Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Lawler
Introduced
Summary
Expand internet freedom for Iranians. The bill funds technologies and grants to bypass censorship and builds new tools to expose and punish corrupt Iranian officials and parastatal actors.
Show full summary
- Iranian civilians and independent media gain new support to reach audiences and communicate securely. The Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program is authorized at $30 million per year for FY2027–2030 and the Defense Innovation Unit gets $2 million per year for pilot technologies like satellite, mesh networks, and VPNs.
- U.S. agencies get tighter coordination and reporting duties. FinCEN must create an Iran Kleptocracy Initiative to trace assets, publish unclassified findings, coordinate prosecutions and asset freezes, and provide annual reports.
- Targets include senior Iranian figures and state-linked companies. Treasury must produce an unclassified report within 180 days naming senior officials and parastatal entities (at least 25% government-owned and $2 billion in 2024 revenue) and assess sanctions impacts.
*Authorizes at least $128 million in new funding for FY2027–2030, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More internet access for Iranians
If enacted, the bill would authorize $30 million per year for the Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program for fiscal years 2027 through 2030. That is an authorization only; Congress would still need to appropriate the money. The bill would direct the Defense Innovation Unit to develop, test, and deploy low-cost tools to counter internet shutdowns, including low-Earth orbit satellite internet, mesh networking, portable systems, and VPNs, and would authorize $2 million per year for DIU for 2027–2030. The Secretary of State must update a required report within 120 days, and DIU must report to the Secretary of Defense and defense committees within 180 days and then annually.
New Treasury action on Iran kleptocrats
If enacted, the bill would require the Treasury to deliver a public report within 180 days naming senior Iranian figures and assessing state-owned parastatal entities and U.S. sector exposure. The law would define parastatal entities as at least 25% government-owned with about $2 billion in 2024 revenue. The bill would create an Iran Kleptocracy Initiative inside FinCEN, led by a Director who would trace assets, coordinate freezes and prosecutions, publish annual reports beginning one year after enactment, and run a rewards protocol. The bill would also require the President to decide within 120 days after certain congressional written requests whether a named foreign person aided Iranian repression and whether sanctions have been or will be imposed.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lawler
NY • R
Cosponsors
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Yakym
IN • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Goldman (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Smith (NJ)
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
McCaul
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Jack
GA • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Bilirakis
FL • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Valadao
CA • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Barr
KY • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Carter (GA)
GA • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Finstad
MN • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Weber (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Mace
SC • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Moore (AL)
AL • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Min
CA • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Grothman
WI • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 3/19/2026
Schneider
IL • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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