3.0.0 3819 2023-01-11T13:42:37Z 2023-01-11T13:42:37Z Senate S 2020-05-21 116 ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee Senate Standing Referred to 2020-05-21T19:28:57Z Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act 116 6986 HR 2020-10-01 Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organization Discharged. Related bill CRS 2020-05-21 ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. IntroReferral 2020-05-21 Introduced in Senate IntroReferral 10000 9 Library of Congress M000133 Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] Edward Markey D MA J. N B001243 Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] Marsha Blackburn R TN 2020-05-21 True C000141 Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] Ben Cardin D MD 2020-05-21 True W000437 Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] Roger Wicker R MS F. 2020-05-21 True M001176 Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] Jeff Merkley D OR 2020-05-21 True Y000064 Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] Todd Young R IN C. 2020-05-21 True M001169 Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] Christopher Murphy D CT S. 2020-05-21 True C001096 Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] Kevin Cramer R ND 2020-05-21 True L000594 Sen. Loeffler, Kelly [R-GA] Kelly Loeffler R GA 2020-05-21 True S001181 Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] Jeanne Shaheen D NH 2020-07-22 False International Affairs Cardiovascular and respiratory health Computer security and identity theft Congressional oversight Detention of persons Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Elections, voting, political campaign regulation Emergency medical services and trauma care Foreign aid and international relief Government information and archives Health care coverage and access Human rights Infectious and parasitic diseases Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information International organizations and cooperation Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Military assistance, sales, and agreements Minority health News media and reporting Racial and ethnic relations Religion Right of privacy Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status Women's rights International Affairs 00 2020-05-21 Introduced in Senate 2021-01-06T22:08:57Z Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act

This bill establishes strategies and reporting requirements related to internationally recognized human rights and COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

Specifically, the bill requires the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to submit (1) a strategy for carrying out programs to support democratic institutions, freedom of the press, civil society, and human rights defenders in countries where government measures in response to COVID-19 violated or undermined internationally recognized human rights; and (2) a five-year strategic plan outlining the steps to address persistent human rights issues in the aftermath of COVID-19.

The bill also conditions the provision of security assistance to a foreign government on consideration of whether the foreign government used emergency laws, policies, or administrative procedures in violation of internationally recognized human rights.

Further, the bill requires the State Department to author initial, monthly, and final reports describing, among other things (1) specified countries' adherence to certain human rights principles in responding to COVID-19, (2) the actions of the U.S. government to address foreign governments' violations of human rights in responding to COVID-19, (3) the impact of such violations on things such as access to health care and the efforts and ability to control the pandemic, and (4) the U.S government's global efforts to counter disinformation and disseminate accurate information about the pandemic.

The bill also requires the inclusion of certain information, such as the misuse and abuse of emergency powers, in the annual country reports on human rights practices.

]]> Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act Display Title Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act Short Title(s) as Introduced Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act Introduced in Senate IS Official Title as Introduced A bill to encourage the protection and promotion of internationally recognized human rights during the novel coronavirus pandemic, and for other purposes. Introduced in Senate IS Introduced in Senate 2020-05-21T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116s3819is/xml/BILLS-116s3819is.xml 2020-05-21 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.