In 2013, legislation was introduced  to remove barriers to humanitarian aid and peacebuilding created by U.S. counterterrorism policy. Known as the Humanitarian Assitance Facilitation Act (HAFA), the bi-partisan legislation, which failed to pass, would have allowed responsible aid organizations to deliver lifesaving assistance to civilians located in areas controlled by terrorist organizations. It also would have allowed for peacebuilding groups to engage with terrorist groups to encourage them to lay down arms.

Learn More About the Original HAFA Legislation

When HAFA was introduced in the House of Representatives in November 2013, 66 organizations (listed below) sent a Joint Statement praising the bill. After that initial statement, 12 additional organizations (seee list below) voiced thier support of HAFA.

In 2015, the HAFA bill was revised for reintroduction in the 114th Congress. The new bill, known as the Humanitarian Assistance and Peacebuilding Protection Act (HAPPA) is garnering support from a wide array of humanitarian and peacebuilding organizations.

Learn More About the New HAPPA Legislation

Additional HAFA Endorsements 

  1. Berghof Foundation
  2. The Carter Center
  3. Collaboration Specialists
  4. Community of Sant’Egidio
  5. Human Rights First
  6. Karuna Center for Peacebuilding
  7. Muslim Legal Fund of America
  8. The Peace Alliance
  9. The Student Peace Alliance
  10. Syrian American Medical Society
  11. Tikva Grassroots Empowerment Fund
  12. Zakat Foundation of America

Original HAFA Endorsements

ACDI/VOCA

Action Against Hunger

Adeso- African Development Solutions

Alliance for Peacebuilding

American Friends Service Committee

American Red Cross

American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa

Baptist World Alliance

Catholic Relief Services

CARE USA

CBM

CDA Collaborative Learning Projects

Charity & Security Network

Church World Service

Conciliation Resources

Constitution Project

Convoy of Hope

Defending Dissent Foundation

Episcopal Relief & Development

Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding

Evangelicals for Social Action

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Genocide Watch

Global Links

Global Ministries of the Christian Church and United Church of Christ

Global Rigths

Good360

Grassroots International

Heifer International

Helen Keller International

HelpAge USA

Human Appeal

Human Rights Watch

InterAction

International Center for Religion and Diplomacy

International Medical Corps

International Rescue Committee

IntraHealth

International Relief & Development

Joint Council on International Children’s Services

KinderUSA

Life for Relief and Development

Lutheran World Relief

Mercy Corps

Operation USA

Oxfam America

Paragon Philanthropy LLC

Project Concern International

Peace Appeal Foundation

Peace Development Fund

Planet Aid

Plan International USA

Refugees International

ReSurge International

Save the Children

STAND

Stop Hunger Now

The USA for UNHCR

The Hunger Project

Trickle Up

UMCOR

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

World Neighbors

World Vision