S. 4577

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4577 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4577

To reassess the United States-Tanzania bilateral relationship, and for 
other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 19, 2026

Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To reassess the United States-Tanzania bilateral relationship, 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 ``Reassessing the United States-
Tanzania Bilateral Relationship Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Tanzania is one of Africa's fastest growing economies 
with strong economic growth over the past decade due to the 
expansion of key sectors, including agriculture, mining, and 
tourism.
(2) Tanzania's reliability as a partner to the United 
States is increasingly in question due to ongoing political 
repression, violations of religious freedom and freedom of 
expression, and persistent barriers to United States 
investment.
(3) The October 29, 2025, general elections were marked by 
significant political interference, including ballot 
manipulation and vote tabulation irregularities, which favored 
incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan and other candidates of 
Tanzania's parliamentary majority party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi 
(CCM).
(4) Leading up to the general elections in Tanzania's 
October 29, 2025, election, multiple incidents of political 
abductions and disappearances occurred in Tanzania, most 
recently the abduction and subsequent disappearance of 
Tanzanian Ambassador Humphrey Polepole on October 6, 2025.
(5) A range of actions by the CCM, a political party that 
has continuously held a parliamentary majority and controlled 
Tanzania's central government since the CCM's formation in 
1977, has severely undermined democracy in the country.
(6) The ongoing treason trial of Chadema opposition figure 
Tundu Lissu, terrorism charges against Chadema Deputy John 
Heche, and charges and detentions of other opposition party 
members are politically motivated and intended to prevent 
opposition figures from standing for elections.
(7) The Government of Tanzania has engaged in violations of 
religious freedom, including the revocation of registration for 
religious institutions, harassment, detention, and attacks 
against religious leaders, and restrictions on religious 
worship and expression.
(8) During mass citizen protests against Tanzania's 
fraudulent and illegitimate October 29, 2025, general 
elections, the Tanzanian Police and Tanzania Defense Forces 
killed hundreds of Tanzanian citizens and endangered the lives 
of United States citizens and tourists visiting the country.
(9) While protestors faced attacks by Tanzanian Security 
Forces, the Government of Tanzania imposed an internet shutdown 
impacting online connections, communications, business, and 
banking, disrupting regional trade and costing the country an 
estimated $238,000,000 in the process.
(10) In response to this unprecedented violence and unrest 
in Tanzania, the United States Embassy in Tanzania issued a 
Security Alert on October 30, 2025, calling on United States 
citizens in Tanzania to shelter-in-place.
(11) Following the electoral protests, the Tanzanian 
electoral commission released disputed results from the 
fraudulent election, declaring President Samia Suluhu Hassan 
the winner with 98 percent of the vote.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress--
(1) that it is in the national security interests of the 
United States to help counter democratic backsliding of key 
partner nations where the United States has supplied billions 
of dollars worth of investment, development, humanitarian 
assistance, and security partnerships;
(2) that the actions by the Government of Tanzania have 
subverted democracy, blatantly violated citizens' fundamental 
human rights, disrupted regional trade, and endangered the 
safety and security of Tanzanians, tourists, and the diplomatic 
community;
(3) that these actions place United States national 
interests in Tanzania at risk and threaten to undermine 
regional stability and long-term bilateral cooperation;
(4) to support the decision to terminate Tanzania's 
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) threshold program; and
(5) to express solidarity with the people of Tanzania, 
recognizing the unprecedented levels of violence experienced in 
Tanzania and support calls for an international independent 
investigation into the pre- and post-election violence in 
Tanzania leading those who conducted violence against Tanzania 
civilians to be held accountable for human rights violations.

SEC. 4. UNITED STATES REASSESSMENT WITH TANZANIA.

