[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3339-S3340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6146. Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. SENATE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY COMMISSION.
(a) Findings.--The Senate finds the following:
(1) The Senate Human Rights Caucus, which was founded in
2014, and is currently co-chaired by Senator Tillis and
Senator Coons, has created an outlet and opportunity to
establish a formalized forum for human rights discussion and
engagement in the Senate.
(2) The Senate Human Rights Caucus has brought together
critical thinkers and first-hand experts on issues affecting
human rights throughout the world to better inform the
actions of Congress.
(3) By establishing a commission in the Senate to put
testimony regarding human rights and democracy in the record,
all of the Federal Government and the public can access this
information and insight.
(4) The Senate Human Rights and Democracy Commission would
continue the work of the Senate Human Rights Caucus and
elevate the need to sustain and support the fundamental
access to human rights across the world.
(b) Commission Establishment.--
(1) In general.--There is established in the Senate the
Senate Human Rights and Democracy Commission (in this section
referred to as the ``Commission'').
(2) Duties.--The Commission shall--
(A) serve as a forum for bipartisan discussion of
international human rights issues, democracy issues, and
promotion of internationally recognized human rights as
enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights;
(B) monitor the state of human rights across the world and
raise awareness on critical human rights violations through
conducting regular briefings hearings, and private
roundtables;
(C) maintain records of all meetings and activities; and
(D) collaborate with congressional committees and other
congressional entities (including the Tom Lantos Human Rights
Commission), the executive branch, human rights
organizations, civil society organizations, nongovernmental
organizations, and think tanks to promote human rights
initiatives within the Senate.
(3) Limitations.--The Commission shall not--
(A) have legislative jurisdiction;
(B) have authority to take legislative action on any bill
or resolution; or
(C) encroach upon the jurisdiction of any standing, select,
or special committee of the Senate.
(4) Membership.--
(A) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 10
members of the Senate, who shall be appointed, and may be
removed, by the President of the Senate.
(B) Selection.--The President of the Senate shall--
(i) after consultation with the majority leader, select 5
members from the majority party of the Senate, 1 of whom
shall be designated as a co-chairperson in accordance with
paragraph (5)(A)(i); and
(ii) after consultation with the minority leader, select 5
members from the minority party of the Senate, 1 of whom
shall be designated as a co-chairperson in accordance with
paragraph (5)(A)(ii).
(C) Ex officio members.--The Chairman and Ranking Member of
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate shall be ex
officio, nonvoting members of the Commission.
(D) Term.--The term of a member shall end on the last day
of the Congress during which the member is appointed by the
President of the Senate, unless the member ceases being a
member of the Senate, leaves the Commission, or is removed.
(E) Vacancy.--
(i) In general.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be
filled in the same manner in which the original appointment
was made.
(ii) Resignation.--A member of the Commission wishing to
resign from the Commission shall submit a written
notification to the President of the Senate.
(5) Co-chairpersons of the commission.--
(A) In general.--Two members of the Commission shall be
appointed to serve as co-chairpersons of the Commission, as
follows:
(i) One co-chairperson shall be appointed, and may be
removed, by the majority leader of the Senate.
(ii) One co-chairperson shall be appointed, and may be
removed, by the minority leader of the Senate.
(B) Term.--The term of a member as a co-chairperson of the
Commission shall end on the last day of the Congress during
which the member is appointed as a co-chairperson, unless the
member ceases being a member of the Senate, leaves the
Commission, resigns from the position of co-chairperson, or
is removed.
(C) Publication.--Appointments under this paragraph shall
be printed in the Congressional Record.
(D) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the position of co-
chairperson of the Commission shall be filled in the same
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(c) Commission Staff.--
(1) Compensation and expenses.--
(A) In general.--The Commission is authorized, from funds
made available under subsection (d), to--
(i) employ such staff in the manner and at a rate not to
exceed that allowed for employees of a committee of the
Senate under section 105(e)(3) of the Legislative Branch
Appropriation Act, 1968 (2 U.S.C. 4575(e)(3)); and
(ii) incur such expenses as may be necessary or appropriate
to carry out its duties and functions.
(B) Expenses.--
[[Page S3340]]
(i) In general.--Payments made under this subsection for
receptions, meals, and food-related expenses shall be
authorized only for actual expenses incurred by the
Commission in the course of conducting its official duties
and functions.
(ii) Treatment of payments.--Amounts received as
reimbursement for expenses described in clause (i) shall not
be reported as income, and the expenses so reimbursed shall
not be allowed as a deduction under the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
(2) Designation of professional staff.--
(A) In general.--Each co-chairperson of the Commission may
designate 1 professional staff member.
(B) Compensation of senate employees.--In the case of the
compensation of any professional staff member designated
under subparagraph (A) who is an employee of a Member of the
Senate or of a committee of the Senate and who has been
designated to perform services for the Commission, the
professional staff member shall continue to be paid by the
Member or committee, as the case may be, but the account from
which the professional staff member is paid shall be
reimbursed for the services of the professional staff member
(including agency contributions when appropriate) out of
funds made available under subsection (c).
(C) Duties.--Each professional staff member designated
under subparagraph (A) shall--
(i) serve all members of the Commission; and
(ii) carry out such other functions as the co-chairperson
designating the professional staff member may specify.
(d) Payment of Expenses.--
(1) In general.--The expenses of the Commission shall be
paid from the Contingent Fund of the Senate, out of the
account of Miscellaneous Items, upon vouchers approved
jointly by the co-chairpersons (except that vouchers shall
not be required for the disbursement of salaries of employees
who are paid at an annual rate of pay).
(2) Amounts available.--For any fiscal year, the amount
identified as necessary shall be expended for employees and
expenses.
(e) Administrative Support.--The Committee on Rules and
Administration of the Senate may approve the use of Senate
resources to support the Commission in carrying out official
duties.
(f) Data Privacy.--The Commission is deemed to be a Senate
office for purposes of section 10 of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2005 (2 U.S.C. 6628) and all Senate data,
as defined in such section, of the Commission shall be
subject to the protections provided to Senate data under such
section.
(g) Location of Commission.--The Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate may lease office space for the
activities of the Commission in the District of Columbia.
(h) Sunset.--This section shall cease to have force or
effect on January 1, 2029.
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