# 119-s-3420: Commitment to Aid Workers Act

119-s-3420, Commitment to Aid Workers Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3420
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3420
- Congress: 119
- Title: Commitment to Aid Workers Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-10
- Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Creates a Presidential-appointed Special Envoy to protect humanitarian aid workers and push for safer, better-coordinated U.S.-supported relief operations.** This bill would also limit U.S. security assistance and defense sales to countries that unlawfully kill or fatally injure aid workers and would set up a fast, independent inquiry process for those incidents. - Aid workers and NGOs: Would establish an Envoy with the rank of ambassador to investigate deaths or detentions, advocate deconfliction with foreign forces, promote best practices, and submit annual reports to Congress starting within one year on security challenges, coordination, and U.S. humanitarian aid totals. - Foreign governments: Would bar security assistance and defense articles to countries the Secretary certifies unlawfully killed or fatally injured humanitarian aid workers unless the country investigates, adopts corrective actions, brings responsible personnel to justice, and ensures safe NGO operations; certifications must be submitted 15 days before taking effect. - U.S. oversight and investigations: Would create an Aid Worker Independent Inquiry Group led by the Envoy and staffed by the Department of Justice, State Department, FBI, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and others to report to Congress within 90 days of an incident or 45 days if the victim is a U.S. citizen.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Definitions for Humanitarian Aid Missions: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would set key definitions used elsewhere. "Active humanitarian aid mission" would mean an organized, ongoing effort abroad that delivers U.S. humanitarian assistance. "Humanitarian aid worker" would mean a person taking part in such a mission. "Unlawful killing" would mean, out…
- New Special Envoy for Aid Workers: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would create a Special Envoy for Humanitarian Aid Workers. The Envoy would report to the Secretary of State and have ambassador rank. The Envoy must set up an Aid Worker Independent Inquiry Group within 60 days of appointment. The group would investigate deaths, fatal injuries,…
- Block security aid to offending countries: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would bar U.S. security assistance and some defense transfers to any country the Secretary of State certifies unlawfully killed or fatally injured humanitarian aid workers or refused reasonable information requests. Assistance could be restored only if the Secretary certifies t…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act

## Sources
- [119-s-3420 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3420)

## Related
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3420 (as of 2026-04-21).