Tunisia Democracy Restoration Act

This bill, called the Tunisia Democracy Restoration Act, aims to pressure Tunisia’s leaders to return to democracy. It pauses U.S. assistance to any Tunisian security units linked to human rights abuses or efforts to weaken democracy. It also requires the U.S. to identify and punish foreign individuals involved in undermining Tunisia’s democratic institutions, major corruption, or serious abuses like jailing or targeting activists, journalists, lawyers, or political opponents.

Within 180 days, the President must publish a public list of those individuals and keep it updated every six months for four years. People on the list would face U.S. asset freezes and visa bans or revocations. The administration can pause these penalties if Tunisia restores the 2014 constitution, holds free and fair elections with international monitoring, and releases political prisoners. The bill also directs a plan to help rebuild Tunisia’s democratic institutions, and the law expires four years after it takes effect.

• Who is affected: Tunisian security units tied to abuses (lose U.S. assistance), and foreign individuals tied to anti-democratic actions, corruption, or abuses in Tunisia (face U.S. sanctions).
• What changes: Publishes a sanctions list, freezes assets in the U.S., and denies or revokes U.S. visas for listed people; sets penalties for violations; includes limited exemptions for United Nations obligations.
• When: List due within 180 days; updates every six months for four years; strategy due in 180 days; law sunsets after four years; sanctions can pause if democracy benchmarks are met.