H.R. 7565: Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act of 2026
Sponsor
Maxine Waters
Democrat · CA-43
Washington should prove Gaza's children are being fed
Why it matters
Three meals a day for every child, two for every other civilian: H.R. 7565 turns that into a standard the Secretary of State must certify to Congress within 30 days of the bill becoming law. A public report on food volumes, people served, and donors follows 30 days later, and every blocked, diverted, or misused shipment has to be reported to Congress.
The Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act is short: one working section, no new money. What it adds is a yardstick.
Within 30 days of enactment, the Secretary of State would have to certify to Congress that oversight systems are in place and working so that every child in Gaza can eat at least three nutritious meals a day, and every other civilian at least two. Those systems are supposed to be built with the World Food Program, UNRWA, other U.N. agencies, donor governments, international aid groups, the Government of Israel, and Palestinian representatives.
Alongside that certification, the department would hand Congress a written account of how food distribution in Gaza is overseen. It covers U.S. aid, aid from other donors, and aid from private relief groups, and it has to spell out Israel's role in that oversight.
Thirty days after certifying, the department would publish a report anyone can read: how much food is going in, how many children and adults are being served, which donors are supplying it, and how it reaches people.
The last piece is an alert system. Any time food aid meant for Gaza is refused entry, diverted, or misused, the State Department would have to promptly tell Congress what the aid was, who donated it, what happened, who was involved, and how the department responded.
The bill does not say what happens if the Secretary cannot honestly make the certification. There is no funding cutoff or penalty attached. Its force comes from putting the answer on the record.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 12, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
H.R. 7565 Bill Summary
What H.R. 7565 actually does.
A daily meal count becomes the test
Within 30 days of enactment, the Secretary of State must certify that oversight systems exist and are in use so that all children in Gaza can eat at least three nutritious meals a day and all other civilians at least two.
Congress sees how aid oversight actually works
With the certification, the department must give Congress a written description of how food distribution in Gaza is overseen, covering U.S. aid, other donors' aid, and aid from international relief groups, plus the Government of Israel's role.
A public tally of food and people fed
No later than 30 days after certifying, the department must send Congress a report, also released to the public, on how much food is being distributed, how many children and adults are served, which donors are involved, and how the food is distributed.
Blocked or diverted shipments get reported one by one
Each time food aid for Gaza is denied entry, diverted, or misused, the department must promptly inform Congress of the type of aid, the donor, what happened and who was involved, and how the department responded.
Oversight is built with the groups on the ground
The oversight systems must be developed in coordination with the World Food Program, UNRWA, other U.N. agencies, bilateral and multilateral donors, international aid organizations, the Government of Israel, and Palestinian representatives, as appropriate.
Who benefits from H.R. 7565?
Children in Gaza
The bill writes a specific floor into U.S. law for them: at least three nutritious meals every day. Whether that floor is being met becomes something the State Department has to answer for in writing.
Adults and other civilians in Gaza
Parents, older people, and everyone else not covered by the children's standard get a minimum of two nutritious meals a day, measured through the same public reporting.
Donors and relief groups trying to track their aid
Charities and governments sending food would get a public account of how much is being distributed and a record of each shipment turned away, diverted, or misused.
Taxpayers and voters following U.S. policy in Gaza
You would be able to read the report yourself instead of relying on competing statements from governments and aid agencies about how much food is getting through.
Who is affected by H.R. 7565?
The State Department
Takes on a certification, a written oversight description, a public report, and an ongoing incident-reporting duty, with the first two due within 30 days of enactment and the report 30 days after that.
The Government of Israel
Its role in overseeing food aid would be described to Congress, and any instance of aid being denied entry into Gaza would be reported, putting crossing decisions on the congressional record.
UN agencies and international aid groups
The World Food Program, UNRWA, and relief organizations would be expected to help build the oversight systems and supply data on volumes, people served, and distribution methods.
Anyone diverting or misusing aid inside Gaza
Each diversion or misuse incident, along with the parties involved, would be reported to Congress.
HR7565 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Feb 12, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
About the Sponsor
Maxine Waters
Democrat, California's 43rd congressional district · 35 years in Congress
Committees: Financial Services
View full profile →
Cosponsors (20)
All 20 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 14 states: California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, and 11 more.
André Carson
Democrat · IN
Troy Carter
Democrat · LA
Steve Cohen
Democrat · TN
Madeleine Dean
Democrat · PA
Rosa DeLauro
Democrat · CT
Cleo Fields
Democrat · LA
Valerie Foushee
Democrat · NC
Sylvia Garcia
Democrat · TX
Jahana Hayes
Democrat · CT
Jonathan Jackson
Democrat · IL
Henry Johnson
Democrat · GA
Zoe Lofgren
Democrat · CA
Committee Sponsors
Foreign Affairs Committee
2 of 53 committee members cosponsored
23 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 7565 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Foreign Affairs
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- International Affairs
- Introduced
- Feb 12, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Feb 12, 2026
Official Sources
Official bill page with status, cosponsors, and committee referral for the Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act of 2026.
The introduced text of the bill, including the certification, public report, and incident-reporting requirements in Section 2.
The World Food Program is the first agency the bill names for building the oversight systems; this page describes its food distribution in Gaza.
The U.N. office that coordinates humanitarian aid in Gaza and publishes situation reports on aid access and food needs.
Congressional Research Service overview of UNRWA, one of the agencies named in the bill, and the 2024 bar on U.S. funding to it.
The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, whose Division G, Section 301 prohibits U.S. funding to UNRWA.
The committee H.R. 7565 was referred to; it controls whether the bill receives a hearing or markup.
H.R. 7565 Common Questions
What does H.R. 7565 do?
It requires the Secretary of State to certify, within 30 days, that oversight systems are in place so every child in Gaza can eat at least three nutritious meals a day and every other civilian at least two, then publish a report on how food aid is being distributed.
Does H.R. 7565 send more food or money to Gaza?
No. The bill appropriates no money and doesn't order new shipments. It requires the State Department to prove oversight is working and report publicly on how much food is getting through.
What happens if the State Department can't certify the meal standard?
The bill doesn't say. It has no funding cutoff or penalty attached. The consequence is political: Congress would know the certification wasn't made.
Will the public be able to see how much food reaches Gaza?
Yes. Within 30 days of certifying, the State Department has to release a public report on food volumes, how many children and adults are being served, which donors are supplying aid, and how it's distributed.
What if food aid is blocked at the border or stolen?
Each time aid is denied entry into Gaza, diverted, or misused, the State Department must promptly tell Congress the type of aid, the donor, what happened, who was involved, and how the department responded.
What role does Israel have under the bill?
The Government of Israel is one of the parties the State Department must coordinate with, and the department's written report to Congress must describe Israel's role in overseeing food aid in Gaza.
Does the bill involve UNRWA?
Yes. UNRWA is named alongside the World Food Program and other U.N. agencies as a group the oversight systems should be developed with. The bill doesn't provide UNRWA any funding.
Who sponsored H.R. 7565?
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced it on February 12, 2026, with 20 Democratic cosponsors. It was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Based on H.R. 7565 bill text
H.R. 7565 Bill Text
“To ensure sufficient food assistance for the civilian population of Gaza.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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