Congresswoman Tenney Introduces Bipartisan IRAN Act to Expand Internet Freedom for the Iranian People

October 15, 2026 Press Release Oswego, NY — Congresswomen Claudia Tenney (NY-24) and Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) today introduced the bipartisan Internet Reach and Access Now (IRAN) Act to strengthen U.S. efforts to help the Iranian people access the open internet, communicate securely, and overcome the Iranian regime’s censorship, surveillance, and internet shutdowns. Additional cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Virginia Foxx (NC-5), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Dave Min (CA-47), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Ilhan Omar (MN-5), Stephanie Bice (OK-5), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), and André Carson (IN-7). Iran remains one of the world’s most restrictive digital environments, with the regime routinely restricting internet access to suppress dissent, conceal human rights abuses, and isolate the Iranian people. The IRAN Act strengthens the U.S. internet freedom strategy for Iran by requiring regular reviews, implementation assessments, and congressional reporting, while evaluating emerging technologies such as VPNs, decentralized and peer to peer networks, and direct to cell satellite communications. The legislation also seeks to expand cybersecurity training and secure digital tools for journalists, human rights defenders, and other civil society actors, and directs greater coordination among federal agencies to help ensure U.S. sanctions and export controls do not unintentionally hinder access to open internet technologies. “The Iranian regime knows that access to information is a threat to its grip on power, which is why it relies on censorship, surveillance, and internet blackouts to silence the Iranian people,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The United States should stand with the courageous Iranians demanding basic freedoms by helping them stay connected to one another and the outside world. The bipartisan IRAN Act strengthens our internet freedom strategy, supports secure technologies that can overcome the regime’s censorship, and improves coordination across our government so these efforts deliver real results. The Iranian people deserve the ability to communicate freely, access independent information, and expose the regime’s brutality to the world.” “Freedom of expression and access to unrestricted information are fundamental human rights. The Islamic Republic regularly shuts down or restricts internet access while committing mass atrocities,” said Congresswoman Ansari. “President Trump has said 'help is on the way' for the Iranian people. Ensuring unrestricted internet access would actually help people immediately. I’m proud to introduce the IRAN Act, a bipartisan, noncontroversial, and not militarily invasive bill that would do just that.” This legislation is supported by the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA): “The Iranian regime has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to shut down the internet to isolate the Iranian people and facilitate the violent suppression of dissent, as we saw during the January 2026 crackdown on protesters. The revised IRAN Act strengthens the U.S. response by improving coordination across the federal government, ensuring our internet freedom strategy keeps pace with emerging technologies, and helping preserve access to satellite communications over Iran. Helping ordinary Iranians stay connected, access independent information, and communicate with the outside world not only supports their democratic aspirations, but also advances broader U.S. national security interests by promoting the free flow of information and greater transparency. PAAIA thanks Representatives Claudia Tenney and Yassamin Ansari for their bipartisan leadership and encourages all Members of Congress to support and help pass this important legislation.” - PAAIA ###