Senator Murray Reintroduces Bill to Restore Congressional Authority and Prevent U.S. Weapons from Being Used in Human Rights Abuses

Senator Murray reintroduced her Values in Arms Export Act, which would restore Congressional authority over weapons sales, and create more oversight to prevent United States weapons going towards human rights violations

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, re-introduced the Values in Arms Export Act of 2026, legislation to restore congressional authority over arms sales, and prevent U.S. arms from being used to violate the laws of war and human rights. Murray previously introduced the bill in 2020 and 2022.

"It is long past time for Congress to reassert its authority over international arms sales and ensure U.S. weapons are never used to commit war crimes," said Senator Murray. "The American people don't want to see U.S. weapons used to commit war crimes against kids or innocent civilians. That's why we need to strengthen the role of Congress in future arms deals and keep our weapons out of the wrong hands."

Senator Murray's Values in Arms Export Act of 2026 amends the Arms Export Control Act to make clear that partner countries that receive U.S. weapons are expected to use those weapons in compliance with internationally recognized human rights and international humanitarian law. To enforce these requirements, the bill creates a mechanism where the Executive Branch, Congress, or a newly created Human Rights and Law of War Oversight Board can each designate a country as a "country of concern" if the country is violating those principles. A designation would last for three years, and the country would be required to submit to a newly created program of enhanced monitoring.

If a country: commits further violations during the three-year period; is designated a second time within a ten-year period; or fails to make sufficient progress on reforms, the country would be banned from U.S. arms sales for ten years. The country would have to discontinue the use of U.S.-provided weapons or return the arms. The bill would provide a mechanism for early termination of the ban.

The new Human Rights and Law of War Oversight Board would have significant oversight and policy responsibilities. In addition to the authority to make designations, the Board would be empowered to conduct its own investigative and oversight work, monitor compliance, and assess new policies to ensure respect for human rights and law of armed conflict remain central considerations in the future.

The bill would also require assessments by the State Department, the Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community of the risk of weapons being used to commit human rights and law of war violations before a sale or export license can be approved.

See a one-pager on the bill HERE.

See legislative text of the bill HERE.

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