Sponsor
Johnny Olszewski
Representative · D-MD
Representative · D-MD
Official title: To impose sanctions with respect to any foreign person that violates or knowingly undermines the Washington Accords.
Introduced May 7, 2026 by Johnny Olszewski · Last progress May 7, 2026
The bill strengthens U.S. diplomatic and sanctions tools to press parties to comply with the Washington Accords and advance accountability, while risking higher costs, strained bilateral relations, concentrated executive power, and potential harm to civilians and regional economies.
U.S. policymakers gain documented findings plus explicit authority to impose targeted and blocking sanctions, enabling pressure on M23/Rwanda to comply with the Washington Accords and potentially reduce armed conflict and associated abuses.
Low-income individuals and civilians in affected areas continue to receive food, medicine, and humanitarian relief because the bill exempts humanitarian and medical transactions from sanctions.
Rural communities and victims in eastern DRC benefit from identification of alleged war crimes by M23 and FDLR, which supports international accountability efforts and could help reduce future abuses.
Civilians in eastern DRC and border communities face greater risk of prolonged violence because labeling parties and imposing sanctions can harden positions, shrink space for local negotiated solutions, and extend instability.
U.S. taxpayers and federal budgets may incur higher diplomatic, enforcement, or military costs because deeper involvement, sanctions implementation, and potential escalation require additional resources.
Low-income individuals and regional economies, along with U.S. businesses and financial institutions, may be harmed if sanctions or blocking of property disrupt trade, aid flows, and cross-border commerce or impose significant compliance costs.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes the President to sanction foreign persons who violate or undermine the Washington Accords using IEEPA blocking and visa restrictions, with humanitarian and diplomatic exceptions.
Authorizes the President to impose targeted sanctions on foreign persons who violate or knowingly undermine the June 2025 agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda (the Washington Accords). Sanctions include blocking property under IEEPA and denying or revoking U.S. visas and entry; humanitarian exceptions and diplomatic obligations are preserved. The authority requires a presidential sanctions program, may use related IEEPA powers, carries civil and criminal penalties for violations of implementing regulations, and expires seven years after enactment.