1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Vietnam Human Rights Act of
2009
.
(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
the Government of 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 democracy in Vietnam
Sec. 301. Assistance.
Title IV—United States public diplomacy
Sec. 401. Radio Free Asia transmissions to Vietnam.
Sec. 402. 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 and democracy
in Vietnam
Sec. 601. Annual report.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)The relationship between the United States
and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has grown substantially since the end of
the trade embargo in 1994, with annual trade between the 2 countries reaching
over $15,200,000,000 in 2008.
(2)The Government of
Vietnam’s transition toward greater economic freedom and trade has not been
matched by greater political freedom and substantial improvements in basic
human rights for Vietnamese citizens, including freedom of religion,
expression, association, and assembly.
(3)The United States
Congress agreed to Vietnam becoming an official member of the World Trade
Organization in 2006, amidst assurances that the Government of Vietnam was
steadily improving its human rights record and would continue to do so.
(4)Vietnam remains a
one-party state, ruled and controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV),
which continues to deny the right of citizens to change their government.
(5)Although in recent
years the National Assembly of Vietnam has played an increasingly active role
as a forum for highlighting local concerns, corruption, and inefficiency, the
National Assembly remains subject to the direction of the CPV and the CPV
maintains control over the selection of candidates in national and local
elections.
(6)The Government of
Vietnam forbids public challenge to the legitimacy of the one-party state,
restricts freedoms of opinion, the press, and association and tightly limits
access to the Internet and telecommunication.
(7)Since Vietnam’s
accession to the WTO on January 11, 2007, the Government of Vietnam arbitrarily
arrested and imprisoned several individuals for their peaceful advocacy of
democracy, including Father Nguyen Van Ly and human rights lawyers Nguyen Van
Dai and Le Thi Cong Nhan.
(8)The Government of
Vietnam continues to detain, imprison, place under house arrest, convict, or
otherwise restrict persons for the peaceful expression of dissenting political
or religious views.
(9)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.
(10)The Government of
Vietnam continues to limit freedom of religion and restrict the operation of
religious organizations.
(11)Despite reported
progress in church openings and legal registrations of religious venues, the
Government of Vietnam has halted most positive actions since the Department of
State lifted the country of particular concern
(CPC) designation
for Vietnam in November 2006.
(12)Unregistered
ethnic minority Protestant congregations suffer severe abuses because of
actions by the Government of Vietnam, which have included forced renunciations
of faith, arrest and harassment, the withholding of social programs provided
for the general population, confiscation and destruction of property, and
subjection to severe beatings.
(13)During a peaceful
Catholic prayer vigil for the return of government confiscated church
properties, protestors were dispersed after being harassed, some were detained,
and some of the property was destroyed. Catholics continue to face some
restrictions on selection of clergy, the establishment of seminaries and
seminary candidates, and restrictions on individual cases of travel and church
registration.
(14)The Unified
Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) suffers persecutions as the Government of
Vietnam continues to restrict contacts and movement of senior UBCV clergy for
refusing to join the state sponsored Buddhist organizations, the Government
restricts expression and assembly, and the Government continues to harass and
threaten UBCV monks, nuns, and youth leaders.
(15)The Government of
Vietnam continues to suppress the activities of other religious adherents,
including Cao Dai and Hoa Hao who lack official recognition or have chosen not
to affiliate with the state-sanctioned groups, including through the use of
detention and imprisonment.
(16)During Easter
weekend in April 2004, thousands of Montagnards gathered to protest their
treatment by the Government of Vietnam, including the confiscation of tribal
lands and ongoing restrictions on religious activities. Credible reports
indicate that the protests were met with violent response as many demonstrators
were arrested, injured, went into hiding, and that others were killed. Many of
these Montagnards are still serving long sentences for their involvement in
peaceful demonstrations in 2001 and 2004. Government officials continue to
severely restrict Montagnard movement and prohibit them from seeking asylum in
Cambodia.
(17)Ethnic minority
Hmong in the Northwest Highlands of Vietnam also suffer restrictions, abuses,
and persecution by the Government of Vietnam, and although the Government is
now allowing some Hmong Protestants to organize and conduct religious activity,
some government officials continue to deny or ignore additional applications
for registration.
