Supporting the rights of the people of Iran to free expression, condemning the Iranian regime for its crackdown on legitimate protests, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hres-676
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Royce, Edward R. [R-CA-39]
Introduced: 2018-01-05
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Human rights

International law and treaties

International organizations and cooperation

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Iran

Licensing and registrations

Middle East

News media and reporting

Protest and dissent

Rule of law and government transparency

Sanctions

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Technology transfer and commercialization

United Nations
Latest action: action_date: 2018-01-09
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 2 (Roll no. 2). (text: CR H51-52)

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-01-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p> Stands with the people of Iran who are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against an oppressive, corrupt regime.</p> <p> Condemns the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, corruption, and destabilizing activities abroad.</p> <p> Notes the statements of support for the protestors from key allies and calls on all democratic governments and institutions to support the Iranian people's right to live in a free society.</p> <p> Demands that the Iranian regime abide by its international obligations with respect to human rights and civil liberties. </p> <p> Urges the Administration to use targeted sanctions and work to convene United Nations Security Council and United Nations Human Rights Council emergency sessions to condemn the Iranian regime's human rights violations and establish a mechanism by which the Security Council can monitor such violations.</p> <p>Encourages the Administration to expedite the license of communications technology to Iran to improve the Iranian people's ability to speak freely.</p> <p> Calls on companies to reject regime requests to cut off the Iranian people from social media and other communications platforms.</p> <p> Supports efforts by the people of Iran to promote the establishment of basic freedoms that build a freely elected and democratic political system.</p> <p> Urges the President and the Department of State to work with the international community to ensure that human rights violations are part of all multilateral or bilateral discussions with and regarding Iran. </p>

action_date: 2018-01-09
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p>Stands with the people of Iran who are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against an oppressive, corrupt regime.</p> <p> Condemns the Iranian regime's human rights abuses, corruption, and destabilizing activities abroad.</p> <p> Notes the statements of support for the protestors from key allies and calls on all democratic governments and institutions to support the Iranian people's right to live in a free society.</p> <p> Demands that the Iranian regime abide by its international obligations with respect to human rights and civil liberties, including freedoms of assembly, speech, and press. </p> <p> Urges the Administration to use targeted sanctions and work to convene United Nations Security Council and United Nations Human Rights Council emergency sessions to condemn the Iranian regime's human rights violations and establish a mechanism by which the Security Council can monitor such violations.</p> <p>Encourages the Administration to expedite the license of communications technology to Iran to improve the Iranian people's ability to speak freely.</p> <p> Calls on companies to reject regime requests to cut off the Iranian people from social media and other communications platforms.</p> <p> Respects the history and culture of the Iranian nation and supports efforts by the people of Iran to promote the establishment of basic freedoms that build a freely elected and democratic political system.</p> <p> Urges the President and the Department of State to work with the international community to ensure that human rights violations are part of all multilateral or bilateral discussions with and regarding Iran. </p>

tv_txt: IV 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 676 In the House of Representatives, U. S., January 9, 2018 RESOLUTION Supporting the rights of the people of Iran to free expression, condemning the Iranian regime for its crackdown on legitimate protests, and for other purposes.

Whereas, on December 28, 2017, popular protests against the Iranian regime began in the city of Mashad and rapidly spread throughout the country, in the most significant anti-government protests in Iran since June 2009; Whereas the protesters have expressed numerous economic grievances, including the regime’s widespread corruption and the Revolutionary Guard Corps’ control of the country’s economy; Whereas protesters have decried the regime’s costly, destabilizing activities abroad, including its support for terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and the murderous Assad regime in Syria; Whereas reports indicate that more than 1,000 Iranians have been arrested and almost two dozen killed in connection with the protests; Whereas the Iranian regime has shut down mobile internet access and has blocked and pressured companies to cut off social media applications used by activists to organize and publicize the protests; Whereas Congress has provided authority to license the provision of communications technology to Iran to improve the ability of the Iranian people to speak freely; Whereas, on January 1, 2018, regime officials threatened to crack down, with Brigadier General Esmaeil Kowsari of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps stating, If this situation continues, the officials will definitely make some decisions and at that point this business will be finished. ; Whereas Congress has provided authority to designate and sanction elements of the Iranian regime involved in significant corruption and serious human rights abuses; Whereas Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij militia have been sanctioned by the United States for planning and carrying out serious human rights abuses against the Iranian people, including for the cruel and prolonged torture of political dissidents; Whereas the regime has routinely violated the human rights of Iranian citizens, including ongoing, systematic, and serious restrictions of freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression, including the continuing closures of media outlets, arrests of journalists, and the censorship of expression in online forums such as blogs and websites; Whereas the Department of State’s 2016 Human Rights Report on Iran noted severe restrictions on civil liberties, including the freedoms of assembly, association, speech, religion, and press. Other human rights problems included abuse of due process combined with use of capital punishment for crimes that do not meet the requirements of due process, as well as cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; and disregard for the physical integrity of persons, whom authorities arbitrarily and unlawfully detained, tortured, or killed. ; Whereas, on December 29, 2017, the Department of State strongly condemned the arrest of peaceful protesters and noted that Iran’s leaders have turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos. ; Whereas, on January 1, 2018, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, stated that The UK is watching events in Iran closely. We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this. ; Whereas, on January 2, 2018, the French Foreign Ministry stated that French authorities are closely monitoring the situation in Iran. Demonstrating freely is a fundamental right. The same is true for the free movement of information. France expresses its concern over the large number of victims and arrests. ; Whereas, on January 1, 2018, a spokesman for the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that We call on the Iranian authorities to uphold and respect democratic and human rights and We are encouraged by the Iranian people who are bravely exercising their basic right to protest peacefully. Canada will continue to support the fundamental rights of the Iranians, including freedom of expression. ; Whereas Iran is a member of the United Nations, voted for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, among other international human rights treaties; and Whereas, in violation of these and other international obligations, Iranian regime officials continue to violate the fundamental human rights of the Iranian people: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) stands with the people of Iran that are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against an oppressive, corrupt regime; (2) condemns the Iranian regime’s serious human rights abuses against the Iranian people, significant corruption, and destabilizing activities abroad; (3) notes the statements of support for the protestors from key allies and calls on all democratic governments and institutions to clearly support the Iranian people’s right to live in a free society; (4) demands that the Iranian regime abide by its international obligations with respect to human rights and civil liberties, including freedoms of assembly, speech, and press; (5) urges the Administration to use targeted sanctions and work to convene emergency sessions of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Council to condemn the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by the Iranian regime and establish a mechanism by which the Security Council can monitor such violations; (6) encourages the Administration to expedite the license of communications technology to Iran to improve the ability of the Iranian people to speak freely; (7) calls on companies to reject requests by the regime to cut off the Iranian people from social media and other communications platforms; (8) respects the proud history and rich culture of the Iranian nation and fully supports efforts by the people of Iran to promote the establishment of basic freedoms that build the foundation for the emergence of a freely elected, open, and democratic political system; and (9) urges the President and the Secretary of State to work with the international community to ensure that violations of human rights are part of all formal and informal multilateral or bilateral discussions with and regarding Iran.

Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IV 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 676 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 5, 2018 Mr. Royce of California (for himself and Mr. Engel ) submitted the following resolution January 8, 2018 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Supporting the rights of the people of Iran to free expression, condemning the Iranian regime for its crackdown on legitimate protests, and for other purposes.

Whereas, on December 28, 2017, popular protests against the Iranian regime began in the city of Mashad and rapidly spread throughout the country, in the most significant anti-government protests in Iran since June 2009; Whereas the protesters have expressed numerous economic grievances, including the regime’s widespread corruption and the Revolutionary Guard Corps’ control of the country’s economy; Whereas protesters have decried the regime’s costly, destabilizing activities abroad, including its support for terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and the murderous Assad regime in Syria; Whereas reports indicate that more than 1,000 Iranians have been arrested and almost two dozen killed in connection with the protests; Whereas the Iranian regime has shut down mobile internet access and has blocked and pressured companies to cut off social media applications used by activists to organize and publicize the protests; Whereas Congress has provided authority to license the provision of communications technology to Iran to improve the ability of the Iranian people to speak freely; Whereas, on January 1, 2018, regime officials threatened to crack down, with Brigadier General Esmaeil Kowsari of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps stating, If this situation continues, the officials will definitely make some decisions and at that point this business will be finished. ; Whereas Congress has provided authority to designate and sanction elements of the Iranian regime involved in significant corruption and serious human rights abuses; Whereas Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij militia have been sanctioned by the United States for planning and carrying out serious human rights abuses against the Iranian people, including for the cruel and prolonged torture of political dissidents; Whereas the regime has routinely violated the human rights of Iranian citizens, including ongoing, systematic, and serious restrictions of freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression, including the continuing closures of media outlets, arrests of journalists, and the censorship of expression in online forums such as blogs and websites; Whereas the Department of State’s 2016 Human Rights Report on Iran noted severe restrictions on civil liberties, including the freedoms of assembly, association, speech, religion, and press. Other human rights problems included abuse of due process combined with use of capital punishment for crimes that do not meet the requirements of due process, as well as cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; and disregard for the physical integrity of persons, whom authorities arbitrarily and unlawfully detained, tortured, or killed. ; Whereas, on December 29, 2017, the Department of State strongly condemned the arrest of peaceful protesters and noted that Iran’s leaders have turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos. ; Whereas, on January 1, 2018, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, stated that The UK is watching events in Iran closely. We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this. ; Whereas, on January 2, 2018, the French Foreign Ministry stated that French authorities are closely monitoring the situation in Iran. Demonstrating freely is a fundamental right. The same is true for the free movement of information. France expresses its concern over the large number of victims and arrests. ; Whereas, on January 1, 2018, a spokesman for the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that We call on the Iranian authorities to uphold and respect democratic and human rights and We are encouraged by the Iranian people who are bravely exercising their basic right to protest peacefully. Canada will continue to support the fundamental rights of the Iranians, including freedom of expression. ; Whereas Iran is a member of the United Nations, voted for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, among other international human rights treaties; and Whereas, in violation of these and other international obligations, Iranian regime officials continue to violate the fundamental human rights of the Iranian people: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) stands with the people of Iran that are engaged in legitimate and peaceful protests against an oppressive, corrupt regime; (2) condemns the Iranian regime’s serious human rights abuses against the Iranian people, significant corruption, and destabilizing activities abroad; (3) notes the statements of support for the protestors from key allies and calls on all democratic governments and institutions to clearly support the Iranian people’s right to live in a free society; (4) demands that the Iranian regime abide by its international obligations with respect to human rights and civil liberties, including freedoms of assembly, speech, and press; (5) urges the Administration to use targeted sanctions and work to convene emergency sessions of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Council to condemn the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by the Iranian regime and establish a mechanism by which the Security Council can monitor such violations; (6) encourages the Administration to expedite the license of communications technology to Iran to improve the ability of the Iranian people to speak freely; (7) calls on companies to reject requests by the regime to cut off the Iranian people from social media and other communications platforms; (8) respects the proud history and rich culture of the Iranian nation and fully supports efforts by the people of Iran to promote the establishment of basic freedoms that build the foundation for the emergence of a freely elected, open, and democratic political system; and (9) urges the President and the Secretary of State to work with the international community to ensure that violations of human rights are part of all formal and informal multilateral or bilateral discussions with and regarding Iran.