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To advance United States national interests by prioritizing the protection of internationally-recognized human rights and development of the rule of law in relations between the United States and Vietnam, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-5621| House 
| Updated: 6/4/2018
Christopher H. Smith

Christopher H. Smith

Republican Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (27)
Mia B. Love (Republican)Robert Pittenger (Republican)Pete Olson (Republican)Randy Hultgren (Republican)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Pete Sessions (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)Ted Poe (Republican)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Rob Woodall (Republican)Peter J. Visclosky (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican)Bill Posey (Republican)Joe Barton (Republican)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Barbara Comstock (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Africa Subcommittee, East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Vietnam Human Rights Act This bill urges the Department of State to prompt Vietnam to: (1) repeal laws and administrative decrees restricting freedom of expression (including the Internet), association, and peaceful assembly; and (2) release political and religious prisoners. The bill states that: (1) it is U.S. policy to prioritize religious freedom in bilateral relations with Vietnam, (2) Vietnam should be designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom, and (3) Vietnamese officials guilty of gross violations of human rights should be investigated by the United States and sanctioned if warranted. The State Department may establish programs to: (1) monitor and halt bride and sex trafficking of girls and women in Vietnam and other Asian countries, including China; and (2) address Vietnam's growing sex-ratio disparity. The President may provide assistance to ethnic minority groups in Vietnam affected by severe human rights violations. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) military assistance to Vietnam should be conditioned upon human rights progress, and (2) trade and foreign assistance benefits will be contingent upon whether Vietnam has illegally expropriated properties of U.S. citizens.
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Timeline
Apr 25, 2018
Introduced in House
Apr 25, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Jun 4, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
Jun 4, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
  • April 25, 2018
    Introduced in House


  • April 25, 2018
    Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.


  • June 4, 2018
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.


  • June 4, 2018
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

International Affairs

AsiaBroadcasting Board of GovernorsChinaComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightCrimes against womenDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEconomic developmentEmployment discrimination and employee rightsForeign aid and international reliefForeign loans and debtForeign propertyGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionHuman rightsHuman traffickingInternational exchange and broadcastingInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLabor-management relationsLabor standardsLaw enforcement administration and fundingMilitary assistance, sales, and agreementsMultilateral development programsNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRacial and ethnic relationsReligionRight of privacyRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSex offensesSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTariffsTelephone and wireless communicationTrade agreements and negotiationsVietnam

To advance United States national interests by prioritizing the protection of internationally-recognized human rights and development of the rule of law in relations between the United States and Vietnam, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-5621| House 
| Updated: 6/4/2018
Vietnam Human Rights Act This bill urges the Department of State to prompt Vietnam to: (1) repeal laws and administrative decrees restricting freedom of expression (including the Internet), association, and peaceful assembly; and (2) release political and religious prisoners. The bill states that: (1) it is U.S. policy to prioritize religious freedom in bilateral relations with Vietnam, (2) Vietnam should be designated as a country of particular concern for religious freedom, and (3) Vietnamese officials guilty of gross violations of human rights should be investigated by the United States and sanctioned if warranted. The State Department may establish programs to: (1) monitor and halt bride and sex trafficking of girls and women in Vietnam and other Asian countries, including China; and (2) address Vietnam's growing sex-ratio disparity. The President may provide assistance to ethnic minority groups in Vietnam affected by severe human rights violations. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) military assistance to Vietnam should be conditioned upon human rights progress, and (2) trade and foreign assistance benefits will be contingent upon whether Vietnam has illegally expropriated properties of U.S. citizens.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Apr 25, 2018
Introduced in House
Apr 25, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Jun 4, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
Jun 4, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
  • April 25, 2018
    Introduced in House


  • April 25, 2018
    Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.


  • June 4, 2018
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.


  • June 4, 2018
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Christopher H. Smith

Christopher H. Smith

Republican Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (27)
Mia B. Love (Republican)Robert Pittenger (Republican)Pete Olson (Republican)Randy Hultgren (Republican)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Pete Sessions (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)Ted Poe (Republican)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Rob Woodall (Republican)Peter J. Visclosky (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (Republican)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican)Bill Posey (Republican)Joe Barton (Republican)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Barbara Comstock (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Africa Subcommittee, East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee

International Affairs

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AsiaBroadcasting Board of GovernorsChinaComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightCrimes against womenDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEconomic developmentEmployment discrimination and employee rightsForeign aid and international reliefForeign loans and debtForeign propertyGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionHuman rightsHuman traffickingInternational exchange and broadcastingInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLabor-management relationsLabor standardsLaw enforcement administration and fundingMilitary assistance, sales, and agreementsMultilateral development programsNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRacial and ethnic relationsReligionRight of privacyRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSex offensesSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTariffsTelephone and wireless communicationTrade agreements and negotiationsVietnam