PEACE Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4278
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-16T03:38:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4278: Prohibiting Expenditures for an Accountability-Circumventing Entity Act (PEACE Act)
Purpose
The legislation aims to block U.S. federal funding for the "Board of Peace" unless specifically authorized by Congress and to revoke any privileges, exemptions, or immunities granted to it under executive action. It asserts Congress's control over federal spending and challenges the Board's status as a public international organization.
Key Provisions
- Findings (Sec. 2): Documents the President's Executive Order 14375 (Jan. 16, 2026) designating the Board of Peace under the International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA), but notes it lacks a U.S. treaty or congressional approval, and no funds have been appropriated.
- Sense of Congress (Sec. 3): Emphasizes congressional authority over funding international organizations; opposes participation in groups with charters granting excessive power to a chairman (e.g., unilateral membership control, self-perpetuating leadership).
- Reports Required:
- Within 15 days: Agency heads report prior fund obligations to the Board (Sec. 5).
- Within 30 days: President submits a strategy for using any previously obligated funds to promote "sustainable peace" (defined as reducing conflict through local governance, economy, and security without endless external aid), including policy goals, priorities, benchmarks, and accountability (Sec. 5). Does not authorize new funds.
- Within 60 days: Secretary of State reports on the Board's progress toward sustainable peace in Gaza, assessing goals, outcomes, U.S. coordination, and alignment with U.S. interests (Sec. 6).
- Funding Prohibition (Sec. 7): Bans appropriation or use of federal funds for the Board after enactment without explicit congressional authorization.
- Immunities Prohibition (Sec. 8): Revokes all IOIA privileges, exemptions, or immunities for the Board and its personnel.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Overrides executive designations under IOIA (22 U.S.C. 288 et seq.) for this entity, limiting it to organizations backed by treaty or congressional act.
- Imposes strict congressional approval for funding, countering potential executive spending via foreign aid laws (e.g., Foreign Assistance Act, Arms Export Control Act).
- Mandates new reporting on prior obligations and Gaza-specific progress, enhancing oversight.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Executive branch (e.g., State Department, agencies with prior obligations) faces reporting burdens and cannot fund or immunize the Board without Congress; shifts focus to alternative sustainable peace strategies.
- Citizens: No direct impact, but reinforces taxpayer protections by ensuring congressional oversight of foreign spending.
- International Relations: Halts U.S. financial support and legal protections for the Board, potentially straining ties with its members or affecting peace efforts in Gaza; prioritizes U.S.-led or congressionally approved initiatives.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Congress: Gains reinforced control via committees (Foreign Relations/Affairs, Appropriations).
- Executive Branch: President, State Department, and agencies limited in foreign organization engagements.
- Board of Peace: Loses U.S. funding, immunities, and potential influence in Gaza peace efforts.
- Gaza/Conflict-Affected Regions: Impacts shift from Board-led to U.S.-strategy-driven sustainable peace activities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Upholds Congress's "power of the purse" (Article I) over executive foreign policy actions, potentially setting precedent against unilateral designations of international entities.
- Legal: Challenges IOIA application without congressional backing; clarifies funding notifications under aid statutes.
- Political: Signals congressional skepticism of executive-created bodies with undemocratic structures, urging charter reforms for future U.S. involvement.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2026-04-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Prohibiting Expenditures for an Accountability-Circumventing Entity Act — issued 2026-04-13 — PDF (9 pages)