1.Short
title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Vietnam Human Rights Act of
2008
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purpose.
TITLE I—Prohibition on increased nonhumanitarian assistance to
Vietnam
Sec. 101. Bilateral nonhumanitarian assistance.
TITLE II—Prohibition on generalized system of preferences
authority for Vietnam
Sec. 201. Prohibition on generalized system of
preferences.
TITLE III—Assistance to support freedom, human rights, and the
rule of law in Vietnam
Sec. 301. Assistance.
TITLE IV—United States public diplomacy
Sec. 401. Sense of Congress on diplomacy with the Government of
Vietnam.
Sec. 402. Radio Free Asia transmissions to Vietnam.
Sec. 403. United States educational and cultural exchange
programs with Vietnam.
TITLE V—United States refugee policy
Sec. 501. Refugee resettlement for nationals of
Vietnam.
TITLE VI—Annual report on progress toward freedom, human rights,
and the rule of law in Vietnam
Sec. 601. Annual report.
2.The Senate finds the following:
(1)The bilateral
relationship between the United States and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
has grown exponentially during the past 12 years, with more than
$12,000,000,000 in trade between the United States and Vietnam in 2007.
(2)The Government of
Vietnam’s transition toward greater economic freedom and trade has not been
matched by comparable improvements in basic human rights for Vietnamese
citizens, including freedom of expression, information, association, assembly,
and religion.
(3)Despite
assurances that Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization would be
met with greater respect for human rights, the Government of Vietnam has
continued to strictly regulate some religious practices and to imprison an
undetermined number of individuals for their peaceful advocacy of political
views or religious beliefs.
(4)Since Vietnam’s
accession to the World Trade Organization on January 11, 2007, the Communist
Party of Vietnam has moved to suppress perceived challenges to its rule by
arresting dozens of democracy and human rights activists, independent trade
union leaders, underground publishers, journalists, bloggers, members of ethnic
minorities, and unsanctioned religious groups.
(5)The Government of
Vietnam has also failed to improve labor rights, continues to arrest and harass
labor leaders, and restricts the right to organize independently.
(6)According to the
2008 Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious
Freedom, Vietnam’s overall human rights record remains very poor and in
fact has deteriorated since [January 2007] . . . More than 30 legal and
political reform advocates, free speech activists, labor unionists, and
independent religious leaders and religious freedom advocates were arrested in
2007, placed under home detention or surveillance, threatened, intimidated,
and/or harassed.
.
(7)The continued
expansion of the relationship between the Government of Vietnam and the
Government of the United States should be matched by significant improvement in
human rights for Vietnamese citizens, particularly those enshrined in the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Vietnam is a
signatory.
3.The purpose of this Act is to promote the
development of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law in Vietnam.
<enum>I</enum><header>Prohibition on
increased nonhumanitarian assistance to Vietnam</header>
<section id="ID3df4a3621f064eaeb7922ee12f78488d"><enum>101.</enum><header>Bilateral
nonhumanitarian assistance</header>
<subsection id="ID934a936843bd4af4bd4aece5a6485803"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance</header>
<paragraph id="ID4fecc55c1f5447079fa9fd9b36c48fbf"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Except as provided under subsection (b), the Federal
Government may not provide the Government of Vietnam with nonhumanitarian
development, trade, economic, and security assistance during any fiscal year
that exceeds the amount of such assistance provided during fiscal year 2008
unless—</text>
<subparagraph id="idE6CACD48CCF04B81815A2455A08BE41C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Federal
Government provides assistance, in addition to the assistance authorized under
section 301(c), supporting the creation and facilitation of human rights
training, civil society capacity building, noncommercial rule of law
programming, and exchange programs between the Vietnamese National Assembly and
the United States Congress (referred to in this section as <quote>additional
human rights programming</quote>) at levels commensurate with, or exceeding,
any increases in nonhumanitarian development, trade, economic, and security
assistance programming to Vietnam;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id06059B72FD794E1C96E02A46F4034496"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to
the limitation for fiscal year 2009, the President determines and certifies to
Congress, not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
that the requirements under subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (2) have
been met during the 12-month period ending on the date of the certification;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7de57245a1a24180aa2749dcfd5e0500"><enum>(C)</enum><text>with respect to
the limitation for subsequent fiscal years, the President determines and
certifies to Congress, in the most recent annual report submitted pursuant to