(18)On February 8,
2007, the Government of Vietnam arrested and defrocked several ethnic Khmer
Buddhists in response to a peaceful religious protest. The Government continues
to restrict Khmer Krom expression, assembly, association, and controls all
religious organizations and prohibits most peaceful protests.
(19)The Government of
Vietnam controls all print and electronic media, including access to the
Internet, jams the signals of some foreign radio stations, including Radio Free
Asia, and has detained and imprisoned individuals who have posted, published,
sent, or otherwise distributed democracy-related materials.
(20)People arrested
in Vietnam because of their political or religious affiliations and activities
often are not accorded due legal process as they lack full access to lawyers of
their choice, may experience closed trials, have often been detained for years
without trial, and have been subjected to the use of torture to admit crimes
they did not commit or to falsely denounce their own leaders.
(21)Vietnam continues to be a source country
for the commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor of women and girls, for
men and women legally entering into international labor contracts who
subsequently face conditions of debt bondage or forced labor, and is a
destination country for child trafficking and continues to have internal human
trafficking.
(22)Although the Government of Vietnam is
making progress in combating human trafficking, it does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
(23)United States
refugee resettlement programs, including the Humanitarian Resettlement (HR)
Program, the Orderly Departure Program (ODP), Resettlement Opportunities for
Vietnamese Returnees (ROVR) Program, general resettlement of boat people from
refugee camps throughout Southeast Asia, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988,
and the Priority One Refugee resettlement category have helped rescue
Vietnamese nationals who have suffered persecution on account of their
associations with the United States as well as Vietnamese nationals who have
been persecuted because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or
membership in a particular social group.
(24)While previous
programs have served their purposes well, a significant number of eligible
refugees from Vietnam were unfairly denied or excluded, including Amerasians,
in some cases by vindictive or corrupt Vietnamese officials who controlled
access to the programs, and in others by United States personnel who imposed
unduly restrictive interpretations of program criteria. In addition, the
Government of Vietnam has denied passports to persons who the United States has
found eligible for refugee admission.
(25)Congress has
passed numerous resolutions condemning human rights abuses in Vietnam,
indicating that although there has been an expansion of relations with the
Government of Vietnam, it should not be construed as approval of the ongoing
and serious violations of fundamental human rights in Vietnam.
(26)Enhancement of
relations between the United States and Vietnam has proved an opportunity for a
human rights dialogue and could lead to future progress on human rights issues
in Vietnam.
3.The purpose of this Act is to promote the
development of freedom and democracy in Vietnam.
<enum>I</enum><header>Prohibition on
increased nonhumanitarian assistance to the Government of Vietnam</header>
<section id="H6B345184C6924A189E832BFBCB5ECF84"><enum>101.</enum><header>Bilateral
nonhumanitarian assistance</header>
<subsection id="H81CDC0F293374685B10DCA70FDE34A14"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assistance</header>
<paragraph id="HDAF07A4C55834BB4B13B2846BE20D52D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in
subsection (b), the Federal Government may not provide nonhumanitarian
assistance to the Government of Vietnam during any fiscal year in an amount
that exceeds the amount of such assistance provided during fiscal year 2009
unless—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7BA3C5BC2B5F4191B1809084C5CC1CC4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Federal Government provides assistance,
in addition to the assistance authorized under section 301(b), 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 at levels
commensurate with, or exceeding, any increases in nonhumanitarian assistance to
Vietnam;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H212B1484A1B946D9A145EF217C30F2B8"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to the limitation for fiscal
year 2010, the President determines and certifies to Congress, not later than
30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, that the requirements of
subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (2) have been met during the
12-month period ending on the date of the certification; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H07A6C6C6AA38411E83DF2DC4C4D534BA"><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 601, that the requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (G) of
paragraph (2) have been met during the 12-month period covered by the
report.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1B59E8ED54FC4621BE4D723ED2F0E6B1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The
requirements of this paragraph are the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="H11B44940A71E4743A3262054AD5905C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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="H8B66309FF8044515ABA9A7E1ADA1941B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward—</text>
<clause id="HBE70000E70684B3D8F6923CD36DCBFBF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>respecting the
right to freedom of religion, including the right to participate in religious
activities and institutions without interference, harassment, or involvement of
the Government, for all of Vietnam’s diverse religious communities; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2E9FD627E524421B860E5F50D2035184"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>returning estates
