H.R. 6878

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6878 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6878

To impose sanctions with respect to the regime of President Nayib 
Bukele in El Salvador, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 18, 2025

Mr. McGovern (for himself, Ms. Velazquez, and Mr. Castro of Texas) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, 
and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To impose sanctions with respect to the regime of President Nayib 
Bukele in El Salvador, 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 ``El Salvador Accountability Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
Representatives.
(2) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means an 
individual or entity that is not a United States person.
(3) Gross violations of internationally recognized human 
rights.--The term ``gross violations of internationally 
recognized human rights'' has the meaning given that term in 
section 502B(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2304(d)).
(4) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to 
conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person had 
actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the 
circumstance, or the result.
(5) Salvadoran entity.--The term ``Salvadoran entity'' 
means an entity organized under the laws of, or otherwise 
subject to the jurisdiction of, El Salvador.
(6) United states person.--The term ``United States 
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully 
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the 
United States or any jurisdiction within the United 
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity; 
or
(C) any person located in the United States.

SEC. 3. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO BUKELE GOVERNMENT IN EL 
SALVADOR.

(a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described 
in subsection (b) with respect to the following:
(1) The President of El Salvador.
(2) The Vice President of El Salvador.
(3) The Minister of Foreign Relations of El Salvador.
(4) The Minister of Defense of El Salvador.
(5) The Minister of Economy of El Salvador.
(6) The Minister of Finance of El Salvador.
(7) The Minister of Government of El Salvador.
(8) The Minister of Justice and Public Security of El 
Salvador.
(9) The Vice Minister of Justice and Public Security of El 
Salvador.
(10) The Minister of Tourism of El Salvador.
(11) The Attorney General of El Salvador.
(12) The President of the Central Reserve Bank of El 
Salvador.
(13) Any foreign person in El Salvador, working on behalf 
of the Government of El Salvador, or who is a leader, official, 
or member of any Salvadoran entity, including a political party 
or government dependency, or a member of such a party or 
dependency, that, based on credible information--
(A) has engaged in gross violations of 
internationally recognized human rights, or violated 
international law or international human rights 
standards, including in connection with the ongoing 
``state of exception'' in El Salvador;
(B) has engaged in the scheme, including by 
accepting United States taxpayer dollars, to deprive 
individuals residing in the United States of their 
rights under the Constitution of the United States; or
(C) has materially assisted, sponsored, or provided 
financial, material, or technological support for, or 
goods or services to or in support of, any person that 
has engaged in activities described in subparagraph (A) 
or (B).
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanction to be imposed under 
subsections (a) with respect to a person are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President shall exercise all 
of the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to 
block and prohibit all transactions in all property and 
interests in property of a person described in subsection (a), 
if such property and interests in property are in the United 
States, come within the United States, or are or come within 
the possession or control of a United States person.
(2) Aliens inadmissible for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) In general.--In the case of an alien described 
in subsection (a), the alien is--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible for a visa or other 
documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted 
or paroled into the United States or to receive 
any other benefit under the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--The visa or other entry 
documentation of an alien described in 
subsection (a) shall be revoked, regardless of 
when such visa or other entry documentation was 
issued.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under 
clause (i) shall--
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) automatically cancel any other 
valid visa or entry documentation that 
is in the alien's possession.
(3) Loans from united states financial institutions.--The 
President shall prohibit United States financial institutions 
from making loans or extending credit to a person described in 
subsection (a).
(4) Foreign exchange.--The President shall prohibit any 
transactions in foreign exchange that are subject to the 
jurisdiction of the United States and in which a person 
described in subsection (a) has any interest.
(c) Reports Required.--
(1) Report on imposition of sanctions.--Not later than 10 
days after any imposition of sanctions under this section, the 
President shall provide written notification to the appropriate 
congressional committees regarding the imposition of such 
sanctions that includes a description of--
(A) the person or persons subject to the imposition 
of such sanctions; and
(B) the activities that led to the imposition of 
sanctions.
(2) Annual reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report that includes--
(A) a list of the persons with respect to which 
sanctions have been imposed under this section during 
the year preceding submission of the report;
(B) a description of the activities that led to the 
imposition of such sanctions;
(C) a description of any assistance provided by the 
United States to El Salvador during the year preceding 
submission of the report;
(D) the full text of any written agreements, 
including grant agreements, made between the United 
States and the Government of El Salvador during that 
year;
(E) a list of any officials of the Government of El 
Salvador who are, as of the date of the report, subject 
to sanctions under other sanctions authorities, 
including--
(i) the Global Magnitsky Human Rights 
Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.); 
and
(ii) section 7031(c)(1)(A) of the 
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and 
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 
(division F of Public Law 118-47; 8 U.S.C. 1182 
note);
(F) a determination of whether any of the 
individuals on the list required by subparagraph (E)--
(i) has received, or is part of a 
government institution that has received, 
United States foreign assistance described in 
subparagraph (C); or
(ii) is implementing a bilateral agreement 
described in subparagraph (D);
(G) a determination of whether any nationals of El 
Salvador subject to sanctions under other sanctions 
authorities, or government institutions led by such 
nationals or of which such nationals are members, have 
received United States foreign assistance;
(H) the full text of any written agreement between 
the United States and El Salvador pursuant to section 
620M(c)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2378d(c)(1)); and
(I) a list of any units of the security forces of 
El Salvador prohibited from receiving United States 
foreign assistance under section 620M of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378d).
(d) Exceptions.--
(1) Exception to comply with international agreements.--
Sanctions under subsection (b)(2) shall not apply with respect 
to the admission of an alien to the United States if such 
admission is necessary to comply with the obligations of the 
United States under the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of 
the United Nations, signed at Lake Success on June 26, 1947, 
and entered into force on November 21, 1947, between the United 
Nations and the United States, or the Convention on Consular 
Relations, done at Vienna on April 24, 1963, and entered into 
force on March 19, 1967, or other international obligations of 
the United States.
(2) Humanitarian exception.--The President may not impose 
sanctions under this section with respect to any person for 
conducting or facilitating a transaction for the sale of 
agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices or 
for the provision of basic human needs or humanitarian 
assistance.
(e) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all 
authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 
1704) to carry out this section.
(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to 
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this 
section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry 
out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth in 
subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to the same 
extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in 
subsection (a) of that section.
(f) Termination.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), sanctions 
imposed under this section shall terminate if the President 
certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the 
Government of El Salvador--
(A) is no longer engaged in gross violations of 
internationally recognized human rights and is 
complying with international law and international 
human rights standards, including in connection with 
the ongoing ``state of exception'' in El Salvador; and
(B) is no longer engaged in the scheme, including 
by accepting United States taxpayer dollars, to deprive 
individuals residing in the United States of their 
rights under the Constitution of the United States.
(2) Limitation.--The President may not submit the 
certification described in paragraph (1) before the date that 
is 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Sanctions snapback.--Any sanctions terminated pursuant 
to paragraph (1) shall be reimposed with immediate effect if 
the President determines that the Government of El Salvador 
resumes engaging in gross violations of internationally 
recognized human rights or the scheme described in paragraph 
(1)(B).
(g) Rulemaking.--The head of any Federal agency responsible for the 
implementation of this section may prescribe such regulations as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section (which may 
include regulatory exceptions), including under section 205 of the 
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1704).
(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNMENT OF EL SALVADOR PROVIDED THROUGH 
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