section 501, that the requirements under subparagraphs (A) through (F) of
paragraph (2) have been met during the 12-month period covered by the
report.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID9d6b3b6abb74472b8d4de41ea01d3a5b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The
requirements of this paragraph are met if—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID1a871de83fb34cd5aaf722805d08e522"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward releasing all political and
religious prisoners from imprisonment, house arrest, and other forms of
detention;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5697087a72514a43833f9dd22904ad88"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward—</text>
<clause id="idE8ED33677BAD4C0EB709502BF5838378"><enum>(i)</enum><text>respecting the
right to the freedom of expression, assembly, and association, including the
release of independent journalists, bloggers, democracy, and labor
activists;</text>
</clause><clause id="id5E7E854DA958481F86118F20018D066B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>repealing or
revising laws that criminalize peaceful dissent, independent media,
unsanctioned religious activity, and nonviolent demonstrations and rallies, in
accordance with international standards and treaties to which Vietnam is a
party;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDa2dedc45aeab48fa815e1dca9d85a875"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>respecting the
right to the freedom of religion, including the right to participate in
religious activities and institutions without inference, harassment, or
involvement of the Government, for all of Vietnam’s diverse religious
communities, including the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, Catholics,
Protestants, Hoa Hao Buddhism, CaoDai, Khmer Buddhists, and other religious
communities; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idBDE5402CF44C42DAA3ABC37A46881FF9"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>returning
estates and properties confiscated from Vietnam’s religious communities;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0087e7e55ce24b1c96879205cdd6e860"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward allowing Vietnamese nationals free
and open access to United States refugee programs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3042c85023334f6cab8e3bc17c112db2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward granting its citizens the right to
travel outside Vietnam without significant restriction;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID6823b88adc4a4c349902da5978a99996"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward protecting the human rights,
language, culture, land rights, and religion of all ethnic and minority groups;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID67ddf65080ec4689a475ebe9b34d153f"><enum>(F)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id5D328E80E966443ABD65E750312BC704"><enum>(i)</enum><text>no official of the
Government of Vietnam and no agency or entity wholly or partly owned by the
Government of Vietnam was complicit in a severe form of trafficking in persons;
or</text>
</clause><clause id="id98056D4B8F9840F1A5FF850CB83A0E89" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Government of Vietnam took all
appropriate steps to end any such complicity and hold any official, agency, or
entity responsible for such complicity fully accountable for such
conduct.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID648688ea11ba415cb46c86e759e74ed1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exception</header>
<paragraph id="ID02058b28fafc4d64b4148250154d6efd"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Continuation of
assistance in the national interest</header><text>If the Government of Vietnam
fails to meet the requirements under subsection (a)(2), the President may waive
the application of subsection (a) for any fiscal year if the President
determines that increased nonhumanitarian assistance to the Government of
Vietnam—</text>
<subparagraph id="idADA0BF02347C41B1958E15FBC5E16D87"><enum>(A)</enum><text>would promote the
purposes of this Act; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD4154FAB3E7B43B3A454EDE7680D920F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is otherwise in
the national interest of the United States.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID86e50b4f354f4c34bb8b85c6775ebbd4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exercise of
waiver authority</header><text>The President may exercise the authority under
paragraph (1) with respect to—</text>
<subparagraph id="id098D89BE03924BE595E816ACAB1C563D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all United States
nonhumanitarian assistance to Vietnam; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1409E6CB572A4A99AF253ED8B00DD576"><enum>(B)</enum><text>1 or more
programs, projects, or activities of such assistance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID547086a7f9ac485ebffc6e9dbafff303"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="IDc90780c194b6451d8b7395150463201e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Severe forms of
trafficking in persons</header><text>The term <term>severe forms of trafficking
in persons</term> has the meaning given the term in section 103(8) of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–386 (114 Stat.
