AWARE Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Sanction foreign persons who obstruct humanitarian assistance. The Accountability for Withholding Aid and Relief Essentials Act of 2026 would require the President to name officials and entities that block aid to Gaza and to impose visa bans and U.S. asset-blocking sanctions on those listed.
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- Named foreign officials and entities would be declared inadmissible to the United States, have visas revoked or canceled, and face blocking of property and interests under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
- The bill preserves humanitarian and national security exceptions and says the United States and internationally recognized humanitarian organizations must be allowed to deliver and distribute aid when a government cannot ensure delivery. The Department of the Treasury must issue rules within 120 days requiring U.S. persons to certify blocked property and may impose civil and criminal penalties for violations.
- It creates reporting and oversight requirements. The President would submit an initial listing within 90 days of enactment and annual reports thereafter, post unclassified portions publicly within 30 days, may issue renewable waivers up to 180 days for national security, and Congress gets expedited review and joint-resolution procedures for waivers or terminations. The program would sunset after 10 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
How financial blocking and banks work
If enacted, the President would be required to use IEEPA powers to block all property and transactions of listed covered persons that are in the U.S. or controlled by U.S. persons. Violations could bring civil and criminal penalties under IEEPA. Within 120 days, Treasury would need rules forcing U.S. financial institutions to certify they have blocked such property. The bill also protects humanitarian transactions from blocking and says the Act cannot be used to sanction the importation of goods. These rules would sunset 10 years after enactment.
Reports, public lists, and classified names
If enacted, the President would have to send a report within 90 days and then every year listing all covered persons who block humanitarian aid. Each listed person must have a written justification and a statement of which sanctions apply within 30 days or why a waiver was used. The unclassified part of each report must be posted online within 30 days. The President may put sensitive names in a classified annex only with at least 15 days' notice and justification to Congress. These rules would last 10 years after enactment.
Who can be listed and what aid is
If enacted, the bill would define who counts as a "covered person" for listings and sanctions. The categories would include senior political leaders, cabinet officials, certain military and security officers, entities they own or control, and people judged complicit in blocking aid. The bill would also define "humanitarian assistance" (food, water, shelter, medicines, fuel, hygiene, clothing, and basic services) and "protected person" (a civilian who does not support terrorist groups). These definitions would apply on enactment and end 10 years later.
Visa bans and immediate revocations
If enacted, anyone the President puts on the list would be inadmissible to the United States and ineligible for visas, admission, parole, and related immigration benefits. Consular officers, State, or Homeland Security would have to revoke existing visas immediately, canceling other valid travel documents. A very narrow exception allows short visas only to receive ambassadors or meet specific international obligations. These rules would last 10 years after enactment.
Presidential waiver and review rules
If enacted, the President could waive sanctions for a listed person for up to 180 days at a time for national security reasons. The President must report each waiver or termination to congressional leaders and committees and explain why. Congress would get 30 days to review (60 days if submitted July 10–September 7) and could block a waiver or termination by passing a disapproval resolution; additional statutory waiting periods (10–12 days) apply after disapproval or veto. The waiver and termination authorities would end 10 years after enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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