III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 80 

Establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 1, 2021 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. VAN

HOLLEN, and Mr. LANKFORD) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission. 

1 Resolved, 

2 SECTION 1. SENATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. 

3 (a) COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT.— 

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

5 Senate the Senate Human Rights Commission (in 

6 this section referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

7 (2) DUTIES.—The Commission shall— 

8 (A) serve as a forum for bipartisan discus9 sion of international human rights issues and 

10 promotion of internationally recognized human 


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1 rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration 

2 of Human Rights; 

3 (B) raise awareness of international 

4 human rights violations through regular brief5 ings and hearings; and 

6 (C) collaborate with congressional commit7 tees and other congressional entities, the execu8 tive branch, human rights entities, and non9 governmental organizations to promote human 

10 rights initiatives within the Senate. 

11 (3) LIMITATIONS.—The Commission shall 

12 not— 

13 (A) have legislative jurisdiction; 

14 (B) have authority to take legislative ac15 tion on any bill or resolution; or 

16 (C) encroach upon the jurisdiction of any 

17 standing, select, or special committee of the 

18 Senate. 

19 (4) MEMBERSHIP.—Any Senator may become a 

20 member of the Commission by submitting a written 

21 statement to that effect to the Commission. 

22 (5) CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE COMMISSION.— 

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

24 Commission shall be appointed to serve as co25 chairpersons of the Commission, as follows: 


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1 (i) One co-chairperson shall be ap2 pointed, and may be removed, by the ma3 jority leader of the Senate. 

4 (ii) One co-chairperson shall be ap5 pointed, and may be removed, by the mi6 nority leader of the Senate. 

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

8 co-chairperson of the Commission shall end on 

9 the last day of the Congress during which the 

10 member is appointed as a co-chairperson, unless 

11 the member ceases being a Member of the Sen12 ate, leaves the Commission, resigns from the 

13 position of co-chairperson, or is removed. 

14 (C) PUBLICATION.—Appointments under 

15 this paragraph shall be printed in the Congres16 sional Record. 

17 (D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the posi18 tion of co-chairperson of the Commission shall 

19 be filled in the same manner in which the origi20 nal appointment was made. 

21 (b) COMMISSION STAFF.— 

22 (1) COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.— 

23 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is au24 thorized, from funds made available under sub25 section (c), to— 


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1 (i) employ such staff in the manner 

2 and at a rate not to exceed that allowed 

3 for employees of a committee of the Senate 

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

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

6 4575(e)(3)); and 

7 (ii) incur such expenses as may be 

8 necessary or appropriate to carry out its 

9 duties and functions. 

10 (B) EXPENSES.— 

11 (i) IN GENERAL.—Payments made 

12 under this subsection for receptions, meals, 

13 and food-related expenses shall be author14 ized only for actual expenses incurred by 

15 the Commission in the course of con16 ducting its official duties and functions. 

17 (ii) TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS.— 

18 Amounts received as reimbursement for ex19 penses described in clause (i) shall not be 

20 reported as income, and the expenses so 

21 reimbursed shall not be allowed as a de22 duction under the Internal Revenue Code 

23 of 1986. 

24 (2) DESIGNATION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF.— 


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

2 the Commission may designate 1 professional 

3 staff member. 

4 (B) COMPENSATION OF SENATE EMPLOY5 EES.—In the case of the compensation of any 

6 professional staff member designated under 

7 subparagraph (A) who is an employee of a 

8 Member of the Senate or of a committee of the 

9 Senate and who has been designated to perform 

10 services for the Commission, the professional 

11 staff member shall continue to be paid by the 

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

13 the account from which the professional staff 

14 member is paid shall be reimbursed for the 

15 services of the professional staff member (in16 cluding agency contributions when appropriate) 

17 out of funds made available under subsection 

18 (c). 

19 (C) DUTIES.—Each professional staff 

20 member designated under subparagraph (A) 

21 shall— 

22 (i) serve all members of the Commis23 sion; and 


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1 (ii) carry out such other functions as 

2 the co-chairperson designating the profes3 sional staff member may specify. 

4 (c) PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The expenses of the Com6 mission shall be paid from the Contingent Fund of 

7 the Senate, out of the account of Miscellaneous 

8 Items, upon vouchers approved jointly by the co9 chairpersons (except that vouchers shall not be re10 quired for the disbursement of salaries of employees 

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

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

13 not more than $200,000 shall be expended for em14 ployees and expenses. 

Æ 


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