1470); 22 U.S.C. 7102(8)).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8f932fd06e3f4094ba5837fb2fbfcacd"><enum>(2)</enum><header>United states
nonhumanitarian assistance</header><text>The term <term>United States
nonhumanitarian assistance</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID59b4a0b4cc6d480b903edfa38933bc83"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any assistance
authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.),
including programs under title IV of chapter 2 of part I of such Act relating
to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, except for—</text>
<clause id="ID2ac578ca61464215ab4f280e63b7551f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>disaster relief
assistance, including any assistance under chapter 9 of part I of such
Act;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDeb46b7ba494a487ab73a198d2372df5b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>assistance which
involves the provision of food (including monetization of food), health care,
or medicine;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDec91cae37bff4ba790699cdaf6ca7a95"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>assistance for
refugees; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID7f016b6c3c2d449f8457394b960b7ea8"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>assistance to
combat HIV/AIDS, including any assistance under section 104A of such Act;
and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDf668138256a64f4ea6bee6912ffb5e64"><enum>(B)</enum><text>sales, or
financing on any terms, authorized under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C.
2751 et seq.).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Prohibition on
generalized system of preferences authority for Vietnam</header>
<section id="ID5a75a3a9362f4b8cbc8aebc1e06a7089"><enum>201.</enum><header>Prohibition on
generalized system of preferences</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The President may not provide duty-free
treatment for eligible articles from Vietnam under title V of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) until the President determines and certifies to
Congress that the Government of Vietnam—</text>
<paragraph id="id0F0F6E107D274F8F9AA9DF14B325D5C9"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">fully protects the freedom of association,
in law and in practice; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id069641EF886F457B8DFCB8CB6B035D9A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">does not engage in or condone serious
violations of the rights of workers, including the detention, harassment, or
arrest of labor activists or individuals who write, speak, or otherwise
disseminate information relating to labor rights.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Assistance to
support freedom, human rights, and the rule of law in Vietnam</header>
<section id="IDd7a72d707392468ca588045a4953d916"><enum>301.</enum><header>Assistance</header>
<subsection id="ID4929a936206944199caf53b0538423ae"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The President is authorized to provide assistance,
through appropriate nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights
Defenders Fund, for the support of individuals and organizations to promote
internationally recognized human rights in Vietnam.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2F27AE7B00514CD3B73322D669F727BE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Financial
assistance authorized under this section may only be provided to an individual,
organization, or entity that officially opposes the use of violence and
terrorism.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDe356ae6eb1d14df7af68e1120325df62"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the
President—</text>
<paragraph id="id682EDF11FA3849A6B697C98BF48C9B22"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$2,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id67B79FBF26B849D0B3747395C55CDBE5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any additional
amounts that may be needed to carry out the provisions described in section
101(a)(1)(A).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>United States
public diplomacy</header>
<section id="idF0C89288E87940EB970939E8FF828175"><enum>401.</enum><header>Sense of
Congress on diplomacy with the Government of Vietnam</header>
<subsection id="ID5febda848107485b93e547bdc88f3b93"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that in diplomatic
discussions with the Government of Vietnam, including at the United
States-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue and other strategic dialogues in which
officials of the Department of State participates or initiates with
representatives of the Government of Vietnam, that such officials shall seek
substantial progress by the Government of Vietnam toward—</text>
<paragraph id="IDfd0317b2ff314a9fa63fc142995afa68"><enum>(1)</enum><text>releasing all
those detained or restricted by the Government of Vietnam because of the
expression of their views or the practice of their faith;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDfda957f7f0e04853b2daac32acb65282"><enum>(2)</enum><text>fully respecting
the right to freedom of religion and the right of all religious groups and
adherents, including those choosing not to join or affiliate with
government-organized oversight committees, to—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7BFB7183EDA54A8DAF8268FE05CF3C40"><enum>(A)</enum><text>legally operate
