Bill · S.Res. 121· Senate(119-SRES-121)
A resolution establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission.
- Introduced
- 3/10/2025
- Last activity
- 3/10/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text: CR S1632-1633)
- Sponsored by
- Thomas Tillis
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
A Senate resolution is the Senate speaking for itself: stating a position, honouring someone, or setting its own rules. Adopting it is the whole process. Once the Senate agrees to it, it is officially the Senate's word; it is not a law, so the House and the President have no part in it.
What this bill would do
This resolution establishes the Senate Human Rights Commission to continue the work of the Senate Human Rights Caucus. The Commission is designed to serve as a bipartisan forum for discussing international human rights issues and promoting the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is tasked with monitoring the state of human rights globally and raising awareness through briefings, hearings, and roundtables. Members of the Commission will collaborate with various congressional entities, the executive branch, and various organizations to promote human rights initiatives. The Commission's duties are limited to preventing encroachment on the jurisdiction of other Senate committees and prohibit legislative action. This new body is set to expire on January 1, 2029.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Transparency and Access to Information: By putting testimony regarding human rights into the record, the Commission allows the Federal Government and the public to access information and insight regarding human rights issues (Section 1, preamble).
-
Global Human Rights Awareness: The Commission is tasked with monitoring human rights status across the world and raising awareness of critical violations through briefings, hearings, and private roundtables (Section 1(a)(2)(B)).
-
Promotion of International Standards: The Commission will serve as a forum to promote internationally recognized human rights as established in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Section 1(a)(2)(A)).
-
Collaborative Advocacy: The Commission will work with human rights organizations, civil society organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to promote human rights initiatives (Section 1(a)(2)(D)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Legislative Limitations: The Commission is specifically prohibited from having legislative jurisdiction or the authority to take legislative action on any bill or resolution (Section 1(a)(3)).
-
Jurisdictional Restrictions: The Commission is barred from encroaching upon the jurisdiction of any standing, select, or special committee of the Senate (Section 1(a)(3)(C)).
- 3/10/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text: CR S1632-1633)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware