III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 80 

Establishing the John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 27, 2019 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. 

MERKLEY, and Ms. SINEMA) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Establishing the John S. McCain III Human Rights 

Commission. 

1 Resolved, 

2 SECTION 1. JOHN S. MCCAIN III HUMAN RIGHTS COMMIS3 SION. 

4 (a) COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 

6 Senate the John S. McCain III Human Rights Com7 mission (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Commis8 sion’’). 

9 (2) DUTIES.—The Commission shall— 


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1 (A) serve as a forum for bipartisan discus2 sion of international human rights issues and 

3 promotion of internationally recognized human 

4 rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration 

5 of Human Rights; 

6 (B) raise awareness of international 

7 human rights violations through regular brief8 ings and hearings; and 

9 (C) collaborate with the executive branch, 

10 human rights entities, and nongovernmental or11 ganizations to promote human rights initiatives 

12 within the Senate. 

13 (3) MEMBERSHIP.—Any Senator may become a 

14 member of the Commission by submitting a written 

15 statement to that effect to the Commission. 

16 (4) CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE COMMISSION.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—Two members of the 

18 Commission shall be appointed to serve as co19 chairpersons of the Commission, as follows: 

20 (i) One co-chairperson shall be ap21 pointed, and may be removed, by the ma22 jority leader of the Senate. 

23 (ii) One co-chairperson shall be ap24 pointed, and may be removed, by the mi25 nority leader of the Senate. 


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1 (B) TERM.—The term of a member as a 

2 co-chairperson of the Commission shall end on 

3 the last day of the Congress during which the 

4 member is appointed as a co-chairperson, unless 

5 the member ceases being a member of the Sen6 ate, leaves the Commission, resigns from the 

7 position of co-chairperson, or is removed. 

8 (C) PUBLICATION.—Appointments under 

9 this paragraph shall be printed in the Congres10 sional Record. 

11 (D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the posi12 tion of co-chairperson of the Commission shall 

13 be filled in the same manner in which the origi14 nal appointment was made. 

15 (b) COMMISSION STAFF.— 

16 (1) COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is au18 thorized, from funds made available under sub19 section (c), to— 

20 (i) employ such staff in the manner 

21 and at a rate not to exceed that allowed 

22 for employees of a committee of the Senate 

23 under section 105(e)(3) of the Legislative 

24 Branch Appropriation Act, 1968 (2 U.S.C. 

25 4575(e)(3)); and 


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1 (ii) incur such expenses as may be 

2 necessary or appropriate to carry out its 

3 duties and functions. 

4 (B) EXPENSES.— 

5 (i) IN GENERAL.—Payments made 

6 under this subsection for receptions, meals, 

7 and food-related expenses shall be author8 ized only for actual expenses incurred by 

9 the Commission in the course of con10 ducting its official duties and functions. 

11 (ii) TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS.— 

12 Amounts received as reimbursement for ex13 penses described in clause (i) shall not be 

14 reported as income, and the expenses so 

15 reimbursed shall not be allowed as a de16 duction under the Internal Revenue Code 

17 of 1986. 

18 (2) DESIGNATION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—Each co-chairperson of 

20 the Commission may designate 1 professional 

21 staff member. 

22 (B) COMPENSATION OF SENATE EMPLOY23 EES.—In the case of the compensation of any 

24 professional staff member designated under 

25 subparagraph (A) who is an employee of a 


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1 Member of the Senate or of a committee of the 

2 Senate and who has been designated to perform 

3 services for the Commission, the professional 

4 staff member shall continue to be paid by the 

5 Member or committee, as the case may be, but 

6 the account from which the professional staff 

7 member is paid shall be reimbursed for the 

8 services of the professional staff member (in9 cluding agency contributions when appropriate) 

10 out of funds made available under subsection 

11 (c). 

12 (C) DUTIES.—Each professional staff 

13 member designated under subparagraph (A) 

14 shall— 

15 (i) serve all members of the Commis16 sion; and 

17 (ii) carry out such other functions as 

18 the co-chairperson designating the profes19 sional staff member may specify. 

20 (c) PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The expenses of the Com22 mission shall be paid from the Contingent Fund of 

23 the Senate, out of the account of Miscellaneous 

24 Items, upon vouchers approved jointly by the co25 chairpersons (except that vouchers shall not be reVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:18 Feb 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80

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1 quired for the disbursement of salaries of employees 

2 who are paid at an annual rate of pay). 

3 (2) AMOUNTS AVAILABLE.—For any fiscal year, 

4 not more than $200,000 shall be expended for em5 ployees and expenses. 

Æ 


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