# 119-hr-9256: Ending Child Soldiers in Africa Act

119-hr-9256, Ending Child Soldiers in Africa Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] (R-SC); status introduced (as of 2026-07-02).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9256
- As of: 2026-07-02
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9256
- Congress: 119
- Title: Ending Child Soldiers in Africa Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2] (R-SC)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-02

## Summary

**Assessing child soldier recruitment in Africa** to shape U.S. security and regional recovery policy. This bill would require the Secretary of Defense, coordinating with the Secretary of State and the Commander of U.S. Africa Command, to produce a report within 180 days that examines how the use of child soldiers links to violent extremism, transnational crime, displacement, threats to access critical minerals, and regional instability, and that assesses prevention, demobilization, and reintegration options. - Families, children, and communities: Would evaluate how extremist groups recruit and indoctrinate children and review demobilization and reintegration efforts, including lessons from African-led programs and community initiatives. - U.S. defense and diplomacy: Would direct a focused national-security assessment covering eight specified elements, and would study the feasibility of regional programs within other combatant commands and an Africa-based center for research, training, and capacity building. - Partner countries and civil society: Defines "covered countries" using U.S. Africa Command partnerships and a State Department memorandum that names countries such as Angola, Nigeria, and Uganda, and asks whether an East African Community country, specifically Uganda, could host a coordinating center.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Which African countries count as covered: benefit, medium. This bill would define which African countries count as "covered countries" under the Act. A covered country would need a partnership with United States Africa Command and either be listed in a memorandum of understanding under the Department of State's America First Global Health Strategy or have…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-9211: Jewish American Security Act
- 119-hr-7188: MOLD Act
- 119-hr-6766: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-9256 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9256)

## Related
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-9211: Jewish American Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9211)
- [119-hr-7188: MOLD Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7188)
- [119-hr-6766: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6766)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9256 (as of 2026-07-02).