IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 221 

Reaffirming the importance of upholding democracy, human rights, and the 

rule of law in United States foreign policy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 13, 2019 

Mr. ENGEL (for himself and Mr. MCCAUL) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming the importance of upholding democracy, human 

rights, and the rule of law in United States foreign policy. 

Whereas strong democracies make strong partners for the 

United States in fostering the peace and prosperity that 

our citizens desire; 

Whereas democratic principles and values have come under 

increasing strain around the world as foreign governments backslide on their commitments to govern justly, 

transparently, and with respect for the rights of their 

citizens; 

Whereas support for democracy, human rights, and the rule 

of law are consistent with our national character and 

founding values; 


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Whereas the promotion, protection, and advancement of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law around the 

world have been core, bipartisan components of United 

States foreign policy essential to the achievement of other 

United States foreign policy goals, including reducing 

poverty, promoting peaceful resolution of conflict, 

strengthening global alliances, ensuring gender equality, 

expanding prosperity, fostering greater security for all 

people, and sustaining the global environment; 

Whereas the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 states that ‘‘a 

principal goal of the foreign policy of the United States 

is to promote the increased observance of internationally 

recognized human rights by all countries’’; 

Whereas it is longstanding United States policy to work 

alongside like-minded democratic governments, legislatures, civil society leaders and organizations, academic institutions and scholars, independent media and journalists, anti-corruption activists, and international organizations worldwide to promote, protect and advance the 

cause of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; 

Whereas human rights defenders and journalists play a critical role in promoting human rights, transparency, accountability, and good governance, and around the world 

often face smear campaigns, criminalization, or other 

governmental constraints on their work, including intimidation, death threats, arbitrary detention, physical attacks, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and murder; 

Whereas support for democracy around the world enhances 

regional peace and stability, opens doors for economic opportunity, and provides a counterweight to violent and 


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radical extremism—all of which is in the national security interests of the United States and its allies; 

Whereas democratic systems of government enshrine the individual human rights of all citizens, so that every individual can contribute to and enjoy the benefits of peaceful, prosperous societies; 

Whereas the United States supports the existence of and has 

often worked in partnership with independent and multilateral human rights organizations, both at local and 

international levels, and has used their reporting for policy development and referred to their findings in the annual Department of State Country Reports on Human 

Rights Practices and other United States policy documents; 

Whereas the idea of America enshrined in our democratic 

principles is one of our greatest competitive strengths, 

such that when we abandon these values and adopt the 

flawed principles and tactics of our adversaries, we become weaker as a country and undermine our standing 

around the world; 

Whereas some countries are actively promoting an authoritarian model of government as an alternative to the 

model long advanced by the United States based on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, with the authoritarian model representing a threat to the role and 

influence of the United States in the world; 

Whereas some countries hostile to the democratic principles 

and values the United States has long promoted are also 

working to erode international alliances and organizations 

dedicated to advancing those principles, thereby placing 


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United States security and economic interests at risk; 

and 

Whereas the United States has historically allied most closely 

and productively with those countries committed to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the 

3 United States to upholding democracy, human 

4 rights, and the rule of law, at home and in the 

5 world; 

6 (2) recognizes that United States national secu7 rity is enhanced in a world in which countries share 

8 a commitment to universal rights and freedoms and 

9 observe the democratic rule of law, and in which 

10 prosperity and justice create the conditions for 

11 peace; 

12 (3) promotes, supports, and encourages greater 

13 respect for democracy, human rights, and the rule of 

14 law throughout the world for all people; 

15 (4) encourages the United States Government 

16 to work constructively with all countries that seek to 

17 advance the cause of freedom, peace, and security, 

18 which can be achieved only through democracy, re19 spect for human rights, and the rule of law; 


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1 (5) calls on the United States Government to 

2 continue its longstanding support for organizations 

3 dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing 

4 democracy, human rights, and the rule of law world5 wide; 

6 (6) calls on the United States Government to 

7 continue its strong support for human rights defend8 ers, civil society activists, scholars, and independent 

9 journalists working to promote, protect, and advance 

10 democracy, human rights, and the rule of law world11 wide; 

12 (7) calls on the United States Government to 

13 set an example for countries around the world by 

14 showing the highest level of respect for democracy, 

15 human rights, and the rule of law at home; and 

16 (8) calls on all branches of the Federal Govern17 ment to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human 

18 Rights, the Refugee Convention Protocol of 1967, 

19 the International Covenant on Civil and Political 

20 Rights, and other relevant international human 

21 rights agreements ratified by the United States. 

Æ 


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