without government restrictions; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id46D4909EE1E449B9B974072BAE9E5995"><enum>(B)</enum><text>participate in
religious activities and institutions without interference by, or the
involvement of, the Government of Vietnam;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDa63b0ec767b24acd8064cf8f43d6ae96"><enum>(3)</enum><text>returning all
estates and properties confiscated by the Government of Vietnam from churches
and religious institutions in Vietnam;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDdffb6b9c05b049319dc4597819765882"><enum>(4)</enum><text>allowing
Vietnamese nationals free and open access to United States refugee
programs;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDa8698f3194e841ce81ecd97942c6867d"><enum>(5)</enum><text>respecting the
human rights of members of all ethnic minority groups, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="idD3DC52D8A1DD4AF39BF2B8193FB0E0E0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>language
instruction;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEB0C126F03BE42459578FA77B308A063"><enum>(B)</enum><text>cultural
preservation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC2B7FCA470CE4C888BE10358330C0C7E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>religious
freedom;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id593476D78F8E492D985D43B03A96B5BD"><enum>(D)</enum><text>land rights;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id71A112B046854143842C2C60D1B8D6C5"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the freedom of
assembly;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID533e2fb64e4b4aab85945f27c7c1fcfe"><enum>(6)</enum><text>respecting the
freedom of association, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="id194413B969514DCCBE02AF97B9A00C57"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protecting the
rights of independent labor activists;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA9FDCB01DC274DE7AEA9ABC00CBE2AE4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>removing
prohibitions on workers forming or joining independent labor unions; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8C2FAB4FFED34FF1B56F955200590C01"><enum>(C)</enum><text>not engaging in
or condoning serious violations of the rights of workers;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDd26f497c7a5f44dbbd1b9f5eb3721470"><enum>(7)</enum><text>respecting the
freedom of expression, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="idF07CA6211D4A4DD194283D369087AE20"><enum>(A)</enum><text>repealing or
revising laws, decrees, and ordinances that limit such freedom;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0A4D743ADAE34D0A886A4D19ADDF7C1A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>authorizing the
publication of independent, privately-run newspapers and magazines;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1483ACB3829641438FA962558E518A70"><enum>(C)</enum><text>removing
filtering, surveillance, and other restrictions on internet usage; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1555E964218F40158B3BC4FF37123C2F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>respecting the
right to peaceful dissemination of opinions and views over the Internet;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID1db11e68d3314f048747c3ad140519f5"><enum>(8)</enum><text>revising laws,
ordinances, and decrees that contradict the standards of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="idB94077775FFD47C884540C1EEB8D4210"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protections for
the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and the
freedom of religion; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id81268D7F7A1B45BF9D022A27C7B434EB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the right to
legal representation and a fair trial;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID1cae2d8e230a4ab1b66d8e38c5cba70f"><enum>(9)</enum><text>repealing
provisions in Vietnamese law that criminalize peaceful dissent, independent
media, unsanctioned religious activity, and non-violent demonstrations and
rallies, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="idAB355E0B67624F0E8400173FFD5DC595"><enum>(A)</enum><text>vague national
security provisions in Vietnam’s Criminal Code, such as article 80 (spying),
article 87 (undermining the unity policy), article 88 (anti-government
propaganda), article 89 (disrupting security), article 245 (causing public
disorder), and article 258 (abusing democratic rights to infringe upon national
interests); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE484C21065B747A8A7FB3F74B45EB479"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Ordinance 44,
which authorizes the involuntary commitment of persons deemed to have violated
national security laws to social protection centers, rehabilitation camps, or
mental institutions without judicial process; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDef3f719defd545eaa6baac4311009f15"><enum>(10)</enum><text>ensuring that
the Government of Vietnam—</text>
<subparagraph id="id8A62FE90A7624784B0577A0D394B705B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>hold government
officials, agencies, and entities that violate the human rights of persons in
Vietnam accountable under the law; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB60FB488A360432F961736FC383A3DE3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide
