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107th Congress > House > Vote 332
Clerk session vote number: 335
Sponsor: SMITH, Christopher Henry (R-NJ)
Description: To promote freedom and democracy in Viet Nam
Bill summary: Viet Nam Human Rights Act -
Title I: General Provisions
- Declares the purpose of this Act is to promote the development of freedom and democracy in Viet Nam.
Title II: Promotion of Freedom and Democracy in Viet Nam
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Subtitle A: Prohibition on Nonhumanitarian Assistance to the Government of Viet Nam
- Prohibits U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the Government of Viet Nam for FY 2002, and for each subsequent fiscal year, except for any program assisted in FY 2001, unless the President
determines and certifies to Congress that: (1) the Government of Viet Nam has made substantial progress toward releasing all political and religious prisoners from imprisonment, including respecting freedom of religion and the human rights of members of ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands or elsewhere in Viet Nam; and (2) neither any official of the Government of Viet Nam nor entity owned by such Government was complicit in a severe form of trafficking in persons (or the Government of Viet Nam took appropriate steps to end such complicity). Authorizes the President to waive such requirements if he determines that the provision to the Government of Viet Nam of increased U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance would promote the purposes of this Act or is otherwise in the national interests of the United States.
(Sec. 202) Requires the President to ensure that certain human rights requirements are applied with respect to the provision by specified international financial institutions of multilateral nonhumanitarian assistance to Viet Nam.
Subtitle B: Assistance to Support Democracy in Viet Nam
- Authorizes the President to provide U.S. assistance, through appropriate nongovernmental organizations, for the support of individuals and organizations to promote human rights and nonviolent democratic change in Viet Nam. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2002 and 2003.
Subtitle C: United States Public Diplomacy
- Declares it is U.S. policy to take such measures as are necessary to overcome the jamming of Radio Free Asia by the Government of Viet Nam. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2002 and 2003.
(Sec. 222) Declares it is U.S. policy that educational and cultural exchange programs with Viet Nam should promote progress toward freedom and democracy in Viet Nam.
Subtitle D: United States Refugee Policy
- Declares it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Viet Nam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who are eligible for the Orderly Departure Program or any other U.S. refugee program but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or certain circumstances beyond their control. Makes migration and refugee assistance available for FY 2001 through 2003 for the protection (including, in appropriate cases, the resettlement) of Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers, including Montagnards in Cambodia.
Subtitle E: Annual Report on Progress Toward Freedom and Democracy in Viet Nam
- Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to Congress: (1) that the requirements contained in the President's determination and certification have been met, if applicable; (2) on the President's waiver of the requirements under this Act, if applicable; (3) on U.S. efforts to secure transmission sites for Radio Free Asia in countries in close geographical proximity to Viet Nam; (4) on efforts to ensure that educational and cultural exchange programs with Viet Nam promote certain policies regarding participation in such programs; and (5) on steps taken by the United States to offer refugee resettlement to certain Viet Nam nationals.
Bill titles: To promote freedom and democracy in Viet Nam.
Links for more info on the vote: congress.gov
