US House Foreign Affairs Committee approves amendments on Armenian POWs and Artsakh

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has reviewed bill H.R.5300, which outlines the State Department’s priorities for 2026. During the session, several amendments related to Armenia and the South Caucasus were approved. These include support for the release of Armenian prisoners of war, protection of religious and cultural heritage, and endorsement of the right of displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh to return. Additionally, a separate initiative was also backed to prepare a detailed report on Turkey’s regional policies and its use of Russian S-400 missile systems.

However, some pro-Armenian proposals were rejected. Among them were efforts to reinstate the ban on US military aid to Azerbaijan and to restrict funding for projects in Turkey until the blockade of Armenia is lifted, and in Azerbaijan until all Armenian POWs are released.

The bill, along with H.R.5299, has now been forwarded to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.