Recognizing the goal of United States foreign policy should be to promote human rights and equal rights for all.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 527 Recognizing the goal of United States foreign policy should be to promote human rights and equal rights for all. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 25, 2019 Mr. LOWENTHAL (for himself, Mr. POCAN, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. HAALAND, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SWALWELL of California, Ms. MENG, Ms. MOORE, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. OMAR, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. RASKIN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. COSTA, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. HIMES, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mrs. TORRES of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LOFGREN, and Mr. PETERS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the goal of United States foreign policy should be to promote human rights and equal rights for all. Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopt- ed by the United Nations (UN) 71 years ago on Decem- ber 10, 1948, represented the first comprehensive agree- ment among nations as to the specific rights and free- doms of all human beings; Whereas the Department of State has declared that a central goal of the United States foreign policy is the promotion VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Jul 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR527.IH HR527 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 527 IH of respect for human rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a ‘‘common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive meas- ures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of UN Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.’’; Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States to impose consistent and principled human rights policies when engaging with both allies and competitors alike; Whereas according to the Human Rights Foundation, more than half of the world’s population live under nondemo- cratic regimes, meaning that 3,700,000,000 people are controlled by absolute monarchs, military occupation or juntas, competitive authoritarians, or full-fledged dicta- torships; Whereas human rights, equal rights, and justice are essential to the realization of fundamental freedoms and pro- moting more equitable societies, preventing conflict and atrocities, and enhancing participation in the democratic process; Whereas the United States must build respect for and the protection of human rights, equal rights, and justice for all here at home in order to set a standard by which both allies and competitors can be held to account; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Jul 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR527.IH HR527 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 527 IH Whereas particularly in the face of rising global authoritari- anism, the executive and legislative branches of the United States Government must prioritize protection of these rights in words and in action when they engage with foreign governments, allies, and competitors alike, around the globe: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes the 71st anniversary of the Uni- 2 versal Declaration of Human Rights and the celebra- 3 tion of ‘‘Human Rights Day’’; 4 (2) supports the ideals, indivisibility, and uni- 5 versality of human rights, reaffirms the Universal 6 Declaration of Human Rights, and recognizes that 7 the erosion and violation of human rights anywhere 8 threaten fundamental human rights everywhere; 9 (3) urges every UN Member State to promote 10 universal human rights for all peoples; 11 (4) urges the executive and legislative branches 12 of the United States Government to develop and im- 13 plement United States foreign policy that promotes 14 human rights, equal rights, and justice for all; and 15 (5) encourages the people of the United States 16 to observe ‘‘Human Rights Day’’ and continue their 17 commitment to upholding freedom, democracy, 18 equality, and human rights across the globe. 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:38 Jul 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR527.IH HR527 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS