Reaffirming the importance of upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in United States foreign policy.

IV 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 137 Reaffirming the importance of upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in United States foreign policy. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 18, 2021 Mr. MEEKS (for himself and Mr. MCCAUL) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Reaffirming the importance of upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in United States foreign policy. Whereas strong democracies make strong partners for the United States in fostering the peace and prosperity that our citizens desire; Whereas democratic principles and values have come under increasing strain around the world as governments back- slide on their commitments to govern justly, trans- parently, and with respect for the rights of their citizens; Whereas support for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law is consistent with our national character and founding values; Whereas the promotion, protection, and advancement of de- mocracy, human rights, and the rule of law around the VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:15 Feb 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR137.IH HR137 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 137 IH world have been core, bipartisan components of United States foreign policy essential to the achievement of other United States foreign policy goals, including reducing poverty and racial inequality, promoting peaceful resolu- tion of conflict, strengthening global alliances, ensuring gender equality, expanding prosperity, fostering greater security for all people, and sustaining the global environ- ment; Whereas the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 states that ‘‘a principal goal of the foreign policy of the United States is to promote the increased observance of internationally recognized human rights by all countries’’; Whereas the United States, as a signatory of the Helsinki Final Act, has joined other like-minded countries in af- firming its commitment to respecting ‘‘human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.’’; Whereas this commitment includes respecting the rights of ‘‘minorities to equality before the law . . . [and] the full opportunity for the actual enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms’’; Whereas it is longstanding United States policy to work alongside like-minded democratic governments, legisla- tures, civil society leaders and organizations, academic in- stitutions and scholars, independent media and journal- ists, anti-corruption activists, and international organiza- tions worldwide to promote, protect, and advance the cause of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; Whereas civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and journalists play a critical role in promoting human VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:15 Feb 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR137.IH HR137 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 137 IH rights, transparency, accountability, and good govern- ance, and around the world often face smear campaigns, criminalization, or other governmental constraints on their work, including intimidation, death threats, arbi- trary detention, physical attacks, sexual violence, en- forced disappearances, and murder; Whereas racism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of ethnic and religious discrimination threaten the rights, safety, and prosperity of individuals around the world; Whereas support for democracy around the world enhances regional peace and stability, opens doors for economic op- portunity, and provides a counterweight to violent and radical extremism—all of which are in the national secu- rity interests of the United States and its allies; Whereas democratic systems of government enshrine the indi- vidual human rights of all citizens, so that every indi- vidual can contribute to and enjoy the benefits of peace- ful, prosperous societies; Whereas the United States supports the existence of and has often worked in partnership with independent and multi- lateral human rights organizations, both at local and international levels, and has used their reporting for pol- icy development and referred to their findings in the an- nual Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and other United States policy docu- ments; Whereas the idea of America enshrined in our democratic principles is one of our greatest competitive strengths, such that when we abandon these values and adopt the flawed principles and tactics of our adversaries, we be- VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:15 Feb 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR137.IH HR137 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 137 IH come weaker as a country and undermine our standing around the world; Whereas some countries are actively promoting an authori- tarian model of government as an alternative to the model long advanced by the United States based on de- mocracy, human rights, and the rule of law, with the au- thoritarian model representing a threat to the role and influence of the United States in the world; Whereas some countries hostile to the democratic principles and values the United States has long promoted are also working to erode international alliances and organizations dedicated to advancing those principles, thereby placing United States security and economic interests at risk; and Whereas the United States has historically allied most closely and productively with those countries committed to de- mocracy, human rights, and the rule of law: Now, there- fore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of the 2 United States to upholding democracy, human 3 rights, and the rule of law, at home and in the 4 world; 5 (2) acknowledges that United States national 6 security is enhanced in a world in which countries 7 share a commitment to universal rights and free- 8 doms and observe the democratic rule of law, and in 9 which prosperity and justice create the conditions 10 for peace; 11 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:15 Feb 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR137.IH HR137 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 137 IH (3) promotes, supports, and encourages greater 1 respect for democracy, human rights, and the rule of 2 law throughout the world for all people, including 3 women and minorities, whose rights should be af- 4 forded equal protection under the law; 5 (4) encourages the United States Government 6 to work constructively with all countries and multi- 7 lateral institutions that seek to advance the cause of 8 freedom, peace, and security, which can be achieved 9 only through democracy, respect for human rights, 10 and the rule of law; 11 (5) calls on the United States Government to 12 continue its longstanding support for organizations 13 dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing 14 democracy, human rights, and the rule of law world- 15 wide; 16 (6) supports the United States Government’s 17 crucial role in ending racial injustice and religious 18 persecution as a key priority of U.S. policy and an 19 integral part of its mission to promote, protect, and 20 advance democracy, human rights, and the rule of 21 law around the world; 22 (7) urges the United States Government to con- 23 tinue its strong support for human rights defenders, 24 civil society activists, scholars, and independent jour- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:15 Feb 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR137.IH HR137 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HRES 137 IH nalists working to promote, protect, and advance de- 1 mocracy, human rights, and the rule of law world- 2 wide; 3 (8) affirms that the United States Government 4 must serve as an example for countries around the 5 world by showing the highest level of respect for de- 6 mocracy, human rights, and the rule of law at home; 7 and 8 (9) calls on all branches of the Federal Govern- 9 ment to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human 10 Rights, the Refugee Convention Protocol of 1967, 11 the International Covenant on Civil and Political 12 Rights, the Helsinki Final Act, and other relevant 13 international human rights agreements ratified by 14 the United States. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:15 Feb 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR137.IH HR137 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS