Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-515
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2011-01-26 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Belarus
Congressional oversight
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Protest and dissent
Religion
Sanctions
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: 
Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 to authorize assistance to promote democracy and civil society in Belarus.
 
Includes Internet broadcasting within the scope of increased support and funding for U.S. government and surrogate broadcasting to Belarus. 
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should continue to support radio, television, and Internet broadcasting to the people of Belarus in languages spoken in Belarus by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Voice of America, European Radio for Belarus, and Belsat.
 
Includes among the criteria that the government of Belarus must meet in order to end U.S. sanctions the release of individuals who were jailed based on political beliefs or human rights violations in connection with the repression that attended the December 2010 presidential election.
 
Authorizes the denial of U.S. entry to members of the security or law enforcement services who have participated in the crackdown on opposition leaders, journalists, and peaceful protestors or in the persecution of religious groups or human rights defenders.

action_date: 2011-07-06
text: 
Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011 - Amends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 to express the sense of Congress that the President should continue to support radio, television, and Internet broadcasting to the people of Belarus in languages spoken in Belarus by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Voice of America, European Radio for Belarus, and Belsat.
 
Includes among the criteria that the government of Belarus must meet in order to end U.S. sanctions: (1) release of individuals who were jailed based on political beliefs or expression in connection with the repression that attended the December 2010 presidential election; (2) prosecution of senior leadership of the government of Belarus responsible for violations of human rights violations, including human rights violations in connection with the presidential election; (3) withdrawal of politically motivated legal charges against opposition activists and independent journalists in connection with the presidential election; and (4) holding free and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections consistent with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) standards and under OSCE supervision.
 
Authorizes the denial of U.S. entry to members of the security or law enforcement services who have participated in the crackdown on opposition leaders, journalists, and peaceful protesters or in the persecution of religious groups or human rights defenders.
 
Requires that the President's annual Belarus report to Congress include information about government of Belarus cooperation with any foreign government or organization related to Internet censorship or surveillance or the purchase or receipt of any technology or training for such purposes.

action_date: 2011-12-14
text: 
Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011 - Amends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 to express the sense of Congress that the President should continue to support radio, television, and Internet broadcasting to the people of Belarus in languages spoken in Belarus by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Voice of America, European Radio for Belarus, and Belsat.
 
Includes among the criteria that the government of Belarus must meet in order to end U.S. sanctions: (1) release of individuals who were jailed based on political beliefs or expression in connection with the repression that attended the December 2010 presidential election; (2) prosecution of senior leadership of the government of Belarus responsible for violations of human rights violations, including human rights violations in connection with the presidential election; (3) withdrawal of politically motivated legal charges against opposition activists and independent journalists in connection with the presidential election; and (4) holding free and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections consistent with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) standards and under OSCE supervision.
 
Authorizes the denial of U.S. entry to members of the security or law enforcement services who have participated in the crackdown on opposition leaders, journalists, and peaceful protesters or in the persecution of religious groups or human rights defenders.
 
Requires that the President's annual Belarus report to Congress include information about government of Belarus cooperation with any foreign government or organization related to Internet censorship or surveillance or the purchase or receipt of any technology or training for such purposes.

action_date: 2012-01-03
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 14, 2011. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011 - Amends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 to express the sense of Congress that the President should continue to support radio, television, and Internet broadcasting to the people of Belarus in languages spoken in Belarus by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Voice of America, European Radio for Belarus, and Belsat.
 
Includes among the criteria that the government of Belarus must meet in order to end U.S. sanctions: (1) release of individuals who were jailed based on political beliefs or expression in connection with the repression that attended the December 2010 presidential election; (2) prosecution of senior leadership of the government of Belarus responsible for violations of human rights violations, including human rights violations in connection with the presidential election; (3) withdrawal of politically motivated legal charges against opposition activists and independent journalists in connection with the presidential election; and (4) holding free and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections consistent with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) standards and under OSCE supervision.
 
Authorizes the denial of U.S. entry to members of the security or law enforcement services who have participated in the crackdown on opposition leaders, journalists, and peaceful protesters or in the persecution of religious groups or human rights defenders.
 
Requires that the President's annual Belarus report to Congress include information about government of Belarus cooperation with any foreign government or organization related to Internet censorship or surveillance or the purchase or receipt of any technology or training for such purposes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-01-03
text: Became Public Law No: 112-82.
action_date: 2012-01-03
text: Became Public Law No: 112-82.
action_date: 2012-01-03
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2012-01-03
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2011-12-23
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2011-12-23
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2011-12-20
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2011-12-20
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR 12/19/2011 H9938)
action_date: 2011-12-20
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR 12/19/2011 H9938)
action_date: 2011-12-20
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9999)
action_date: 2011-12-19
text: At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
action_date: 2011-12-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendments to H.R. 515.
action_date: 2011-12-19
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H9938-9940)
action_date: 2011-12-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote. (text: CR S8611)
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.(text: CR S8611)
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8611)
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-12-14
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-07-07
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4632-4634)
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4632-4634)
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 515.
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4632-4638)
action_date: 2011-07-06
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2011-04-14
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-04-13
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2011-04-13
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-04-13
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2011-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.
action_date: 2011-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia.
action_date: 2011-02-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 112-82