appropriate measures to investigate, discipline, and punish such officials,
agencies, and entities.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID420fd9db13cc4013b18030279880fad4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation
required</header><text>The Secretary of State shall develop strategies for
reaching the objectives described in subsection (a) through consultation
with—</text>
<paragraph id="id9E5F734CAF2A4D08B6C8EFA8E307AE9C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Vietnamese-American
groups;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF90345940E9848FD8A136127152F531B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>representatives
from the Khmer, Montagnard, and Hmong communities;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idFE7A5C79271C46E384A09D895841C654"><enum>(3)</enum><text>human rights
organizations, including international human rights organizations; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1CDF0768D9A94A50B27F49887468CBB6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID42a2d70e495e4bceb8cbc2822f228420"><enum>402.</enum><header>Radio Free
Asia transmissions to Vietnam</header>
<subsection id="ID2f49985f59b24d85a058cab027e52376"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Policy of the
United States</header><text>It is the policy of the United States to take such
measures as may be necessary to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the
Government of Vietnam.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID9e48e706d54d42b9b1d5918e0a46b5d7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>In addition to such amounts as are otherwise
authorized to be appropriated for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, there
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the policy described in
subsection (a)—</text>
<paragraph id="id66E6777307184593A2E778AE47A8A111"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$9,100,000 for
fiscal year 2009; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idDEFB3C9B6480427B8E32C0AEFFCBF5F8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$1,100,000 for
fiscal year 2010.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID8ef0b23b809547d8934096eddb265b04"><enum>403.</enum><header>United States
educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the policy of the United States that
programs of educational and cultural exchange with Vietnam should actively
promote progress toward freedom in Vietnam by—</text>
<paragraph id="id4EC0E387A0E8441496F721A02D2FD78A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">providing opportunities to Vietnamese
nationals from a wide range of occupations and perspectives to see freedom,
human rights, and the rule of law in action; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5C1BF1B04535445D880B9470A5E30188"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensuring that Vietnamese nationals who have
already demonstrated a commitment to such values are included in such
programs.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>V</enum><header>United States
refugee policy</header>
<section id="IDab94a7b6c6c04923b021da5e12c9cb0b"><enum>501.</enum><header>Refugee
resettlement for nationals of Vietnam</header>
<subsection id="ID19ed54c268664f89a9a7a5c624ac3e27"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Policy of the
United States</header><text>It is the policy of the United States to offer
refugee resettlement to nationals of Vietnam (including members of the
Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Humanitarian
Resettlement Program, the Orderly Departure Program, Resettlement Opportunities
for Vietnamese Returnees Program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any
other United States refugee program and who were deemed ineligible due to
administrative error or who for reasons beyond the control of such individuals
(including insufficient or contradictory information or the inability to pay
bribes demanded by officials of the Government of Vietnam) were unable or
failed to apply for such programs in compliance with deadlines imposed by the
Department of State.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID30e21d3c0ee84cb4b6af1512c7dcec06"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorized
activities</header><text>Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to the
Department of State for Migration and Refugee Assistance for each of the fiscal
years 2009, 2010, and 2011, such sums as may be necessary shall be made
available for the protection (including resettlement, as appropriate) of
Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers, including Montagnards in
Cambodia.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Annual report on
progress toward freedom, human rights, and the rule of law in Vietnam</header>
<section id="IDca7539348c13456b94aee336e2b71ff4"><enum>601.</enum><header>Annual
report</header>
<subsection id="ID18db2e5df3814ebba05a250a2f0dd9fe"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and every 12 months thereafter, the Secretary of State shall
submit a report to Congress that contains—</text>
<paragraph id="ID7f6adf0abdc247fba177ad123be9a38b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a description of
the programs established to meet the additional human rights programming
requirements described in section 101(a)(1);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9df3d3106e73400f9c30b2d9901f18e5"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7B4D39599F1848B19C6B73D542252B05"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the determination and
certification of the President that the requirements of subparagraphs (A)
through (E) of section 101(a)(2) have been met, if applicable; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA95F34FD3CA1470DA854FB6875CC2E32" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the determination of the President
under section 101(b)(1), if applicable;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDa0dc41df548345939934079de19c35fc"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the steps taken
to achieve the objectives described in section 401(a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID009cced65880438d8ac97022273a453e"><enum>(4)</enum><text>a description of
the efforts by the United States Government to secure transmission sites for
Radio Free Asia in countries in close geographical proximity to Vietnam, in
accordance with section 301(a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID52d92bd966ae49f28db123d0d49a7822"><enum>(5)</enum><text>a description of
the efforts to ensure that programs with Vietnam promote the policy described
in section 302 of this Act and in section 105 of the Human Rights, Refugee, and
Other Foreign Policy Provisions Act of 1996, regarding participation in
programs of educational and cultural exchange;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb0f6c154fddc4cf29b1c305e0ccce50c"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the steps taken
to carry out the policy described in section 402(a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDbe10f757f98c49f49a310b5d9f320b96"><enum>(7)</enum><text>lists of persons
believed to be imprisoned, detained, placed under house arrest, tortured, or
otherwise persecuted by the Government of Vietnam due to their pursuit of
internationally recognized human rights, which is compiled by the Secretary
with appropriate discretion, including concerns regarding the safety and
security of, and benefit to, the persons who may be included on the lists and
their families;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id79092AC9954A4666B9D4297A96A693BB"><enum>(8)</enum><text>a list of the
persons and their families described in paragraph (7) who may qualify for
protections under United States refugee programs; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID02f7d4afe73d4584b01faac328e44e03"><enum>(9)</enum><text>a description of
the development of the rule of law in Vietnam, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDa2f257fdfcd344d3a9bac9be97d2b35b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>progress made
toward the development of institutions of democratic governance in
Vietnam;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID4a4bf595d0b44272b13d732f40e29458"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the processes by
which statutes, regulations, rules, and other legal acts of the Government of
Vietnam are developed and become binding within Vietnam;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID4b207e76bd534c2282e337f069730b22"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the extent to
which statutes, regulations, rules, administrative and judicial decisions, and
other legal acts of the Government of Vietnam are published and are made
accessible to the public;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID023bf42893b044178c7addddcd69d843"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the extent to
which administrative and judicial decisions are supported by statements of
reasons based upon written statutes, regulations, rules, and other legal acts
of the Government of Vietnam;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDda649ab42bb242acb31f55ea65f3ded7"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the extent to
which individuals are treated equally under the laws of Vietnam without regard
to citizenship, race, religion, political opinion, or current or former
associations;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDd83ba09350fc4d6a9caeb8c9e05d5041"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the extent to
which administrative and judicial decisions are independent of political
pressure or governmental interference and are reviewed by entities of appellate
jurisdiction; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID687bd3849cb84cc884b6974fe41d8b14"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the extent to
which laws in Vietnam are written and administered in ways that are consistent
with international human rights standards, including the requirements of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID1a871ea950954ef59db5e49b7a208c45"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contacts With
Other Organizations</header><text>In preparing the report under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id1BA4840989424D96B1273EB6BEF9BEBF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>seek out and
maintain contacts with nongovernmental organizations and human rights advocates
(including Vietnamese-Americans and human rights advocates in Vietnam), as
appropriate;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF2989A91CA6243EEB1E1B9548EBFABED"><enum>(2)</enum><text>receive reports
and updates from such organizations and evaluate such reports; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id12B8EC2863D84003B3EDE3A48AAD9552"><enum>(3)</enum><text>seek to consult
with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom for
appropriate sections of the report.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>