Restoring Electoral Fairness and Opposition Rights through Mandates for Accountability Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced
Summary
Expands U.S. sanctions to target Nicaragua’s gold sector and other identified economic sectors. This bill would broaden who can be sanctioned and for what conduct, add priority targets, and require frequent reporting and a transition assessment to guide policy decisions.
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- Would make sanctions focused on the gold sector and any other sector the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury designate. Sanctions would be effective immediately under the bill and would end on December 31, 2035 or 90 days after the President certifies that agreed democratic benchmarks are met.
- Would widen the list of sanctionable acts to cover arrests or prosecutions for exercising religious freedom, politically motivated convictions or sentences of democratic actors and independent civil society members, and the provision of significant goods, services, or technology tied to the Russian Federation after February 24, 2022 or the Islamic Republic of Iran after February 11, 1979.
- Would add officials of the Instituto de Prevision Social Militar to priority sanctions lists and require a report within 90 days plus annual reports for three years to relevant congressional committees. The bill would also require the Secretary of State to assess conditions needed for a democratic transition and report findings to Congress.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Sanctions authority for gold sector
If enacted, the bill would let U.S. officials designate people who operate or have operated in Nicaragua's gold sector for targeted sanctions. The Secretary of State, with the Treasury Secretary, could also identify other economic sectors to which the same authority would apply. This would expand tools to target economic activity tied to the Nicaraguan government and could affect companies and business partners in those sectors.
Wider grounds for U.S. sanctions
If enacted, the bill would widen the list of actions that can trigger U.S. sanctions related to Nicaragua. It would cover arrests or prosecutions for exercising religious freedom, including members, volunteers, or employees of Catholic or Protestant churches. It would also cover politically motivated convictions of democratic actors or independent civil society members. It would sanction people who provide significant goods, services, or technology that support Russia (on or after Feb 24, 2022) or Iran (on or after Feb 11, 1979).
Add military social-security officials
If enacted, the bill would add officials of Nicaragua’s Military Institute of Social Security (IPSM) to a U.S. priority sanctions list. That would make IPSM officials eligible for targeted designations and could affect people or businesses that do business with them. The change is a focused expansion of who can be sanctioned under existing rules.
Required reports and transition assessment
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of State and the Treasury Secretary to report to Congress on sanctions implementation. The first report would be due within 90 days and then annually for three years. Reports must update a coordinated targeted sanctions strategy and list steps taken and review results. The bill would also require the Secretary of State to assess conditions needed for a democratic transition in Nicaragua and send an unclassified report within 90 days, with a possible classified annex. The assessment must cover fair elections, judicial independence, police reform, stronger institutions, humanitarian aid, and inclusion of opposition leaders.
When Nicaragua sanctions would end
If enacted, the bill would make the 2018 Nicaragua sanctions effective on enactment and set when they would stop. Sanctions would end on the earlier of December 31, 2035, or 90 days after the President certifies to Congress that a political crisis is resolved. The certification must say there will be competitive, free, and fair elections with credible international observation; an end to violence by the National Police and armed groups supported by the government; and independent investigations into killings of protesters.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/7/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov