[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 546 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 546

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Department of State should raise the travel advisory for Egypt from the 
current level of ``Travel Alert'', in place since November 7, 2011, to 
  ``Travel Warning'', the highest level of travel security advisory, 
 until all 43 detained nongovernmental organization workers are given 
                      the freedom to leave Egypt.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2012

 Mr. Schock submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Department of State should raise the travel advisory for Egypt from the 
current level of ``Travel Alert'', in place since November 7, 2011, to 
  ``Travel Warning'', the highest level of travel security advisory, 
 until all 43 detained nongovernmental organization workers are given 
                      the freedom to leave Egypt.

Whereas democracy and respect for human rights have long been central components 
        of the foreign policy of the United States;
Whereas democratic governance requires government to be responsive, transparent, 
        and effective for all citizens;
Whereas a robust civil society is necessary for democracy to thrive;
Whereas countries undergoing a transition to democracy often must build a system 
        of civil society from the ground up;
Whereas nongovernmental organizations around the world operate on a nonpartisan 
        basis to strengthen the processes and systems necessary for successful 
        democracy, as well as increasing voter knowledge and citizen engagement;
Whereas nongovernmental organizations promote civil society and play a key role 
        in protecting human rights, human dignity, and human progress;
Whereas nongovernmental organizations are essential to the development and 
        success of free societies and play a vital role in ensuring accountable 
        democratic government;
Whereas the public interest is best served when private citizens and members of 
        civil society are able to choose the aims, organizations, and causes 
        they support;
Whereas acknowledgment of governments' authority to regulate entities within 
        their territory to promote the public welfare requires that such laws 
        and administrative measures should protect, not impede, the peaceful 
        operation of nongovernmental organizations and be enforced in an 
        apolitical, fair, transparent, and consistent manner;
Whereas the Government of Egypt, since January 2012, has placed the names of 43 
        nongovernmental organization workers, of whom 19 are United States 
        citizens, on a ``no exit'' list, effectively detaining them in the 
        country; and
Whereas on February 5, 2012, the Government of Egypt has referred these same 43 
        nongovernmental organization workers to criminal court: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Department of State should raise the travel advisory for Egypt from 
the current level of ``Travel Alert'', in place since November 7, 2011, 
to ``Travel Warning'', the highest level of travel security advisory, 
until all 43 detained nongovernmental organization workers are given 
the freedom to leave Egypt.
                                 <all>