in Iran and expanding open access to [[Page S3023]] independent and impartial information for Iranian citizens; (2) coordinating all efforts carried out by Federal departments and agencies that relate the objectives outlined in paragraph (1); and (3) serving as the principal official responsible for updating and carrying out the strategy required under section 5124(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a). (b) Updates to Comprehensive Strategy to Promote Internet Freedom and Access to Information in Iran.-- (1) Updates.--Section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a) is amended-- (A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (G) and inserting the following new subparagraphs: ``(A) An evaluation of the use of virtual private networks, centralized networks, peer-to-peer technologies, and other emerging circumvention tools by civil society and internationally recognized human rights activists in Iran and strategies for increasing open access to such networks and technologies, prioritizing tools with demonstrated effectiveness, scalability, and acceptable user security risks in the Iran context. ``(B) An assessment of United States Government efforts to cultivate and expand viable alternatives to virtual private networks, peer to peer technology, and other emerging circumvention tools. ``(C) A breakdown of any limitations or restrictions facing the development or deployment of United States Government sponsored virtual private networks, peer to peer technology, or other emerging circumvention tools to support internet freedom in Iran. ``(D) An assessment of the ability of the Government of Iran to cut off all access to the global internet in Iran, including the primary tools and technology through which they may be able to do so.''; (B) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and (C) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection: ``(b) Updates.--The Secretary of State and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall review the strategy under subsection (a) on an ongoing basis and update the strategy as appropriate, taking into account the results of such review.''. (2) Submission of first updates.-- (A) Submission.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall-- (i) review and update the strategy pursuant to section 5124(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a), as amended by paragraph (1); and (ii) submit such updated strategy to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. (B) Form.--The strategy under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (3) Additional update.--Section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754) is amended-- (A) by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; and (B) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new paragraph: ``(11) work with the relevant Federal departments and agencies to ensure enforcement of sanctions does not impede companies providing to Iranian civilians the technology and other tools necessary to access the open internet;''. SEC. 1284. INTERNET FREEDOM AND CENSORSHIP CIRCUMVENTION. (a) Internet Freedom Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that updates and supplements the report required under section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159). (2) Additional matters to be included.--Updates to the strategy required in section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a) shall also include the following: (A) An assessment of the feasibility of using direct-to- cell wireless communications technologies to expand internet access for the people of Iran, including technical, regulatory, and security considerations. (B) An analysis of how drone-based platforms, signal- jamming technologies, and related countermeasures could impact the feasibility, security, economics, and resilience of such direct-to-cell wireless communications. (C) A survey of terrestrial and non-terrestrial telecommunications service providers currently active in Iran, including-- (i) whether such providers are state-owned or state- controlled; (ii) the extent of foreign participation or investment in such providers; (iii) the implications of such ownership and control for communications freedom and censorship; and (iv) any other relevant information to assess the opportunities and risks associated with terrestrial and non- terrestrial communications technologies in Iran. (3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (b) Extension and Increase of Authorization for Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program.--Section 5124(c)(5)(A) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a(c)(5)(A)), as redesignated by section 1283(b)(1)(B), is amended by striking ``each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026'' and inserting ``each fiscal year through fiscal year 2030''. (c) Development of Internet Access Technologies.-- (1) In general.--The Department of State, in coordination with other relevant Federal departments and agencies, is authorized to utilize existing interagency coordination mechanisms to the maximum extent practicable, to support the development of low-cost, easily scalable, and rapidly deployable technologies to counter internet shutdowns or limitations on network access