and properties confiscated from the churches and religious communities.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB462530A4D5045CE9B63A40C41F74F3D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward respecting the right to freedom of
expression, assembly, and association, including the release of independent
journalists, bloggers, and democracy and labor activists.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H741A79A2C99D4D35863159336E895FDD"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward 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>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBFA5C8FF1EEC4C50B21A8F54F1EFFB6F"><enum>(E)</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="H117D35A8E87442298A6153DE7C84B022"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The Government of
Vietnam has made substantial progress toward respecting the human rights of
members of all ethnic and minority groups.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H296936DA5E654EEDB2CA59020DE624B7"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Neither any
official of the Government of Vietnam nor any agency or entity wholly or partly
owned by the Government of Vietnam was complicit in a severe form of
trafficking in persons, or the Government of Vietnam took all appropriate steps
to end any such complicity and hold such official, agency, or entity fully
accountable for its conduct.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1EB7023CE2254A47AE29248965303AE4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exception</header>
<paragraph id="HB421F14DF76F40E7A243BFE1BE27A5D0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Continuation of
assistance in the national interest</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding the failure of the
Government of Vietnam to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(2), the
President may waive the application of subsection (a) for any fiscal year if
the President determines that the provision to the Government of Vietnam of
increased nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purpose of this Act or
is otherwise in the national interest of the United States.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE137F9113B334F4A97CE60D76E45CCAF"><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="H984343348C7941D682656C29077B769D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all United States
nonhumanitarian assistance to Vietnam; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7E229D41CF594AAEA58BEE6D8D23DE77"><enum>(B)</enum><text>one or more
programs, projects, or activities of such assistance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7DC8A08DE08840C58AFE1C5A5C5CA18A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H0402DC4E29E14A289BA6F0A8F3C27EC9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Nonhumanitarian
assistance</header><text>The term <term>nonhumanitarian assistance</term>
means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7D8F1D502C134285990E3CEBA2FD9452"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any assistance
under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (including programs under title IV of
chapter 2 of part I of that Act, relating to the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation), other than—</text>
<clause id="H3F536B3CCBEB478A960ACD66078A29AE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>disaster relief
assistance, including any assistance under chapter 9 of part I of that
Act;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE5FEC30B845C483EADB8FCAAB5259E11"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>assistance which
involves the provision of food (including monetization of food) or
medicine;</text>
</clause><clause id="H58EE1812A78446E6ADDA221A64AC356C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>assistance for
refugees; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H67247951401D41E6B46A9BA2078A4606"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assistance to combat HIV/AIDS, including
any assistance under section 104A of that Act; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD57446C2D9614EBB94680532395C3BEF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>sales, or
financing on any terms, under the Arms Export Control Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFF44840584E84B16BC1E83463F88ECA1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Severe forms of
trafficking in persons</header><text>The term <term>severe form of trafficking
in persons</term> means any activity described 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></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Prohibition on
Generalized System of Preferences authority for Vietnam</header>
<section id="H9CBB9D498A314A27893098D77B1BBB91"><enum>201.</enum><header>Prohibition on
Generalized System of Preferences</header>
<subsection id="H6B95879DEB894CF4B22ACAF12C01A3C5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text display-inline="yes-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 meets the requirements described in
subsection (b).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HAAB838CD48A64AE2B501F8BDD9D8BCC2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The
requirements described in this subsection are the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HDE409CCE8FE349DB86805D75323F5D7D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Government of
Vietnam fully protects the freedom of association, in law and practice.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H15062B4713F54572AD1C9ED5DCFC8824"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Government of
Vietnam 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></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Assistance to
support democracy in Vietnam</header>
<section id="HD042D0379398420FB60B7A4C7A140F6C"><enum>301.</enum><header>Assistance</header>
<subsection id="H1CA1492D00124C258395E5B617C14CCB"><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="H7038838E0E934C8BAFCCEC4B52EEA208"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the
President to carry out subsection (a) $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2010 and 2011.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>United States
