Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Introduced
Summary
Expands internet access and builds tools to hold Iran's rulers accountable. The bill backs uncensored communications, funds technologies to defeat shutdowns, and creates Treasury-led efforts to expose and disrupt Iranian kleptocracy.
Show full summary
- Supports Iranian people and independent media by promoting unrestricted internet access, backing Persian-language broadcasting, and funding equipment, training, secure communications, relocation help, and performance metrics for reach and impact.
- Targets Iranian oligarchs and parastatal networks by requiring a 180-day Treasury report on senior figures and state-linked entities and creating a FinCEN Iran Kleptocracy Initiative to trace assets, coordinate freezes and prosecutions, publish findings, and report annually.
- Directs the Defense Innovation Unit to develop low-cost, scalable tools for countering shutdowns, from low-Earth orbit satellite options to mesh networks and VPN support, requires updating related NDAA 2025 reports within 120 days, and mandates periodic progress reports.
*This bill authorizes $30.0 million per year for Iran Internet Freedom grants and $2.0 million per year for Defense Innovation Unit activities for fiscal years 2027–2030, increasing authorized federal spending by $32.0 million per year during those years.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More internet access help for Iran
If enacted, the State Department would get $30 million each year for FY2027–FY2030 for an Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program. The bill would also direct the Defense Innovation Unit to develop and pilot low-cost, rapidly deployable tools like satellite, mesh, and portable communications and to report progress to the Department of Defense. The Secretary of State must add new analysis on direct-to-cell systems, drone platforms, jamming, and telecom ownership and deliver an updated report within 120 days of enactment. DIU would report to Congress and the Secretary of Defense within 180 days after enactment and then on a regular schedule.
New Treasury unit to chase kleptocrats
If enacted, Treasury would create an Iran Kleptocracy Initiative inside FinCEN led by a Director the Secretary of the Treasury appoints. The Initiative would identify and trace assets tied to Iranian officials and proxies, coordinate freezes, seizures, forfeitures, and prosecutions with U.S. and allied partners, and publish unclassified findings and case studies. It would set reward protocols for information and report to Congress not later than one year after enactment and then annually.
Treasury report on Iranian oligarchs
If enacted, the Secretary of the Treasury, with input from the DNI and Secretary of State, would deliver an unclassified report within 180 days listing major Iranian political figures and oligarchs and estimating net worths and outside business ties. The report must identify ‘‘parastatal entities’’ with at least 25% government ownership and about $2 billion or more in 2024 revenue and assess U.S. sector exposure in banking, securities, insurance, and real estate. The analysis must also assess likely effects of debt or equity restrictions and of adding parastatals to sanctions lists to inform possible future actions.
Faster presidential answers on suspects
If enacted, the President would have 120 days after a written request from certain congressional committee leaders to say whether a named foreign person supplied censorship, surveillance, or internet-shutdown tools to Iran. The President must send a written justification saying whether sanctions have been or will be imposed under the referenced rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Salazar
FL • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]
IN • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Goldman (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
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
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
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
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]
MN • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Pfluger
TX • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 3/19/2026
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Moore (NC)
NC • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/30/2026
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Franklin, Scott
FL • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/23/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/23/2026
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
WV • R
Sponsored 4/23/2026
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
MI • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov