I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2404 To prohibit the availability of funds to provide assistance to foreign countries that criminalize or discriminate based on gender, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 30, 2023 Mr. SANTOS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To prohibit the availability of funds to provide assistance to foreign countries that criminalize or discriminate based on gender, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women’s Rights and 4 Protection Act of 2023’’. 5 SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR 6 FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT CRIMINALIZE OR 7 DISCRIMINATE BASED ON GENDER. 8 (a) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in subsection 9 (b), no Federal funds may be obligated or expended to 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:55 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2404.IH H2404 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 2404 IH provide assistance, directly or indirectly, to a country de- 1 scribed in subsection (c). 2 (b) EXCEPTION.— 3 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President may author- 4 ize an obligation or expenditure of Federal funds to 5 assist a country described in subsection (c) only if 6 the President determines, on a case-by-case basis, 7 that such proposed obligation or expenditure is vital 8 to the national security interests of the United 9 States. 10 (2) BRIEFING.—Upon making a determination 11 under paragraph (1), the President, acting through 12 the Secretary of State, shall provide to the appro- 13 priate congressional committees and congressional 14 leadership a briefing on such determination. 15 (c) COUNTRIES DESCRIBED.—A country described in 16 this subsection is a foreign country the government of 17 which the President determines has enacted or established 18 and is implementing any provision of law, or provision 19 which has the force and effect of law, that criminalizes 20 or discriminates on the basis of gender, including through 21 such provisions that, on the basis of gender— 22 (1) limit or prohibit women from— 23 (A) enrolling in or attending any edu- 24 cational institution, school, or other program of 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:55 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2404.IH H2404 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 2404 IH instruction, or otherwise seeking or receiving 1 education activities; 2 (B) operating a vehicle; 3 (C) freely exercising any religion; or 4 (D) walking or otherwise traveling without 5 a male escort; or 6 (2) authorize (including as a form of punish- 7 ment) female genital mutilation, sexual abuse, be- 8 heading, or any other practice that targets the lives 9 of women. 10 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 11 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT- 12 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- 13 mittees’’ means the following: 14 (A) The Committee on Foreign Affairs and 15 the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 16 of the House of Representatives. 17 (B) The Committee on Foreign Relations 18 and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 19 Senate. 20 (2) CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP.—The term 21 ‘‘congressional leadership’’ means the following: 22 (A) The Speaker of the House of Rep- 23 resentatives. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:55 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2404.IH H2404 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 2404 IH (B) The minority leader of the House of 1 Representatives. 2 (C) The majority leader of the Senate. 3 (D) The minority leader of the Senate. 4 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This Act shall take effect on 5 the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment 6 of this Act. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:55 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2404.IH H2404 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB