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HR 1625 106th Congress House

Human Rights Information Act

Official title: To provide a process for declassifying on an expedited basis certain documents relating to human rights abuses in Guatemala, Honduras, and other regions.

Introduced: April 29, 1999 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative remediesArmed Forces and National SecurityCaribbean areaCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
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Confidential communicationsCongressCongress and foreign policyCongressional reporting requirementsCovert operationsDue process of lawEvidence (Law)Executive reorganizationFederal advisory bodiesFreedom of informationGovernment paperworkGovernmental investigationsGuatemalaHondurasHuman rightsInformersIntelligence officersInternational AffairsLatin AmericaLawNongovernmental organizationsOfficial secretsPresident and foreign policyPresidential appointmentsRight of privacySecurity classification (Government documents)
This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 5, 2000
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Apr 5, 2000
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
May 14, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E966-967)
May 10, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.
Apr 29, 1999
Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
Apr 29, 1999
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 5, 2000

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Human Rights Information Act - Requires certain Federal agencies to identify and organize all human rights records regarding activities occurring in Guatemala and Honduras after 1944 for declassification and disclosure purposes, and to make them available to the public.

Instructs the President to report to Congress regarding agency compliance.

Prescribes guidelines under which the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel shall review agency determinations to postpone public disclosure of any human rights record. Authorizes postponement of such public disclosures on specified grounds.

Requires any U.S. agency, upon request by an entity created by the United Nations, the Organization of American States (or similar entity), a national truth commission (or similar entity), or from the principal justice or human rights official of a country that is investigating a pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, to review, declassify, and publicly disclose any human pertinent rights records.

Directs the Information Security Policy Advisory Council to report to Congress on declassification of human rights records relating to other countries and to make such report available to the public.

Creates two additional positions in the Panel in order to implement this Act.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1625: Human Rights Information Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-1625/
MLA
"H.R. 1625: Human Rights Information Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-1625/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1625, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-1625/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1625: Human Rights Information Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-1625/)
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