III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 80 Establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 1, 2021 Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and Mr. LANKFORD) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration RESOLUTION Establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission. Resolved, 1 SECTION 1. SENATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. 2 (a) COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT.— 3 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 4 Senate the Senate Human Rights Commission (in 5 this section referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 6 (2) DUTIES.—The Commission shall— 7 (A) serve as a forum for bipartisan discus- 8 sion of international human rights issues and 9 promotion of internationally recognized human 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:42 Mar 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 80 IS rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration 1 of Human Rights; 2 (B) raise awareness of international 3 human rights violations through regular brief- 4 ings and hearings; and 5 (C) collaborate with congressional commit- 6 tees and other congressional entities, the execu- 7 tive branch, human rights entities, and non- 8 governmental organizations to promote human 9 rights initiatives within the Senate. 10 (3) LIMITATIONS.—The Commission shall 11 not— 12 (A) have legislative jurisdiction; 13 (B) have authority to take legislative ac- 14 tion on any bill or resolution; or 15 (C) encroach upon the jurisdiction of any 16 standing, select, or special committee of the 17 Senate. 18 (4) MEMBERSHIP.—Any Senator may become a 19 member of the Commission by submitting a written 20 statement to that effect to the Commission. 21 (5) CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE COMMISSION.— 22 (A) IN GENERAL.—Two members of the 23 Commission shall be appointed to serve as co- 24 chairpersons of the Commission, as follows: 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:42 Mar 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 80 IS (i) One co-chairperson shall be ap- 1 pointed, and may be removed, by the ma- 2 jority leader of the Senate. 3 (ii) One co-chairperson shall be ap- 4 pointed, and may be removed, by the mi- 5 nority leader of the Senate. 6 (B) TERM.—The term of a member as a 7 co-chairperson of the Commission shall end on 8 the last day of the Congress during which the 9 member is appointed as a co-chairperson, unless 10 the member ceases being a Member of the Sen- 11 ate, leaves the Commission, resigns from the 12 position of co-chairperson, or is removed. 13 (C) PUBLICATION.—Appointments under 14 this paragraph shall be printed in the Congres- 15 sional Record. 16 (D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the posi- 17 tion of co-chairperson of the Commission shall 18 be filled in the same manner in which the origi- 19 nal appointment was made. 20 (b) COMMISSION STAFF.— 21 (1) COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.— 22 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is au- 23 thorized, from funds made available under sub- 24 section (c), to— 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:49 Mar 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 80 IS (i) employ such staff in the manner 1 and at a rate not to exceed that allowed 2 for employees of a committee of the Senate 3 under section 105(e)(3) of the Legislative 4 Branch Appropriation Act, 1968 (2 U.S.C. 5 4575(e)(3)); and 6 (ii) incur such expenses as may be 7 necessary or appropriate to carry out its 8 duties and functions. 9 (B) EXPENSES.— 10 (i) IN GENERAL.—Payments made 11 under this subsection for receptions, meals, 12 and food-related expenses shall be author- 13 ized only for actual expenses incurred by 14 the Commission in the course of con- 15 ducting its official duties and functions. 16 (ii) TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS.— 17 Amounts received as reimbursement for ex- 18 penses described in clause (i) shall not be 19 reported as income, and the expenses so 20 reimbursed shall not be allowed as a de- 21 duction under the Internal Revenue Code 22 of 1986. 23 (2) DESIGNATION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF.— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:42 Mar 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •SRES 80 IS (A) IN GENERAL.—Each co-chairperson of 1 the Commission may designate 1 professional 2 staff member. 3 (B) COMPENSATION OF SENATE EMPLOY- 4 EES.—In the case of the compensation of any 5 professional staff member designated under 6 subparagraph (A) who is an employee of a 7 Member of the Senate or of a committee of the 8 Senate and who has been designated to perform 9 services for the Commission, the professional 10 staff member shall continue to be paid by the 11 Member or committee, as the case may be, but 12 the account from which the professional staff 13 member is paid shall be reimbursed for the 14 services of the professional staff member (in- 15 cluding agency contributions when appropriate) 16 out of funds made available under subsection 17 (c). 18 (C) DUTIES.—Each professional staff 19 member designated under subparagraph (A) 20 shall— 21 (i) serve all members of the Commis- 22 sion; and 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:42 Mar 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •SRES 80 IS (ii) carry out such other functions as 1 the co-chairperson designating the profes- 2 sional staff member may specify. 3 (c) PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.— 4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The expenses of the Com- 5 mission shall be paid from the Contingent Fund of 6 the Senate, out of the account of Miscellaneous 7 Items, upon vouchers approved jointly by the co- 8 chairpersons (except that vouchers shall not be re- 9 quired for the disbursement of salaries of employees 10 who are paid at an annual rate of pay). 11 (2) AMOUNTS AVAILABLE.—For any fiscal year, 12 not more than $200,000 shall be expended for em- 13 ployees and expenses. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:42 Mar 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS