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Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020

USA116th CongressHR-8438| House 
| Updated: 11/30/2020
Christopher H. Smith

Christopher H. Smith

Republican Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (15)
Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Dean Phillips (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Maxine Waters (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Adam Kinzinger (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Foreign Relations Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020 This bill expands the President's authority to impose sanctions related to Belarus to include activities surrounding the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election and subsequent government crackdown. The bill also expands authorized assistance to Belarus. The President may impose visa-blocking sanctions on any alien who (1) is a member of the Central Election Commission of Belarus or assisted in the manipulation of the August 9, 2020, presidential election, (2) is a government official responsible for the crackdown on independent media, (3) is an official of the Union State (an international organization consisting of Belarus and Russia), or (4) is a Russian individual who has significantly participated in the crackdown on the press or human rights abuses related to political repression in Belarus. (The President already has authority to impose such sanctions on certain aliens, such as senior leaders in the government of Belarus.) The bill also expands authorized assistance related to Belarus to include assistance to (1) counter internet censorship and surveillance technology, (2) support the work of women advocating for freedom and human rights, and (3) support political refugees fleeing the crackdown in Belarus.

Bill Text Versions

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3 versions available

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Timeline
Sep 29, 2020
Introduced in House
Sep 29, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 1, 2020
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Oct 1, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 18, 2020
Mr. Espaillat moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 18, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5915-5920)
Nov 18, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8438.
Nov 18, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5915-5917)
Nov 18, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5915-5917)
Nov 18, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 30, 2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  • September 29, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • September 29, 2020
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • October 1, 2020
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • October 1, 2020
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 18, 2020
    Mr. Espaillat moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • November 18, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5915-5920)


  • November 18, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8438.


  • November 18, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5915-5917)


  • November 18, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5915-5917)


  • November 18, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • November 30, 2020
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

International Affairs

BelarusBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCanadaCardiovascular and respiratory healthComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadElections, voting, political campaign regulationEmergency medical services and trauma careEnergy storage, supplies, demandEuropeEuropean UnionForeign aid and international reliefForeign and international corporationsForeign language and bilingual programsForeign propertyGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHistorical and cultural resourcesHuman rightsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaMilitary operations and strategyNational symbolsNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionRussiaSanctionsSmall businessSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusSubversive activitiesUnited KingdomU.S. and foreign investmentsVisas and passportsWomen's rights

Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020

USA116th CongressHR-8438| House 
| Updated: 11/30/2020
Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020 This bill expands the President's authority to impose sanctions related to Belarus to include activities surrounding the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election and subsequent government crackdown. The bill also expands authorized assistance to Belarus. The President may impose visa-blocking sanctions on any alien who (1) is a member of the Central Election Commission of Belarus or assisted in the manipulation of the August 9, 2020, presidential election, (2) is a government official responsible for the crackdown on independent media, (3) is an official of the Union State (an international organization consisting of Belarus and Russia), or (4) is a Russian individual who has significantly participated in the crackdown on the press or human rights abuses related to political repression in Belarus. (The President already has authority to impose such sanctions on certain aliens, such as senior leaders in the government of Belarus.) The bill also expands authorized assistance related to Belarus to include assistance to (1) counter internet censorship and surveillance technology, (2) support the work of women advocating for freedom and human rights, and (3) support political refugees fleeing the crackdown in Belarus.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Sep 29, 2020
Introduced in House
Sep 29, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 1, 2020
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Oct 1, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 18, 2020
Mr. Espaillat moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 18, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5915-5920)
Nov 18, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8438.
Nov 18, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5915-5917)
Nov 18, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5915-5917)
Nov 18, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 30, 2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  • September 29, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • September 29, 2020
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • October 1, 2020
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • October 1, 2020
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • November 18, 2020
    Mr. Espaillat moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • November 18, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5915-5920)


  • November 18, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8438.


  • November 18, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5915-5917)


  • November 18, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5915-5917)


  • November 18, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • November 30, 2020
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Christopher H. Smith

Christopher H. Smith

Republican Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (15)
Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Dean Phillips (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Michael T. McCaul (Republican)Maxine Waters (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Adam Kinzinger (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Foreign Relations Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

International Affairs

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
BelarusBroadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCanadaCardiovascular and respiratory healthComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadElections, voting, political campaign regulationEmergency medical services and trauma careEnergy storage, supplies, demandEuropeEuropean UnionForeign aid and international reliefForeign and international corporationsForeign language and bilingual programsForeign propertyGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHistorical and cultural resourcesHuman rightsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaMilitary operations and strategyNational symbolsNews media and reportingProtest and dissentRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionRussiaSanctionsSmall businessSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusSubversive activitiesUnited KingdomU.S. and foreign investmentsVisas and passportsWomen's rights