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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is leading an effort in Congress to protect humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones and ensure accountability for those who target them. Joined by U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Pingree today introduced the Commitment to Aid Workers Act—comprehensive legislation that reaffirms the United States’ commitment to safeguarding humanitarian principles and holding foreign militaries accountable for actions that endanger civilians and those delivering American, life-saving aid.

“Humanitarian aid workers put their lives on the line to deliver food, water, medicine, and shelter to civilians caught in the crossfire of conflict. Their work is guided by a basic principle: that even in war, human dignity must be preserved,” Pingree said. “Tragically, we are seeing aid workers targeted like never before. So far this year, 192 have been killed—and last year was the deadliest on record, with over 370 killed across the globe. These are attacks on the very foundation of humanitarian law. The United States cannot stand by while those delivering life-saving assistance are treated as collateral damage. The Commitment to Aid Workers Act ensures accountability, advocacy, and limits U.S. military assistance to countries found to be targeting aid workers deliberately. We must support those who serve on the frontlines of humanitarian crises.”

“Humanitarian workers are the globe’s first responders. They deserve to be protected for the essential role they play in saving lives,” McGovern said. “The Act ensures that the safety of humanitarian NGO workers and the viability of their work are institutionally supported by the State Department through the creation of a special envoy position and an interagency working group, and accountability measures including conditioning aid to countries who unlawfully kill aid workers.”

“Delivering humanitarian aid into conflict zones is one of the most honorable and dangerous jobs,” said Pocan. “Those workers put their lives at risk to help others get basic, life-saving aid, such as food, water, and medicine, and they deserve to be protected. Yet, as conflicts around the world are on the rise, far too many aid workers have been injured or even killed. We must protect these aid workers, and I’m honored to co-sponsor this legislation led by Congresswoman Pingree.”

“Aid workers in conflict zones are heroes, doing lifesaving work in devastating environments — yet humanitarian personnel are often targeted and attacked,” Dean said. “In times of major strife, we must protect those bringing desperately needed food, water, and medicine to innocent civilians. I am grateful to Congresswoman Pingree for her leadership on this crucial issue, and I hope that this bill will help preserve humanitarian aid programs, their employees, and the lifesaving help they provide.”

The Commitment to Aid Workers Act:

• Establishes a Special Envoy for Humanitarian Aid Workers tasked with advocating for the safety of non-governmental organization (NGO) staff abroad, investigating the deaths of U.S. NGO aid workers, and reporting annually to Congress on threats and violence against aid missions.
  
  
• Mandates the creation of an Aid Worker Independent Inquiry Group, an interagency body led by the Special Envoy that would investigate any incident in which an aid worker is killed by a foreign military. This group must provide Congress with a report within 90 days, detailing the circumstances of the death, including the use of U.S.-origin munitions and the intent behind the attack.
  
  
• Strengthens accountability by amending the Foreign Assistance Act to prohibit military aid and arms sales to any country that repeatedly and intentionally targets humanitarian aid workers. Assistance can only resume if the Secretary of State certifies that sufficient safeguards have been implemented to protect aid missions.

The Commitment to Aid Workers Act is supported by Oxfam, a confederation of 21 independent non-governmental organizations that tackle poverty across the world. 

“Humanitarian work, especially in conflicts, is increasingly dangerous. Aid workers face skyrocketing rates of death and detention in the line of duty. Most often it is local staff, bravely serving their own communities in crisis, who face this targeted violence without attention or consequence,” Oxfam America's Director of Peace and Security Scott Paul said. “The Commitment to Aid Workers Act represents an important step toward preventing these egregious attacks and holding the perpetrators to account. Very simply, this bill would make it safer to save lives. Congress should pass it immediately to make it clear that aid workers can never be a target.”

Background:

So far this year, 192 aid workers have been killed globally. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more humanitarian aid workers died in 2024 than in any year previously reported.

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