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HR 7641

Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act

119th Congress Introduced by Sara Jacobs and 2 co-sponsors

A one-year pilot requires expanded congressional notification with 14 data elements for foreign aid programs using funds beyond existing law to boost transparency.

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
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Bill Summary · HR 7641

Summary of HR 7641 (119th Congress) — Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act

Purpose

  • Establishes a one-year pilot program requiring additional congressional notification for certain foreign assistance programs.
  • Aims to increase transparency by providing lawmakers with more detailed information about foreign aid programs that use funds in addition to existing appropriations.

Key Provisions

  • Pilot Program (Section 2):

    • Directed by the Secretary of State, with implementation guidance to the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs and the U.S. Coordinator for Counterterrorism.
    • Applies to new and existing foreign assistance programs that require funds in addition to existing law-funded amounts.
    • Duration: 1 year.

  • Required Notification Content (for each program):

    1. Working name of the program.
    2. Country or countries of implementation.
    3. Program mechanism (e.g., contract, grant, interagency agreement, bureau transfer).
    4. Total amount of new funding for the program.
    5. Indication whether the program is new, a continuation, or an expansion of an existing program.
    6. Total funding needed over the life of the program.
    7. Expected period of performance for the requested funds.
    8. Total period of performance up to the time of the request.
    9. Implementing entity or proposed entity, including identifying information about the entity (e.g., private/public, U.S.-based or international).
    10. Intended program objectives.
    11. Description of key components or activities.
    12. Description of consultations with the chief of mission in the relevant country or countries.
    13. Whether there is a significant underspend or overspend relative to projected spend rates.
    14. Whether a performance improvement plan or additional administrative oversight has been established.

  • Congressional Oversight (Section 2(c)):

    • Defines the "appropriate congressional committees" as:
    • House: Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on Appropriations.
    • Senate: Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Appropriations.

Who Is Affected

  • U.S. Department of State, specifically:
    • Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs.
    • Coordinator for Counterterrorism.
  • Foreign assistance program implementers (potentially include private and public entities, U.S.-based or international organizations) that would be subject to the enhanced notification requirements.
  • Members and staff of the Joint House and Senate committees on Foreign Affairs/Relations and Appropriations, who would receive the additional information.

Timelines and Process

  • Effective Date/Implementation: The act directs a one-year pilot program to run after enactment (specific date not stated in text; bill introduced Feb 23, 2026).
  • Reporting Burden: For each qualifying program, a comprehensive notification must be submitted to the specified congressional committees containing the 14 data elements listed above.
  • Outcome: The bill does not specify permanence beyond the pilot; it would likely inform potential extensions or broader reforms based on pilot findings.

Additional Context

  • The bill is titled the “Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act.”
  • It has been introduced by Rep. Lawler, with co-sponsors Rep. McBride and Rep. Jacobs.
  • It has passed committee consideration with a favorable mark-up and was reported out to the full House (as of the latest action history: 44 yeas, 0 nays upon reporting).

Potential Impacts

  • Increased transparency in how supplemental foreign assistance funds are used.
  • Enhanced visibility for Congress into program requirements, lifecycle funding, performance oversight, and financial management.
  • Possible procedural burden on the State Department and program implementers to compile and submit the additional notification data.
  • Informational benefits for lawmakers, enabling more informed oversight and potential budgetary decisions related to foreign assistance programs that use above-base funding.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current reporting requirements under existing law or outline potential implementation challenges and questions for stakeholders.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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