(a) Bilateral Relationship Reassessment.--The Secretary of State, 
in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the United States Trade 
Representative, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall 
conduct a comprehensive reassessment of the bilateral relationship 
between the United States and Tanzania.
(b) Elements.--The reassessment required under subsection (a) shall 
include--
(1) an analysis of the democratic priorities and trajectory 
of Tanzania;
(2) a detailed strategy on the necessary democratic reforms 
needed in Tanzania;
(3) an assessment of United States security assistance to 
Tanzania to ensure that the Tanzanian Defense Forces and 
Tanzanian Police are reliable partners that adhere to 
Tanzania's constitutionally mandated human rights and rule of 
law norms and protect the safety of citizens and all visitors 
to the country of Tanzania;
(4) an assessment of how recent political unrest and 
internet shutdown in Tanzania have impacted United States 
business, investments, and partnerships in Tanzania; and
(5) an evaluation of the relationship between the 
Government of Tanzania and the Government of the People's 
Republic of China, including--
(A) military and security cooperation, including 
training, exercises, arms transfers, and cooperation 
between defense, intelligence, or law enforcement 
entities;
(B) economic engagement, including investments, 
loans, and financing involving Chinese-state-owned or 
affiliated entities, and the impact of such activities 
on market access, debt sustainability, and the 
competitiveness of United States companies; and
(C) political cooperation with the Government of 
the People's Republic of China that seeks to undermine 
democratic principles, advance one-party consolidation, 
and solidify anti-American and anti-Western sentiment 
internally and internationally.
(c) Report on Findings.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the findings 
of the review required under subsection (a).

SEC. 5. REPORT ON CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN 
TANZANIA.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Financial Services of the 
House of Representatives a report that includes a list of each foreign 
person that the Secretary determines--
(1) holds a senior position in the Government of Tanzania, 
the leadership of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, the Tanzania Police 
Force, the Tanzanian People's Defense Force, or the Tanzanian 
Intelligence and Security Service; and
(2) is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or 
indirectly engaged in--
(A) ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing 
abductions, enforced disappearances, or arbitrary 
detention of political opponents, journalists, or civil 
society actors;
(B) the targeting harassment, intimidation, 
detention, or use of violence against journalists, 
media organizations, or activists to suppress dissent 
or silence public reporting on human rights violations;
(C) censorship, shutdowns, or other restrictions on 
media, internet access, or freedom of expression 
intended to conceal human rights abuses or prevent the 
dissemination of credible information;
(D) severe violations of religious freedom, 
including the persecution of individuals or groups on 
account of religion, prohibitions or restrictions on 
religious worship, assembly, or expression, or acts of 
violence, coercion, or discrimination against religious 
communities;
(E) the use of transnational repression tactics 
that target foreign nationals, Tanzanian citizens, and 
diaspora members regionally and internationally;
(F) extrajudicial killings, torture, or gross 
violations of internationally recognized human rights; 
or
(G) other actions that violate or undermine 
internationally recognized human rights or the civil 
liberties guaranteed to Tanzanian citizens under the 
Constitution of Tanzania.

