[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 353 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 353

 Supporting a democratic Hungary and reaffirming the long-standing and 
mutually-beneficial relationship between the United States and Hungary.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 24, 2017

Mr. Moulton (for himself, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mrs. Hartzler, 
 and Mr. Meeks) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                  to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting a democratic Hungary and reaffirming the long-standing and 
mutually-beneficial relationship between the United States and Hungary.

Whereas Hungary has had a long-standing historic relationship with the United 
        States, with bilateral relations established in 1921 and the first 
        United States Ambassador to Hungary, Theodore Brentano, appointed on 
        February 10, 1922;
Whereas the United States honored the efforts and sacrifices of democratic 
        protestors in Hungary in 1956 who will always be cherished for valiantly 
        and courageously standing up to Soviet tanks;
Whereas the United States in 1978 reached a bilateral trade agreement with 
        Hungary, including the extension of most-favored-nation status to 
        Hungary;
Whereas in the following years, the United States offered Hungary extensive 
        assistance and expertise to help establish a constitution, a democratic 
        political system, and a plan for a transitional free market economy;
Whereas between 1989 and 1993, the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) 
        Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-179) provided more than $136,000,000 for 
        economic restructuring and private-sector development in Hungary;
Whereas Hungary acceded to the North Atlantic Trade Organization (NATO) in April 
        1999, and became a formal treaty ally of the United States;
Whereas the United States supported Hungary in its accession to the European 
        Union (EU) in 2004;
Whereas the United States is proud to count as many as 1,500,000 Hungarian-
        Americans as strong contributors to the economic vibrancy of the United 
        States, as well as to the social, cultural, and political fabric of our 
        country;
Whereas Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his ruling party ``Fidesz'', has 
        increasingly moved towards authoritarianism in word and action, 
        declaring in 2014 that he preferred an ``illiberal state'' and 
        ``illiberal democracy'' citing Russia as his model;
Whereas numerous independent human rights organizations have raised alarms about 
        the situation in Hungary and enumerated concerns in an April 25, 2017, 
        letter to the European Parliament, including the International 
        Federation for Human Rights, the European Association for the Defense of 
        Human Rights, Amnesty International, Reporters without Borders, and 
        Human Rights Watch;
Whereas Prime Minister Orban has sought to stifle any opposition to his rule, 
        including by suppressing free speech and assembly, from universities, 
        civil society groups, and independent think tanks;
Whereas the Fidesz-dominated legislature is considering the draft law on ``the 
        Transparency of Organizations Receiving Foreign Funds'' (T/14967), 
        submitted on April 7, 2017, which would force nongovernmental 
        organizations receiving more than 7,200,000 HUF per year from abroad to 
        register as ``civic organizations receiving foreign funding'' and 
        organizations which will fail to comply with the new law would face 
        dissolution;
Whereas this law and other policies are thinly disguised as attempts to 
        consolidate Fidesz control and is modeled on Russia's foreign agent law 
        which the EU and international rights experts have criticized as a tool 
        to silence independent civil society and would further shrink the space 
        for independent civil society organizations which protect human rights 
        and deliver valuable services to society;
Whereas Hungary continues to violate the rights of asylum-seekers and migrants 
        by allowing for the blanket detention of almost all asylum-seekers, 
        including persons above the age of 14, in border ``transit zones'' for 
        the whole duration of their asylum process, including any appeals;
Whereas Hungary's government continues to exert undemocratic influence over the 
        freedom of the press, including in October 2016, when both the print and 
        online editions of Hungary's leading opposition daily newspaper, 
        Nepszabadsag, were closed due to political pressures;
Whereas media outlets must register with the Hungarian government's National 
        Media and Infocommunications Authority, which can revoke licenses for 
        minor infractions without clear explanation or due process; and
Whereas politicians regularly file politically motivated criminal defamation 
        charges against journalists and bloggers, including in 2015 when cases 
        were brought against 17 people for reports critical of government 
        officials: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms the long-standing and mutually-beneficial 
        relationship between the United States and Hungary;
            (2) condemns Hungary's movement towards a less free and 
        democratic society; and
            (3) urges Hungary to reverse laws and policies that curtail 
        individual rights and basic freedoms.
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