public diplomacy</header>
<section id="HA981502E725C47B082E9701BCBE06E9E"><enum>401.</enum><header>Radio Free Asia
transmissions to Vietnam</header>
<subsection id="HED3CE58A626549AB9C42EFD4DF58BA1F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Policy of the
united states</header><text>It is the policy of the United States to take such
measures as are necessary to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the
Government of Vietnam.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H515775651F944427BF18DD7BF1A139B2"><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 under subsection (a)
$12,5000,000 for the fiscal year 2010 and $2,500,000 for fiscal year
2011.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HF5ED9C0AE5AD43BF999B80E87E276D3C"><enum>402.</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 and democracy in Vietnam by providing
opportunities to Vietnamese nationals from a wide range of occupations and
perspectives to see freedom and democracy in action and, also, by ensuring that
Vietnamese nationals who have already demonstrated a commitment to these values
are included in such programs.</text>
</section><enum>V</enum><header>United States
refugee policy</header>
<section id="H09A554401A1F424FB676F54E7A1D4F6E"><enum>501.</enum><header>Refugee
resettlement for nationals of Vietnam</header>
<subsection id="HE2C35832A5E642CAA395E2073F42108C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Policy of the
united states</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 Orderly Departure Program (ODP), the Humanitarian Resettlement
(HR) Program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees (ROVR)
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="HD08865309D9E479F8CE86DE69C59110E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorized
activity</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 2010, 2011, and 2012, such sums as may be necessary are authorized to be
made available for the protection (including resettlement in appropriate cases)
of Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers, including Montagnards and ethnic
Khmer in Cambodia and Thailand.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Annual report on
progress toward freedom and democracy in Vietnam</header>
<section id="HBD0FB7F2547449BB98DD6EDE1D3C7ADC"><enum>601.</enum><header>Annual
report</header>
<subsection id="H1C9F7ADB182B43518A2AABB29A1DDFE0"><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
to the Congress a report on the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H25771B05554044B1B8E55F1D6052C18D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The determination
and certification of the President that the requirements of subparagraphs (A)
through (G) of section 101(a)(2) have been met, if applicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8E8A7D54F5054CEFB65A21C4467C53FC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Steps taken to
carry out section 101(a)(1)(A), if applicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8EB66BC0D7054CB7B38C0802B0BF9A30"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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
401(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H559D118848104C35990560AECF84D6D4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Efforts to ensure
that programs with Vietnam promote the policy set forth in section 402 and with
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="HDA85ABE5DD6642CCB0BB9E9B3384A45D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Steps taken to
carry out the policy under section 501(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1A91477C398C4D678EFF1252C381AD96"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Lists of persons
believed to be imprisoned, detained, or placed under house arrest, tortured, or
otherwise persecuted by the Government of Vietnam due to their pursuit of
internationally recognized human rights. In compiling such lists, the Secretary
shall exercise 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. In addition, the Secretary shall include a list of such
persons and their families who may qualify for protections under United States
refugee programs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H79CD91FF654D4AE7A8627F15DD147CD3"><enum>(7)</enum><text>A
description of the development of the rule of law in Vietnam, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB31BFA1D774D40FB999F8A7F420B4918"><enum>(A)</enum><text>progress toward
the development of institutions of democratic governance;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3DAA4D8AA63E4698A7EA2F041B76AA60"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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="H60AF35EEA63344EF8D3B306FB3483706"><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="H334FA9E8640B42918A65FCC37C0F9F17"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the extent to
which administrative and judicial decisions are supported by statements of
reasons that are based upon written statutes, regulations, rules, and other
legal acts of the Government of Vietnam;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA2C82438AE744E12A84D8B49491CB907"><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="HE56D5A6AC2AB4A94B2072D4A65D147F5"><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="HBC65A23139B44029B01639866FCF4623"><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="H630A27C16221454480B2F61A5CCDEBC2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contacts with
other organizations</header><text>In preparing the report under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall, as appropriate, seek out and maintain contacts with
nongovernmental organizations and human rights advocates (including
Vietnamese-Americans and human rights advocates in Vietnam), including
receiving reports and updates from such organizations and evaluating such
reports. The Secretary shall also seek to consult with the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom for appropriate sections of the
report.</text>
</subsection></section>