| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Scott Waters | scott.waters@mail.house.gov | (845) 721-9247 Caroline Hunt | caroline.hunt3@mail.house.gov | (225) 244-1086 |
| Washington, D.C. – 2/25/26… This week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) introduced the Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation designed to strengthen Congressional oversight by requiring more detailed information when new or existing foreign assistance programs utilize appropriated spending. As the U.S. continues to support beneficial and effective foreign assistance programs around the world, Congress must have the facts straight. This legislation establishes a pilot program requiring two State Department Bureaus to provide Congress with more detailed information during the congressional notification process, including program objectives, total lifecycle costs, and performance oversight. “American taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability when their hard-earned money is spent overseas. By requiring clearer, more detailed information about new and expanding foreign assistance programs, this legislation strengthens Congress’s ability to evaluate their purpose, cost, duration, and effectiveness to ensure continued funding for successful programs ,” said Congressman Lawler, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. “Information is a basic but necessary foundation for congressional oversight, but too often, Congress doesn’t have an adequate understanding of the foreign assistance and counterterrorism programs on the African continent that we’re in charge of overseeing. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan Transparency in Foreign Assistance Act so that we can get the facts on these programs and have better strategic alignment, increase transparency and accountability, and ensure Congress is living up to its constitutional role,” said Congresswoman Jacobs, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa. Full text of the bill can be found HERE. Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs. |