Ethan Mayer-Rich

I. Legislative Branch 1) Legislation House Bill Seeks to Restrict Foreign Land Purchases Near Sensitive Sites. On July 16, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced H.R.4454, to prohibit Iran,  as well as China, Russia, and North Korea, from purchasing land near sensitive US agencies and strategic sites. HFAC Advances Arms Sales Reforms.

I. Legislative Branch 1) Legislation House Unveils Appropriations Bill for National Security, Department of State. On July 15, the House Appropriations Committee marked up the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. The bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $46.218 billion, which is $13.13 billion below the FY 2025 enacted level.

I. Legislative Branch 1) Legislation House Bill Seeks to Protect Humanitarian Workers. On July 7, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced H.R.4303 to protect humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones. The bill would establish a Special Envoy for Humanitarian Aid Workers, create an interagency body to investigate any incident in which an aid worker is killed by a foreign military, and prohibit military aid and arms sales to any country that targets aid workers.