Evan Anzoo Memorial Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
- Committees
- Foreign Affairs Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jan 27, 2026
Bottom line
The bill requires a detailed report from the Comptroller General to quantify the human cost, including specific named individuals, of a cessation of USAID's international aid services.
What it actually does
This bill, titled the 'Evan Anzoo Memorial Act,' mandates the Comptroller General of the United States to produce a comprehensive report on the human impact of a hypothetical or past cessation of services by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The report must estimate deaths in 2025 and anticipated future deaths over five years due to USAID's stop work order, discontinuation of services, and shuttering. It also specifically requires a determination of whether ten named individuals died as a result of losing access to USAID-provided treatments and services, and a list of any other known individuals who died under similar circumstances.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill is crucial for understanding the profound humanitarian consequences of withdrawing foreign aid. By requiring a detailed accounting of deaths, including specific named victims, proponents believe it will highlight the life-saving importance of USAID's work and serve as a powerful deterrent against future attempts to defund or dismantle such critical agencies. They contend that quantifying these impacts provides essential data for informed policy-making and public awareness.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that while the intent to understand humanitarian impacts is valid, the bill's specific framing, particularly the naming of individuals and direct attribution of deaths to a hypothetical or past USAID cessation, could be seen as politically charged or designed to create a specific narrative rather than a purely objective assessment. Some might also question the feasibility and accuracy of definitively attributing deaths to the absence of specific aid services, especially for future projections, suggesting it could lead to speculative or difficult-to-verify conclusions.
The bill text is very short and straightforward, making it highly accessible for any reader to understand its core purpose and provisions quickly.
Section 2(a)
Final Report on USAID Cessation Impacts
This provision requires the Comptroller General to submit a final report within one year of the bill's enactment. The report must estimate the number of deaths in 2025 and projected deaths over the next five years resulting from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) issuing a stop work order, discontinuing services, or being shuttered. It also mandates a specific determination for ten named individuals, assessing if their deaths were a direct result of losing access to USAID-provided treatments like HIV/AIDS medication, oxygen supply, or malaria treatments. Additionally, the report must list any other known individuals who died due to these circumstances.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue that this provision is essential for holding policymakers accountable for decisions regarding foreign aid. By explicitly naming individuals and requiring a quantitative assessment of lives lost, it provides a stark and undeniable measure of the human cost, making abstract policy debates concrete and personal. This data, they contend, is vital for demonstrating the tangible benefits of international development assistance.
Critics contend
Opponents might argue that while the goal of understanding impacts is laudable, the specific mandate to attribute deaths to a hypothetical or past cessation of services, particularly for named individuals, could be fraught with methodological difficulties and potential for political manipulation. They might contend that definitively proving causation in complex humanitarian crises is challenging and could lead to reports that are more rhetorical than strictly factual.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the desire for clear accountability and a quantitative understanding of humanitarian impact against the inherent complexities of attributing specific deaths to policy changes in diverse and often unstable global environments. It also highlights the tension between objective reporting and the powerful emotional impact of personal stories.
Section 2(b)
Interim Update Requirement
This provision requires the Comptroller General to provide an interim update to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations within 180 days of the bill's enactment. This update should detail the findings gathered up to that point regarding the estimated deaths and specific individual cases outlined in the final report mandate.