Abraham Accords Expansion Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 9147

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2026-06-29T15:22:34Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 9147 – Abraham Accords Expansion Act of 2026

Purpose

This legislation amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to expand the responsibilities of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords. It aims to broaden normalization efforts between Israel and countries in additional regions, including Central Asia and the Caucasus, while supporting related economic and security cooperation.

Key Provisions

• Updates the Envoy's duties to explicitly include promoting normalization in Central Asia and the Caucasus, in addition to existing areas like the Indo-Pacific.
• Requires the Envoy to coordinate with other federal agencies, such as the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and Energy, using existing programs and authorities without authorizing new funding.
• Allows the Envoy to appoint a Deputy Special Envoy with relevant regional expertise and ensures appropriate staffing support.
• Adds definitions for "Caucasus" (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia) and "Central Asia" (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).
• Includes congressional findings highlighting the strategic importance of these regions and noting Kazakhstan's recent accession to the Abraham Accords.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Replaces prior language limiting expansion to the Indo-Pacific by adding Central Asia and the Caucasus to the Envoy's scope.
• Removes previous subsections on interagency coordination and inserts new requirements focused on using pre-existing authorities.
• Introduces provisions for a Deputy Special Envoy and updated definitions, altering the structure of the underlying statute (Section 64 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956).

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: Enhances interagency coordination for the State Department and related agencies without creating new funding streams, potentially streamlining efforts in targeted regions.
• Citizens and international relations: Could foster increased diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the United States, Israel, and nations in Central Asia and the Caucasus, supporting broader normalization frameworks.
• No direct effects on U.S. citizens are specified, but expanded regional engagement may indirectly influence trade and security policies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Department of State and the Special Presidential Envoy.
• Relevant federal agencies including Defense, Commerce, and Energy.
• Countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus, particularly those pursuing normalization with Israel.
• Congress, through oversight of the Envoy's expanded role.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Operates within existing executive authority by relying on prior programs, avoiding new appropriations that might require additional legislative action.
• Raises no apparent constitutional issues, as it modifies administrative duties under an existing statute.
• Politically, it signals continued U.S. support for Middle East normalization while extending influence into strategically important regions bordering Russia, China, and other global actors.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12]

Cosponsors (25)

Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-04: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Abraham Accords Expansion Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-04 — PDF (4 pages)