Advance Democratic Values, Address Nondemocratic Countries, and Enhance Democracy Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-982
Sponsor: Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12]
Introduced: 2007-02-12 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
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Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: 
Advance Democratic Values, Address Nondemocratic Countries, and Enhance Democracy Act of 2007 or ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2007 - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide that the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor shall also be responsible for matters relating to the development of democracy in nondemocratic countries.
 
Directs the Secretary of State to establish: (1) Democracy Liaison Officer positions; (2) a Democracy Fellowship Program; (3) an Internet democracy and human rights site; and (4) foreign service democracy promotion training programs. 
 
Requires U.S. missions in nondemocratic or transition countries to develop democracy promotion programs.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to: (1) cooperation with other democratic countries; (2) strengthening the Community of Democracies; (3) initiatives at the United Nations; (4) the Human Rights and Democracy Fund; and (5) democracy assistance.
 
Directs the President to investigate violations of international humanitarian law. 

action_date: 2007-05-02
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Advance Democratic Values, Address Nondemocratic Countries, and Enhance Democracy Act of 2007 or ADVANCE Democracy Act of 2007 - 
Title I: Department of State Activities - 
(Sec. 101) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide that the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor shall also be responsible for matters relating to the development of democracy in nondemocratic countries. 
 
Requires that there be at least one office in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (Bureau) of the Department of State responsible for working with democratic movements and facilitating the transition of countries to democracy. 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to establish Democracy Liaison Officer positions. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Provides that the Secretary: (1) should collect information on the assets of leaders of non-democratic countries; and (2) shall seek to ensure that 50% of Bureau nonadministrative employees are Foreign Service members.
 
(Sec. 102) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices include long-term strategies for ending serious human rights violations, and achieving a transition to full democracy with respect to nondemocratic and democratic transition countries.
 
(Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to establish a democracy fellowship program to enable Department officers to gain an additional perspective on democracy promotion abroad by working in appropriate congressional committees and in nongovernmental organizations involved in democracy promotion. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 104) Directs the Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion to conduct studies of: (1) U.S. democracy assistance; and (2) Department personnel and training practices relating to democracy promotion.
 
(Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a global democracy and human rights Internet site.
 
(Sec. 106) Directs the chief of mission in each country designated as nondemocratic to develop a democracy promotion strategy and to support nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements in that country that are committed to democratic principles. 
 
(Sec. 107) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to include training in democracy and the promotion of democracy and human rights in provisions respecting Foreign Service training, performance pay, promotions, and chief-of-mission appointments.
 

Title II: Cooperation with Other Democratic Countries 
- (Sec. 202) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Community of Democracies should establish a more formal mechanism for carrying out work between ministerial meetings, such as the creation of a permanent secretariat and staff. Authorizes the Secretary to detail personnel to such a secretariat or any country that is a member of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) regional groups within the Community of Democracies should be strengthened; (2) the United States should support Hungary and other European countries to establish an International Center for Democratic Transition (authorizes FY2008-FY2010 appropriations); and (3) the Secretary should establish an office of multilateral democracy promotion to address democracy promotion activities in international organizations.
 
(Sec. 203) Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should continue to: (1) support a Democracy Caucus at the United Nations and that the creation of a Democracy Caucus in each international organization and multilateral institution of which the United States is a member will improve their internal governance and strengthen democracy and human rights commitments; and (2) work with other countries to enhance the United Nations Democracy Fund.
 
Authorizes FY2008-FY2009 appropriations for a U.S. contribution to the United Nations Democracy Fund.
 

Title III: Funding for Promotion of Democracy
 - (Sec. 301) States that it shall be U.S. policy to provide financial assistance to eligible entities and individuals in order to promote democracy in nondemocratic countries and democratic transition countries.
 
(Sec. 302) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Human Rights and Democracy Fund should continue to be used for innovative approaches to promoting democracy and human rights and to support democracy and human rights strategies in nondemocratic countries and democratic transition countries.
 
Directs the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees respecting the status of the Human Rights and Democracy Fund.
 
Authorizes FY2008-FY2009 appropriations for the Human Rights and Democracy Fund.
 
(Sec. 303) Expresses the sense of Congress that Secretary and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) should develop guidelines to clarify the appropriate roles for nongovernmental organizations and contractors with respect to democracy assistance. 
 

Title IV: Presidential Actions 
- (Sec. 401) Directs the President to: (1) collect information regarding incidents that may constitute crimes against humanity, genocide, slavery, or other violations of international humanitarian law by leaders or other government officials of nondemocratic countries or democratic transition countries; and (2) consider what actions can be taken to ensure accountability for such incidents.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 70.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 110-119.
action_date: 2007-05-02
text: Reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 110-119.
action_date: 2007-03-27
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-03-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E326)
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-12
text: Introduced in House