I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2254
To authorize the President to enter into an agreement with the Government
of the People’s Republic of China to establish a United States-China
Bilateral Human Rights Commission.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 25, 1993
Mr. LIGHTFOOT (for himself and Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To authorize the President to enter into an agreement with
the Government of the People’s Republic of China to
establish a United States-China Bilateral Human Rights
Commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-China
Bilateral Human Rights Commission Act of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) by virtue of their membership in the United
Nations, the Governments of the People’s Republic
of China and the United States have manifested
their commitment to the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights;
(2) since June 1989, the human rights situa-
tion in the People’s Republic of China has prevented
the United States Government from resuming cor-
dial relations with the Government of the People’s
Republic of China;
(3) since December 1990, there has emerged a
limited dialogue on human rights between the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China and the United States on
both a governmental and nongovernmental level; and
(4) the expansion and institutionalization of
such a dialogue is one means, among others, for en-
hancing mutual understanding and fostering im-
provements in human rights.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF BILATERAL HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION.
The President is authorized to enter into an agree-
ment with the Government of the People’s Republic of
China to establish a United States-China Bilateral Human
Rights Commission (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Com-
mission’’).
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
should be composed of an equal number of members from
both the People’s Republic of China and the United
States. Of the members representing the United States,
the President should appoint government officials with ex-
pertise in human rights, activists with expertise in human
rights 
in 
China, 
jurists, 
religious 
leaders, 
and
businesspersons.
(b) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The Commission should be
headed by 2 co-chairpersons, of which 1 co-chairperson
should be a member representing the People’s Republic
of China and 1 co-chairperson should be a member
representing the United States.
(c) MEETINGS.—The Commission should meet at
least annually and should alternate the location of its
meetings between the People’s Republic of China and the
United States.
SEC. 5. DUTIES.
The Commission should—
(1) establish both short- and long-term goals
with respect to improving human rights in both the
People’s Republic of China and the United States;
(2) conduct regular and systematic exchange of
views on matters of concern to the Governments of
the People’s Republic of China and the United
States with respect to human rights;
(3) monitor compliance of human rights in the
People’s Republic of China and the United States,
with particular emphasis on the rights described in
the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights;
(4) investigate human rights abuse cases in
both the People’s Republic of China and the United
States;
(5) serve as a vehicle for the resolution of such
cases, including cases involving individuals impris-
oned or discriminated against for reasons of political
or religious belief, nationality, race, or sex; and
(6) report periodically to the Governments of
the People’s Republic of China and the United
States on the activities of the Commission.
SEC. 6. STRUCTURE AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL OF
COMMISSION.
(a) OFFICES.—The Commission should establish 1
office in the People’s Republic of China and 1 office in
the United States to assist the Commission in carrying
out its duties under section 5.
(b) DIRECTOR
AND STAFF.—The co-chairpersons
should appoint a director and additional personnel as
such chairpersons consider appropriate for each office re-
ferred to in subsection (a).
SEC. 7. REPORTS.
The President should report quarterly to the Con-
gress on the progress made in the negotiations regarding
the establishment of the Commission.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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