To amend title 1, United States Code, to expand the scope of documents the Secretary of State is required to transmit to the Congress, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8929
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-18T15:44:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill amends Title 1 of the United States Code to broaden the types of international agreements that the Secretary of State must report to Congress. It also sets a specific deadline for the Comptroller General to submit audit reports related to these agreements.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Expansion of reporting scope: The bill adds a new category of agreements to the existing requirements. This includes any agreement (written or oral) in which a foreign country agrees to accept individuals who are not citizens of that country but who have final orders of removal from the United States. Oral agreements must be documented in writing to comply with the law.
- Deadline for audit reports: The Comptroller General must submit post-audit reports no later than 30 days after completing an audit, replacing the previous unspecified timeline.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- The legislation expands the definition of reportable agreements under the Case-Zablocki Act (Section 112b of Title 1, U.S. Code) by adding a specific provision for third-country acceptance of non-citizens facing U.S. removal.
- It introduces a fixed 30-day window for the Comptroller General’s report submission, creating a clearer timeline where none existed before.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The Secretary of State will need to identify, document, and transmit a wider range of agreements to Congress. The Comptroller General’s office will follow a stricter reporting schedule for audits.
- On citizens or international relations: The changes may increase congressional oversight of agreements involving the relocation of individuals subject to removal, potentially affecting how the U.S. negotiates with foreign countries on immigration enforcement matters. No direct effects on individual citizens are specified.
- On international relations: Foreign governments may face additional U.S. documentation requirements when entering into such arrangements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of State (responsible for transmitting agreements).
- The Comptroller General (tasked with audits and reports).
- Congress (recipient of expanded reports).
- Foreign countries that enter into agreements to accept individuals removed from the United States.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill strengthens congressional access to information on certain executive branch agreements without altering the underlying authority to make such agreements. It focuses on transparency rather than restricting executive actions, and it applies equally to written and oral arrangements by requiring written records of the latter.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend title 1, United States Code, to expand the scope of documents the Secretary of State is required to transmit to the Congress, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-05-20 — PDF (2 pages)