(a) Restrictions.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the 
United States Executive Directors of the international financial 
institutions to use the voice and vote of the United States in those 
institutions--
(1) to oppose any loan or extension of financial or 
technical assistance to the Government of El Salvador; and
(2) to suspend any such loan or assistance provided before 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Exception for Humanitarian Purposes.--Subsection (a) shall not 
apply to loans or financial or technical assistance provided for 
humanitarian purposes.
(c) Termination.--Subsection (a) shall terminate on the date on 
which the President submits a certification under section 3(f)(1).
(d) International Financial Institution Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``international financial institution'' has the meaning given 
that term in section 1701(c) of the International Financial 
Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)).

SEC. 5. REPORT ON CRYPTOCURRENCY AS A VECTOR FOR BUKELE REGIME 
CORRUPTION.

(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the actions of officials of the 
Government of El Salvador, including President Nayib Bukele, to use 
cryptocurrency as a mechanism for gross corruption, graft, and 
sanctions evasion.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include--
(1) an estimate of the amount of funds used by the 
Government of El Salvador to buy Bitcoin and other 
cryptocurrencies;
(2) a list of exchanges through which the Government of El 
Salvador bought Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies;
(3) the addresses of the locations where the Government of 
El Salvador deposited Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies;
(4) a list of individuals who have access to Bitcoin and 
other cryptocurrencies bought by the Government of El Salvador;
(5) an assessment of existing gaps in the use of Bitcoin 
and cryptocurrencies by the Government of El Salvador being 
exploited for corruption; and
(6) an assessment of whether Bitcoin or other 
cryptocurrencies have been used in El Salvador as a vector to 
evade financial sanctions imposed on other countries.
(c) Form; Availability.--
(1) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
annex.
(2) Availability to public.--The unclassified portion of 
the report required by subsection (a) shall be made available 
to the public on a publicly accessible internet website of the 
Department of State.

SEC. 6. PROHIBITION ON MAKING FUNDS AVAILABLE TO GOVERNMENT OF EL 
SALVADOR.

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made 
available by Congress may be made available to the Government of El 
Salvador until the President submits a certification under section 
3(f)(1).
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