Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act
The Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act would change how foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can qualify for U.S. foreign aid under Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. It would remove certain eligibility barriers for foreign NGOs by (1) prohibiting disqualification solely because they provide health or medical services funded with non-U.S. government money, provided those services comply with local law and would not violate U.S. federal law if offered in the United States; and (2) preventing additional restrictions on how these NGOs use non-U.S. government funds for advocacy and lobbying beyond the rules that apply to U.S. NGOs receiving Part I assistance. The intent is to broaden access to essential health services delivered by foreign NGOs and ensure parity in how funds may be used for advocacy, aligning treatment of foreign NGOs with some aspects of U.S. NGO rules.
Key Points
- 1Prohibits ineligibility for Part I assistance based solely on foreign NGOs providing health or medical services funded with non-U.S. government money, as long as those services comply with host-country law and would not violate U.S. federal law if performed in the United States.
- 2Extends the eligibility rule to ensure such NGOs are not penalized merely for accepting non-U.S. government funds to provide these services.
- 3Prohibits additional restrictions on the use of non-U.S. government funds for advocacy and lobbying by foreign NGOs beyond those that apply to U.S. NGOs receiving Part I assistance.
- 4Applies “notwithstanding” language to override other laws, regulations, or policies in determining eligibility for Part I assistance, creating a uniform standard.
- 5Short title: the act is named the Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act; introduced in the Senate on January 28, 2025, and referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.