HR5101-119

What This Bill Does

The Tunisia Democracy Restoration Act conditions U.S. policy toward Tunisia on democratic restoration and human-rights accountability. It bars funding for Tunisian security services or units linked to human rights abuses, domestic repression, or undermining democracy. Within 180 days, the President must publish a federal website list of foreign persons engaged in actions undermining Tunisian democratic processes or significant corruption and responsible or complicit in serious human rights abuses against Tunisian citizens or family members, including forced disappearance, arrest, detention, or charges against political prisoners, activists, journalists, or lawyers opposing the Kais Saied regime. Listed persons face IEEPA property blocking, transaction prohibitions, visa inadmissibility, visa revocation, and penalties. The list must be updated every six months for four years. Sanctions can be suspended if Tunisia restores the 2014 constitution, holds free and fair monitored elections under it, and releases political prisoners, with waiver and international-agreement exceptions. The Secretary of State, with Treasury, must report a strategy within 180 days to restore Tunisian democracy, Parliament, independent judiciary, and the 2014 constitution.

Who Benefits and How

Tunisian democracy advocacy organizations benefit from U.S. sanctions pressure on officials undermining democratic institutions. Tunisian political prisoner families benefit because sanctions suspension is tied to release of political prisoners. Journalist organizations and Tunisian lawyers opposing the Kais Saied regime benefit from explicit protection language in the sanctions criteria. Human rights organizations benefit from a public list and recurring updates for accountability advocacy.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Tunisian security units linked to abuses lose access to U.S. assistance. Government of Tunisia officials involved in corruption or repression face asset blocking, transaction bans, visa ineligibility, and visa revocation. State Department sanctions staff must identify listed persons, manage visa consequences, and prepare the democracy restoration strategy. Treasury Department sanctions staff must implement IEEPA blocking, penalties, waivers, and transaction rules.

Key Provisions

• Blocks U.S. assistance to Tunisian security services or units linked to abuses, repression, or democratic backsliding.
• Requires a public list of foreign persons undermining Tunisian democracy or committing serious human rights abuses.
• Imposes property blocking, transaction prohibitions, visa bans, visa revocation, and IEEPA penalties.
• Requires list updates every six months for four years.
• Allows suspension when Tunisia restores the 2014 constitution, holds free and fair elections, and releases political prisoners.
• Requires a State Department and Treasury strategy to restore Tunisian democratic institutions within 180 days.