The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee adopted amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 State Department Authorization Bill (H.R.5300), directing the State Department to secure the release of Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, safeguard Armenian religious and cultural heritage, and support the right of return for the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), reports the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a further step forward for accountability, the Committee also passed an amendment calling for a comprehensive report on Turkey’s regional destabilization.

Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI), whose amendment passed with bipartisan support in an en bloc package, highlighted the urgent issues left unaddressed by the so-called peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Armenian religious and historic sites continue to be destroyed. Armenian prisoners of war are still held in Azerbaijan. And more than 120,000 Armenian refugees still cannot safely return to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh,” stated Rep. Amo during debate. He added, “My amendment would ensure that we continue to march down the road of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan by directing the Secretary of State to advocate for the protection of Armenian heritage and religious sites, the release of the Armenian prisoners of war, [and] the safe return of Armenian refugees to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The Committee also debated two pro-Armenian amendments offered by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA). His first proposal, Amendment #97, would have repealed the presidential waiver authority of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, restoring Congress’s prohibition on U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan. “Section 907 was waived by administration after administration, no matter what the Azerbaijani dictatorship did. And, it’s time for Congress to recognize that,” Rep. Sherman stated. He went on to note, “we’ve seen an ethnic cleansing, a cultural genocide, and now, the destruction of the churches while hostages are still being held. I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment.”

Although the amendment was narrowly defeated by a 26 to 24 vote, it received unprecedented unanimous support from committee Democrats. Republican Reps. Michael Lawler (R-NY) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), broke with Republican party-line opposition to the amendment, maintaining their longstanding commitment to enforcing prohibitions on US military assistance to Azerbaijan.