A resolution establishing the John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 80 Establishing the John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 27, 2019 Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. MERKLEY, and Ms. SINEMA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration RESOLUTION Establishing the John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission. Resolved, 1 SECTION 1. JOHN S. MCCAIN III HUMAN RIGHTS COMMIS- 2 SION. 3 (a) COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT.— 4 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 5 Senate the John S. McCain III Human Rights Com- 6 mission (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Commis- 7 sion’’). 8 (2) DUTIES.—The Commission shall— 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:18 Feb 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 80 IS (A) serve as a forum for bipartisan discus- 1 sion of international human rights issues and 2 promotion of internationally recognized human 3 rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration 4 of Human Rights; 5 (B) raise awareness of international 6 human rights violations through regular brief- 7 ings and hearings; and 8 (C) collaborate with the executive branch, 9 human rights entities, and nongovernmental or- 10 ganizations to promote human rights initiatives 11 within the Senate. 12 (3) MEMBERSHIP.—Any Senator may become a 13 member of the Commission by submitting a written 14 statement to that effect to the Commission. 15 (4) CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE COMMISSION.— 16 (A) IN GENERAL.—Two members of the 17 Commission shall be appointed to serve as co- 18 chairpersons of the Commission, as follows: 19 (i) One co-chairperson shall be ap- 20 pointed, and may be removed, by the ma- 21 jority leader of the Senate. 22 (ii) One co-chairperson shall be ap- 23 pointed, and may be removed, by the mi- 24 nority leader of the Senate. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:18 Feb 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 80 IS (B) TERM.—The term of a member as a 1 co-chairperson of the Commission shall end on 2 the last day of the Congress during which the 3 member is appointed as a co-chairperson, unless 4 the member ceases being a member of the Sen- 5 ate, leaves the Commission, resigns from the 6 position of co-chairperson, or is removed. 7 (C) PUBLICATION.—Appointments under 8 this paragraph shall be printed in the Congres- 9 sional Record. 10 (D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the posi- 11 tion of co-chairperson of the Commission shall 12 be filled in the same manner in which the origi- 13 nal appointment was made. 14 (b) COMMISSION STAFF.— 15 (1) COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.— 16 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission is au- 17 thorized, from funds made available under sub- 18 section (c), to— 19 (i) employ such staff in the manner 20 and at a rate not to exceed that allowed 21 for employees of a committee of the Senate 22 under section 105(e)(3) of the Legislative 23 Branch Appropriation Act, 1968 (2 U.S.C. 24 4575(e)(3)); and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:18 Feb 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 80 IS (ii) incur such expenses as may be 1 necessary or appropriate to carry out its 2 duties and functions. 3 (B) EXPENSES.— 4 (i) IN GENERAL.—Payments made 5 under this subsection for receptions, meals, 6 and food-related expenses shall be author- 7 ized only for actual expenses incurred by 8 the Commission in the course of con- 9 ducting its official duties and functions. 10 (ii) TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS.— 11 Amounts received as reimbursement for ex- 12 penses described in clause (i) shall not be 13 reported as income, and the expenses so 14 reimbursed shall not be allowed as a de- 15 duction under the Internal Revenue Code 16 of 1986. 17 (2) DESIGNATION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF.— 18 (A) IN GENERAL.—Each co-chairperson of 19 the Commission may designate 1 professional 20 staff member. 21 (B) COMPENSATION OF SENATE EMPLOY- 22 EES.—In the case of the compensation of any 23 professional staff member designated under 24 subparagraph (A) who is an employee of a 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:18 Feb 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •SRES 80 IS Member of the Senate or of a committee of the 1 Senate and who has been designated to perform 2 services for the Commission, the professional 3 staff member shall continue to be paid by the 4 Member or committee, as the case may be, but 5 the account from which the professional staff 6 member is paid shall be reimbursed for the 7 services of the professional staff member (in- 8 cluding agency contributions when appropriate) 9 out of funds made available under subsection 10 (c). 11 (C) DUTIES.—Each professional staff 12 member designated under subparagraph (A) 13 shall— 14 (i) serve all members of the Commis- 15 sion; and 16 (ii) carry out such other functions as 17 the co-chairperson designating the profes- 18 sional staff member may specify. 19 (c) PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.— 20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The expenses of the Com- 21 mission shall be paid from the Contingent Fund of 22 the Senate, out of the account of Miscellaneous 23 Items, upon vouchers approved jointly by the co- 24 chairpersons (except that vouchers shall not be re- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:18 Feb 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •SRES 80 IS quired for the disbursement of salaries of employees 1 who are paid at an annual rate of pay). 2 (2) AMOUNTS AVAILABLE.—For any fiscal year, 3 not more than $200,000 shall be expended for em- 4 ployees and expenses. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:18 Feb 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR80.IS SR80 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS