HR 6986 · 116th Congress · International Affairs

Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act

Introduced 2020-05-22· Sponsored by Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]· House

Bill Progress

Introduced
2
Committee
3
House Vote
4
Senate
5
Enacted
Latest: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organization Discharged.(2020-10-01)

Plain Language Summary

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Protecting Human Rights During Pandemic Act This bill establishes strategies and reporting requirements related to internationally recognized human rights and COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill requires the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to submit (1) a strategy for carrying out programs to support democratic institutions, freedom of the press, civil society, and human rights defenders in countries where government measures in response to COVID-19 violated or undermined internationally recognized human rights; and (2) a five-year strategic plan outlining the steps to address persistent human rights issues in the aftermath of COVID-19. The bill also conditions the provision of security assistance to a foreign government on consideration of whether the foreign government used emergency laws, policies, or administrative procedures in violation of internationally recognized human rights. Further, the bill requires the State Department to author initial, monthly, and final reports describing, among other things (1) specified countries' adherence to certain human rights principles in responding to COVID-19, (2) the act…

Summarized by Claude AI · Non-partisan · For informational purposes only

Cosponsors (18)

15 Democrats3 Republicans