[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1451 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                    September 24, 2008.
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission 
Establishment Resolution''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TOM LANTOS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the House of Representatives the 
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (hereafter in this resolution referred to as 
the ``Commission''), which shall promote and advocate in a nonpartisan manner, 
both within and outside of Congress, internationally recognized human rights 
norms as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other 
relevant international human rights instruments by carrying out the following 
activities:
            (1) Developing congressional strategies to promote, defend, and 
        advocate internationally recognized human rights norms reflecting the 
        role and responsibilities of the Congress.
            (2) Raising greater awareness among Members of the House of 
        Representatives, their staffs, and the public regarding international 
        human rights violations and developments.
            (3) Providing Members and staff with expert human rights advice and 
        information and by supporting entities of Congress in their work on 
        human rights issues.
            (4) Advocating on behalf of individuals and entities whose 
        internationally recognized human rights have been violated or are in 
        danger of being violated.
            (5) Collaborating closely with other professional staff members of 
        the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
            (6) Collaborating closely with the President, other officials of the 
        executive branch, and recognized national and international human rights 
        entities and nongovernmental organizations in promoting human rights 
        initiatives within Congress.
            (7) Encouraging and supporting Members, especially Members who have 
        been recently elected to the House, to become active in supporting human 
        rights issues so that the United States will continue to be recognized 
        throughout the world as a leader in the defense of internationally 
        recognized human rights norms.
    (b) Eligibility.--Any Member of the House of Representatives may join the 
Commission by submitting a written statement to that effect to the co-chairs of 
the Commission.
    (c) Relationship With Senate.--In carrying out its activities, the 
Commission is encouraged to establish a cooperative working relationship with 
Members and other entities of the Senate, and to invite Members and other 
entities of the Senate to work cooperatively with the Commission to promote 
human rights.
    (d) Definition.--In this resolution, the term ``Member of the House of 
Representatives'' includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.

SEC. 3. CO-CHAIRS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Appointment.--Two members of the Commission shall be appointed to serve 
as co-chairs of the Commission as follows:
            (1) One member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on 
        Foreign Affairs.
            (2) One member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
        House of Representatives after consultation with the ranking minority 
        member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
    (b) Term of Service.--A member's term as co-chair of the Commission shall 
continue throughout the Congress during which the member is appointed as a co-
chair under this section until the member leaves the Commission, resigns from 
the position of co-chair, or is removed pursuant to subsection (c).
    (c) Removal.--The co-chair appointed pursuant to subsection (a)(1) may be 
removed by the Speaker after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, and the co-chair appointed pursuant to subsection (a)(2) may be 
removed by the minority leader after consultation with the ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
    (d) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the position of any of the co-chairs of the 
Commission shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment 
was made.
    (e) Duties.--The co-chairs shall be responsible for setting the general 
agenda of the Commission.

SEC. 4. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall have an Executive Committee which 
shall consist of 8 members of the Commission equally divided between members of 
the majority and minority parties selected jointly by the co-chairs of the 
Commission with the approval of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 
the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
    (b) Vacancy.--A vacancy in the membership of the Executive Committee shall 
be filled in the same manner in which the original selection was made.

SEC. 5. ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

    (a) Use of Committee Staff and Resources.--Subject to subsection (b), the 
Commission shall carry out its duties using the staff and resources of the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, including the use of consultants or temporary 
employees, such as individuals with expertise in human rights issues, related 
legislative matters, and technology systems management, as appropriate.
    (b) Requirements for Staff.--
            (1) Appointment.--The staff of the Committee on Foreign Affairs who 
        may be used by the Commission under subsection (a) to carry out its 
        duties shall be professional staff members of the Committtee who are 
        appointed for this purpose by the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign 
        Affairs, of whom half of the full-time equivalent positions shall be 
        appointed from among a list of individuals presented to the Chairman of 
        the Committee by the co-chair appointed pursuant to section 3(a)(1) and 
        half of the full-time equivalent positions shall be appointed from among 
        a list of individuals presented to the Chairman of the Committee by the 
        co-chair appointed pursuant to section 3(a)(2).
            (2) Special rule for determination of number of committee staff 
        members.--Any professional staff member of the Committee on Foreign 
        Affairs who is used by the Commission to carry out its duties on a full-
        time basis shall not be included in determining the number of 
        professional staff members of the Committee under subparagraphs (1) and 
        (2) of clause 9(a) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
        Representatives.

SEC. 6. OTHER POWERS AND DUTIES.

    (a) Bylaws.--The Commission shall adopt and publish such bylaws to govern 
its organization and operation (including the duties of the Executive Committee) 
as it considers appropriate, subject to the applicable Rules of the House of 
Representatives.
    (b) No Legislative Authority.--The Commission shall not have legislative 
jurisdiction and shall have no authority to take legislative action on any bill 
or resolution.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    In addition to any other amounts made available for salaries and expenses of 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives during a 
Congress, there are authorized to be appropriated from the applicable accounts 
of the House of Representatives such sums as may be necessary for the Committee 
to provide staff and resources for the Commission pursuant to section 5.

SEC. 8. TRANSITION FOR CURRENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS.

    For purposes of this resolution--
            (1) each Member of the House of Representatives who is a member of 
        the Congressional Human Rights Caucus as of the date of the adoption of 
        this resolution shall be deemed to have joined the Commission; and
            (2) the 2 Members of the House of Representatives who are the co-
        chairs of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus as of the date of the 
        adoption of this resolution shall be deemed to have been appointed as 
        co-chairs of the Commission.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.