Transnational Repression Policy Act
Sponsored By: Senator Jeff Merkley
Introduced
Summary
Protect people from transnational repression by foreign governments and their agents, wherever they are. This bill would create a U.S. policy framework that forces an interagency strategy, training, community outreach, and practical tools to help victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
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- Targeted individuals and diaspora communities: Would require DHS and DOJ to publish a publicly available toolkit within 270 days after enactment and to conduct proactive outreach and trainings so communities, including activists, journalists, students, and exile groups, know available resources.
- Federal and local officials: Would direct the Secretary of State to lead a coordinated interagency strategy within 270 days and provide training for State Department, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and other federal, state, and local officials with funding authorized for fiscal year 2026.
- Law, diplomacy, and civil society: Would push for legal reviews such as expanding Foreign Agents Registration Act coverage and considering criminal offenses for information-gathering on diaspora members, seek multilateral coalitions and possible UN mechanisms, and call for funding support for NGOs that assist victims.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
U.S. policy to pursue prosecutions
The bill would state that the United States should pursue criminal prosecutions and mutual legal assistance, as appropriate and under U.S. law, against people or governments that commit transnational repression. This would guide prosecutors and law enforcement to seek accountability. It is a policy direction and does not itself create new criminal penalties for individuals.
U.S. strategy to counter repression
The Secretary of State would deliver a whole-of-government U.S. strategy on transnational repression to Congress within 270 days of enactment. The plan would be unclassified with an optional classified annex and require annual updates. It would say how the U.S. would raise costs for abusive governments, protect targeted people, work with allies, and fund NGOs that help victims. The strategy must list countries, vulnerable groups, and actions already taken under existing laws.
Training and toolkit to protect victims
The Attorney General and Secretary of State would develop trainings and a DOJ toolkit to help people targeted by transnational repression. Within 270 days DOJ would publish a guide to federal resources, do outreach so communities know when to report to the FBI, and hold annual briefings for congressional caseworkers. The agencies would also assess how spyware, data brokers, and certain exports are misused. Congress may fund these activities in fiscal year 2026.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Cosponsors
Dan Sullivan
AK • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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