Abraham Accords Expansion Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9147 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9147

To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to modify the duties of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Normalization Agreements, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 4, 2026

Mr. Goldman of Texas (for himself, Mrs. Wagner, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Yakym, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. McDowell, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Issa, Mr. Messmer, Mr. Moskowitz, Mr. Van Orden, and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

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A BILL

To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to modify the duties of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Normalization Agreements, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Abraham Accords Expansion Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following: (1) The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, established a historic framework for normalization of relations between Israel and several countries in the Middle East and North Africa. (2) Central Asia and the Caucasus are strategically significant regions with shared security, economic, and diplomatic interests relevant to the objectives of the Abraham Accords. (3) Expansion of normalization frameworks to these regions would advance the national security and economic interests of the United States. (4) Kazakhstan has demonstrated regional leadership by becoming the first country in Central Asia to join the Abraham Accords on November 6, 2025, thereby advancing normalization, economic cooperation, and shared interests in the region. (5) The Special Envoy should expand normalization efforts to additional regions, including the Indo-Pacific, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and beyond.

SEC. 3. PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS, NEGEV FORUM, AND RELATED INTEGRATION AND NORMALIZATION FORA AND AGREEMENTS.

Section 64 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2735a) is amended-- (1) in subsection (d)(2)(B), by striking ``the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond'' and inserting ``the Indo-Pacific region, Central Asia and the Caucasus, and beyond''; (2) by striking subsection (i); (3) by striking subsection (j) and inserting the following: ``(i) Interagency Coordination.-- ``(1) In general.--The Special Envoy shall coordinate with the heads of relevant Federal departments and agencies in carrying out subsection (d), including the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Energy. ``(2) Use of existing authorities.--The Special Envoy shall, to the maximum extent practicable, implement the policy and objectives of the United States in Central Asia and the Caucasus using programs and authorities that existed prior to the date of the enactment of this subsection. ``(3) No additional funds authorized.--No funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection. ``(j) Deputy Special Envoy.-- ``(1) In general.--The Special Envoy may designate a Deputy Special Envoy to assist in carrying out subsection (d). ``(2) Qualifications.--To the extent practicable, an individual designated under paragraph (1) should possess relevant regional expertise. ``(3) Staffing.--The Special Envoy shall ensure appropriate staffing to support activities under subsection (d).''; and (4) in subsection (k), by adding at the end the following: ``(8) Caucasus.--The term `Caucasus' means Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. ``(9) Central asia.--The term `Central Asia' means Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.''. <all>