Senate Foreign Relations Committee Advances McCormick Legislation to Expand Internet Freedom for Iranians

Three Additional McCormick-Backed Bills Also Advance to Strengthen U.S. Energy Security, Deepen Strategic Partnerships, and Preserve Community Passport Service WASHINGTON – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today advanced the Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026 , clearing the way for a full Senate vote. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) with Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and sixteen other senators, would expand internet access for Iranian civilians during regime blackouts, support independent broadcasting and human rights programming, and strengthen cybersecurity tools for Iranian journalists, activists, and civil society. The committee also advanced three additional bills co-sponsored by Senator McCormick, which are now headed to the Senate floor. These include: The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act , introduced by Senators McCormick and Cory Booker (D-NJ), would make the Eastern Mediterranean region a strategic priority in U.S. foreign policy, support the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and deepen cooperation on energy, trade, and critical infrastructure with key partners including Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt. The Pacific Promotion of Workable Energy Resources (POWER) Act , co-led by Senators McCormick, Curtis, Schatz, and Coons, would leverage America’s position as the global leader in geothermal electricity to promote geothermal exploration and production across the Indo-Pacific, strengthening energy security among U.S. allies, reinforcing supply chains, and creating economic opportunities at home. An amendment to the Passport Act of June 4, 1920 , introduced by Senators McCormick and John Fetterman (D-PA), would allow public libraries organized as non-profits or charitable organizations to collect and keep a fee for processing passport applications. The bill responds to a November 2025 State Department policy reversal that found many nonprofit libraries ineligible to offer these services under federal law. This will positively impact more than 26 non-profit public libraries in Pennsylvania who processed more than 41,000 passport applications last year. Following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee mark up this morning, Senator McCormick stated, “I’m proud to see these four bipartisan bills advance out of committee, and I urge my colleagues to pass them swiftly on the Senate floor. Whether it’s standing with the Iranian people against a repressive regime, extending America’s energy leadership across the Indo-Pacific, securing critical partnerships in the Eastern Mediterranean, or protecting passport access in communities back home, this is commonsense, bipartisan legislation that strengthens our security and serves the American people.” ###