H. R. 7148—395 
regard to the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), any 
regulation. 
(2) BENEFICIARIES.—Funds made available by this Act for 
the NED are made available pursuant to the authority of 
the National Endowment for Democracy Act (title V of Public 
Law 98–164), including all decisions regarding the selection 
of beneficiaries. 
(c) DEFINITION
OF DEMOCRACY PROGRAMS.—For purposes of 
funds appropriated by this Act, the term ‘‘democracy programs’’ 
means programs that support good governance, credible and 
competitive elections, freedom of expression, association, assembly, 
and religion, human rights, labor rights, independent media, and 
the rule of law, and that otherwise strengthen the capacity of 
democratic 
political 
parties, 
governments, 
nongovernmental 
organizations and institutions, and citizens to support the develop-
ment of democratic states and institutions that are responsive and 
accountable to citizens. 
(d) RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.— 
(1) PRIOR
APPROVAL.—With respect to the provision of 
assistance for democracy programs in this Act, the organiza-
tions implementing such assistance, the specific nature of the 
assistance, and the participants in such programs shall not 
be subject to prior approval by the government of any foreign 
country. 
(2) DISCLOSURE OF IMPLEMENTING PARTNER INFORMATION.— 
If the Secretary of State determines that the government of 
the country is undemocratic or has engaged in or condoned 
harassment, threats, or attacks against organizations imple-
menting democracy programs, any new bilateral agreement 
governing the terms and conditions under which assistance 
is provided to such country shall not require the disclosure 
of the names of implementing partners of democracy programs, 
and the Secretary of State shall expeditiously seek to negotiate 
amendments to existing bilateral agreements, as necessary, 
to conform to this requirement. 
(e) PROTECTION
OF CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS
AND JOURNAL-
ISTS.—Funds appropriated by this Act under the headings ‘‘National 
Security Investment Programs’’ and ‘‘Democracy Fund’’ shall be 
made available to support and protect members of civil society 
and journalists who have been threatened, harassed, or attacked. 
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
SEC. 7033. (a) INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OFFICE.— 
Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading ‘‘Diplomatic 
Programs’’ shall be made available for the Office of International 
Religious Freedom, Department of State. 
(b) ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the 
headings ‘‘National Security Investment Programs’’ and 
‘‘Democracy Fund’’, not less than $40,000,000 shall be made 
available for international religious freedom programs: Pro-
vided, That such funds shall be the responsibility of the Ambas-
sador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, in consulta-
tion with other relevant United States Government officials: 
Provided further, That such funds shall be prioritized for pro-
grams in countries designated as a country of particular concern
H. R. 7148—396 
for religious freedom pursuant to section 402(b)(1)(A)(ii) of the 
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442). 
(2) Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading 
‘‘International Humanitarian Assistance’’ shall be made avail-
able for humanitarian assistance for vulnerable and persecuted 
ethnic and religious minorities, including victims of genocide 
designated by the Secretary of State and other groups that 
have suffered crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. 
(c) AUTHORITY.—Funds appropriated by this Act under the 
heading ‘‘National Security Investment Programs’’ may be made 
available notwithstanding any other provision of law for assistance 
for ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. 
SPECIAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 7034. (a) VICTIMS OF WAR, DISPLACED CHILDREN, AND 
DISPLACED BURMESE.—Funds appropriated in title III of this Act 
that are made available for victims of war, displaced children, 
displaced Burmese, and to combat trafficking in persons and assist 
victims of such trafficking may be made available notwithstanding 
any other provision of law. 
(b) FORENSIC ASSISTANCE.—Of the funds appropriated by this 
Act under the headings ‘‘National Security Investment Programs’’ 
and ‘‘International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement’’, not 
less than $15,000,000 shall be made available for forensic assistance 
related to combating human trafficking as well as the exhumation 
and identification of victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, 
and genocide: Provided, That such funds shall be in addition to 
funds made available by this Act and prior Acts making appropria-
tions for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related 
programs for assistance for countries. 
(c) DIRECTIVES AND AUTHORITIES.— 
(1) GENOCIDE
VICTIMS
MEMORIAL
SITES.—Funds appro-
priated by this Act under the heading ‘‘National Security Invest-
ment Programs’’ may be made available as contributions to 
establish and maintain memorial sites of genocide, subject to 
the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appro-
priations. 
(2) EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM.—None of the funds made 
available by this Act may be used to modify the Exchange 
Visitor Program administered by the Department of State to 
implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act 
of 1961 (Public Law 87–256; 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), except 
through the formal rulemaking process pursuant to the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) and not-
withstanding the exception to such rulemaking process in such 
Act: Provided, That funds made available for such purpose 
shall only be made available after consultation with, and subject 
to the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on 
Appropriations, regarding how any proposed modification would 
affect the public diplomacy goals of, and the estimated economic 
impact on, the United States: Provided further, That such con-
sultation shall take place not later than 30 days prior to the 
publication in the Federal Register of any regulatory action 
modifying the Exchange Visitor Program. 