SEC. 6. SANCTIONS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the submission of the 
report, the President may impose sanctions described in subsection (b) 
with respect to any foreign person identified in the report required 
under section 5(a)(1) that the Secretary determines meets the criteria 
described in section 5(a)(2)(A).
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this paragraph 
are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President may exercise all 
authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers 
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), to the extent necessary to block 
and prohibit all transactions in property and interests in 
property of a foreign person if such property and interests in 
property are in the United States, come within the United 
States, or come within the possession or control of a United 
States person.
(2) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien 
described in subsection (a) shall be--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible to receive 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 any alien described in 
subsection (a) is subject to revocation 
regardless of the issue date of the visa or 
other entry documentation.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under 
clause (i) shall, in accordance with section 
221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1201(i))--
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) cancel any other valid visa or 
entry documentation that is in the 
possession of the alien.
(c) 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) for purposes of carrying out this section.
(2) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections 
(b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person 
that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 
causes a violation of this section or any regulations 
promulgated to carry out this section to the same extent that 
such penalties apply to a person that commits an unlawful act 
described in section 206(a) of that Act.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural 
commodity'' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of 
the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
(2) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means a 
person that is not a United States person.
(3) Medical device.--The term ``medical device'' has the 
meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(4) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the meaning given 
the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
(e) Termination of Sanctions.--The President may terminate the 
application of a sanction imposed pursuant to this section with respect 
to a person if the President certifies to the appropriate committees of 
Congress that--
(1) the person is not engaging in the activity that was the 
basis for such sanction or has taken significant verifiable 
steps toward stopping such activity; and
(2) the President has received reliable assurances that the 
person will not knowingly engage in activity subject to such 
sanction in the future.
(f) Exceptions.--
(1) Humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions authorized under 
this section shall not apply to--
(A) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction 
for the provision of agricultural commodities, food, 
medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or 
for humanitarian purposes; or
(B) transactions that are necessary for, or 
ordinarily incident to, the activities described in 
subparagraph (A).
(2) Compliance with international obligations and law 
enforcement activities.--Sanctions authorized under this 
section shall not apply with respect to an alien if admitting 
or paroling such alien is necessary--
(A) to comply with United States obligations 
under--
(i) the Agreement between the United 
Nations and the United States of America 
regarding the Headquarters of the United 
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, 
and entered into force November 21, 1947;
(ii) the Convention on Consular Relations, 
done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into 
force March 19, 1967; or
(iii) any other international agreement; or
(B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity 
in the United States.
(3) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions 
authorized under this section shall not apply to--
(A) any activity subject to the reporting 
requirements under title V of the National Security Act 
of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or
(B) any authorized intelligence activities of the 
United States.
(4) Exception relating to importation of goods.--
(A) In general.--The requirement to block and 
prohibit all transactions in all property and interests 
in property under this section shall not include the 
authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on the 
importation of goods.
(B) Good defined.--In this paragraph, the term 
``good'' means any article, natural or man-made 
substance, material, supply or manufactured product, 
including inspection and test equipment, and excluding 
technical data.
(g) Rulemaking.--The President is authorized to promulgate such 
rules and 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).

SEC. 7. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE AND INVESTMENTS 
FOR TANZANIA.

(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (c), none of the 
following may be obligated, expended, or otherwise made available for 
any entity in Tanzania:
(1) Security assistance, as defined in section 502B(d)(2) 
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)(2)).
(2) Assistance, grants, loans, loan guarantees, insurance, 
equity investments, or other support provided by--
(A) the United States International Development 
Finance Corporation;
(B) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; or
(C) the United States Trade and Development Agency.
(b) Certification.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall 
terminate beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date on which 
the Secretary of State submits to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a written certification that the Government of Tanzania has--
(1) enacted electoral reforms to advance free, fair, and 
transparent elections;
(2) suspended politically motivated or illegitimate 
criminal proceedings, corrected flawed or improper judicial 
judgments, and released opposition leaders and other 
individuals detained on politically motivated grounds;
(3) taken demonstrable steps to hold government officials, 
members of the security forces, and law enforcement personnel 
accountable for political abductions, electoral violence, and 
actions that undermine democratic institutions; and
(4) ceased the political intimidation and censorship of 
media figures, journalists, and civil society actors.
(c) Exceptions.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not 
apply to--
(1) humanitarian assistance;
(2) health assistance; and
(3) assistance to support democracy, human rights, 
governance, and civil society in Tanzania.

SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION FUNDS FOR 
TANZANIA.

(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no 
Millennium Challenge Corporation funds may be committed, obligated, 
expended, or otherwise made available for support for any threshold or 
compact activities in Tanzania.
(b) Certification.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall 
terminate beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date on which 
the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, acting 
through the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation, submits to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
written certification that the Government of Tanzania has demonstrated 
an ongoing commitment to just and democratic governance in accordance 
with the criteria described in section 607 of the Millennium Challenge 
Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7706).

SEC. 9. APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED.

In this Act, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
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