“A resolution establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes the Senate Human Rights Commission (Commission) in the Senate to (1) serve as a bipartisan forum for discussing international human rights issues and promoting rights in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, (2) monitor global human rights and raise awareness of violations through briefings, hearings, and roundtables, (3) maintain records of its activities, and (4) collaborate with congressional committees (including the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission), the executive branch, and external organizations on human rights initiatives. The Commission has no legislative jurisdiction, authority to act on bills or resolutions, or authority to encroach on standing, select, or special committees; it comprises 10 Senators (5 appointed by the President pro tempore from the majority party after consultation with the majority leader, including 1 co-chair, and 5 from the minority party after consultation with the minority leader, including 1 co-chair), with terms ending at the close of the appointing Congress. The Commission may employ staff at rates not exceeding those for Senate committee employees under 2 U.S.C. 4575(e)(3), with each co-chair able to designate 1 professional staff member (reimbursed if detailed from a Member or committee office), and may incur necessary expenses (limited for receptions, meals, etc., to actual official costs) paid from the Senate Contingent Fund (Miscellaneous Items account) upon joint co-chair approval, not to exceed $200,000 in any fiscal year. This section sunsets on January 1, 2029.