Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3096
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2007-07-19 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administration of justice
American investments
Armed Forces and National Security
Arms control
Arms sales
Arrest
Arts, Culture, Religion
Cambodia
Charities
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Cultural relations
Democracy
Deportation
Detention of persons
Development credit institutions
Dissenters
Due process of law
East Asia
Economic assistance
Education
Educational exchanges
Elementary and secondary education
Employee rights
Equality before the law
Ethnic relations
Export finance
Expropriation
Forced labor
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign loans
Freedom of association
Freedom of speech
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Higher education
Human rights
Immigration
International broadcasting
Investment guaranty insurance
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal aid
Legal services
Military assistance
Minorities
Misconduct in office
Nongovernmental organizations
Political persecution
Political prisoners
President and foreign policy
Prosecution
Prostitution
Punishment
Radio broadcasting
Refugees
Religion
Religious liberty
Right of assembly
Right of asylum
Right of property
Right to counsel
Right to travel
Rule of law
Science, Technology, Communications
Slavery
Social Welfare
Suspects' rights
Torture
Transportation and Public Works
Vietnam

Summary:
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: 
Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007 - Prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance as of FY2008 to the government of Vietnam unless the President certifies to Congress that: (1) the government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting the release of political and religious prisoners, respecting religious freedoms and the rights of minorities, and respecting access to U.S. refugee programs; and (2) neither any government of Vietnam official nor entity was complicit in a severe form of trafficking in persons (or the government of Vietnam took appropriate steps to end such complicity). 
 
Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or is otherwise in the U.S. national interest. 
 
Authorizes the President to provide U.S. assistance through appropriate nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights Defenders Fund for the support of individuals and organizations to promote human rights and nonviolent democratic change in Vietnam. 
 
Declares it is U.S. policy: (1) to take such measures as are necessary to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the government of Vietnam; and (2) that educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy. 
Declares it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who are eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or certain circumstances beyond their control.
action_date: 2007-09-18
text: 
Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007 - 
Title I: Prohibition on Nonhumanitarian Assistance to the Government of Vietnam 
- (Sec. 101) Prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the government of Vietnam for FY2008 in excess of FY2007 levels unless the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting: (1) the release of political and religious prisoners; (2) the right of religious freedom, including the return of church properties; (3) the rights of ethnic minorities; and (4) access to U.S. refugee programs by Vietnamese nationals.
 
Prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the government of Vietnam for subsequent fiscal years in excess of FY2007 levels unless the President certifies to Congress that in addition to such requirements: (1) no government of Vietnam official, agency, or entity wholly or partly owned by the government of Vietnam was complicit in a severe form of trafficking in persons; or (2) the government of Vietnam took all appropriate steps to end any such complicity and hold any official, agency, or entity accountable for such conduct. 
 
Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition for reasons of national interest.
 

Title II: Assistance to Support Democracy in Vietnam 
- (Sec. 201) Authorizes the President to provide assistance through nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights Defenders Fund for the support of individuals and organizations to promote human rights in Vietnam. 
 
Authorizes FY2008-FY2009 appropriations.
 

Title III: United States Public Diplomacy 
- (Sec. 301) States that it is U.S. policy to take necessary measures to overcome government of Vietnam jamming of Radio Free Asia.
 
Authorizes FY2008-FY2009 appropriations for such activities.
 
(Sec. 302) States that it is U.S. policy that educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy in Vietnam.
 

Title IV: United States Refugee Policy 
- (Sec. 401) States that it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who are eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or certain circumstances beyond their control. 
 
Authorizes funds to be made available from FY2008-FY2010 Department of State refugee assistance for the protection and resettlement of Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers, including Montagnards in Cambodia. 
 

Title V: Annual Report on Progress Toward Freedom and Democracy in Vietnam 
- (Sec. 501) Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to Congress respecting activities under this Act toward freedom and democracy in Vietnam.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2007-09-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-09-18
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 3 (Roll no. 877). (text: CR 9/17/2007 H10385-10387)
action_date: 2007-09-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 3 (Roll no. 877).(text: CR 9/17/2007 H10385-10387)
action_date: 2007-09-18
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10481)
action_date: 2007-09-17
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2007-09-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3096.
action_date: 2007-09-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10385-10391)
action_date: 2007-09-17
text: Mr. Faleomavaega moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: Introduced in House