(3) PAYMENTS.—Funds appropriated by this Act and prior 
Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign
H. R. 7148—397 
operations, and related programs under the headings ‘‘Diplo-
matic Programs’’, except for funds designated by Congress as 
an emergency requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution 
on the budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
Control Act of 1985, are available to provide payments pursuant 
to section 901(i)(2) of title IX of division J of the Further 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b(i)(2)): 
Provided, That funds made available pursuant to this para-
graph shall be subject to prior consultation with the Committees 
on Appropriations. 
(4) PROGRAM COORDINATION.—The fourth proviso under the 
heading ‘‘International Narcotics Control and Law Enforce-
ment’’ in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and 
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022 (division K of Public 
Law 117–103) shall continue in effect during fiscal year 2026 
and apply to funds appropriated under such heading in this 
Act. 
(d) PARTNER VETTING.—Prior to initiating a partner vetting 
program, providing a direct vetting option, or making a significant 
change to the scope of an existing partner vetting program, the 
Secretary of State shall consult with the Committees on Appropria-
tions: Provided, That the Secretary of State may restrict the award 
of, terminate, or cancel contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements 
or require an awardee to restrict the award of, terminate, or cancel 
a sub-award based on information in connection with a partner 
vetting program. 
(e) INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTIONS.—The Secretary of State 
should withhold funds appropriated under title III of this Act for 
assistance for the central government of any country that is not 
taking appropriate steps to comply with the Convention on the 
Civil Aspects of International Child Abductions, done at the Hague 
on October 25, 1980: Provided, That the Secretary shall report 
to the Committees on Appropriations within 15 days of withholding 
funds under this subsection. 
(f) CONTINGENCIES.—During fiscal year 2026, the President 
may use up to $125,000,000 under the authority of section 451 
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, notwithstanding any other 
provision of law. 
(g) TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR EXTRAORDINARY PROTECTION.— 
The Secretary of State may transfer to, and merge with, funds 
under the heading ‘‘Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials’’ 
unobligated balances of expired funds appropriated under the 
heading ‘‘Diplomatic Programs’’ for fiscal year 2026, at no later 
than the end of the fifth fiscal year after the last fiscal year 
for which such funds are available for the purposes for which 
appropriated: Provided, That not more than $50,000,000 may be 
transferred. 
(h) IMPACT ON JOBS.—Section 7056 of the Department of State, 
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021 
(division K of Public Law 116–260) shall continue in effect during 
fiscal year 2026. 
(i) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES.— 
(1) INCENTIVES FOR CRITICAL POSTS.—The authority con-
tained in section 1115(d) of the Supplemental Appropriations 
Act, 2009 (Public Law 111–32) shall remain in effect through 
September 30, 2026.
H. R. 7148—398 
(2) TRANSFER OF BALANCES.—Section 7081(h) of the Depart-
ment of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs 
Appropriations Act, 2017 (division J of Public Law 115–31) 
shall continue in effect during fiscal year 2026. 
(3) PROTECTIVE SERVICES.—Section 7071 of the Department 
of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropria-
tions Act, 2022 (division K of Public Law 117–103) shall con-
tinue in effect during fiscal year 2026 and shall apply to funds 
appropriated by this Act. 
(4) EXTENSIONS.— 
(A) Chapter 5 of title I of the Emergency Wartime 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108– 
11; 117 Stat. 576) is amended under the heading ‘‘Loan 
Guarantees to Israel’’— 
(i) in the matter preceding the first proviso, by 
striking ‘‘September 30, 2030’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2031’’; and 
(ii) in the second proviso, by striking ‘‘September 
30, 2030’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2031’’. 
(B) Section 7030(b) of the Department of State, Foreign 
Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 
2024 (division J of Public Law 118–47) shall continue in 
effect during fiscal year 2026 and shall— 
(i) also apply to funds appropriated by this Act 
under the heading ‘‘National Security Investment Pro-
grams’’ and to the countries of Costa Rica and Panama; 
and 
(ii) be applied by substituting ‘‘Department of 
State’’ for ‘‘United States Agency for International 
Development’’. 
(5) CATEGORICAL
ELIGIBILITY.—The Foreign Operations, 
Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 
1990 (Public Law 101–167) is amended— 
(A) in section 599D (8 U.S.C. 1157 note)— 
(i) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘and 2025’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2025, and 2026’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2025’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘2026’’; and 
(B) in section 599E(b)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1255 note), by 
striking ‘‘2025’’ and inserting ‘‘2026’’. 
(j) HIV/AIDS WORKING CAPITAL FUND.—Funds available in 
the HIV/AIDS Working Capital Fund established pursuant to sec-
tion 525(b)(1) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and 
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108–447) 
may be made available for pharmaceuticals and other products 
for child survival, malaria, tuberculosis, and emerging infectious 
diseases to the same extent as HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals and 
other products, subject to the terms and conditions in such section: 
Provided, That the authority in section 525(b)(5) of the Foreign 
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropria-
tions Act, 2005 (Public Law 108–447) shall be exercised by the 
Secretary of State with respect to funds deposited for such non- 
HIV/AIDS pharmaceuticals and other products, and shall be subject 
to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appro-
priations: Provided further, That the Secretary shall include in 
the congressional budget justification an accounting of budgetary