HRES 169
106th Congress
House
International Affairs
Aggression
Americans in foreign countries
Armed Forces and National Security
Arrest
Ballots
Charities
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Crime and Law Enforcement
Democracy
East Asia
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Hmong (Asian people)
Human rights
Imprisonment
International agencies
Kidnapping
Laos
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to democracy, free elections, and human rights in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Everywhere this bill has been
16 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Agreed to (House)
Nov 16, 1999
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Nov 16, 1999
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 16, 1999
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 1 (Roll no. 591).
Nov 16, 1999
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H12061)
Nov 16, 1999
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Nov 16, 1999
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 169.
Nov 16, 1999
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H12020-12026)
Nov 16, 1999
Mr. Gilman moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
Nov 9, 1999
Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules, (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Nov 9, 1999
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 27, 1999
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 27, 1999
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 15, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
May 14, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E961)
May 13, 1999
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
May 13, 1999
Introduced in House
Votes taken on this bill
1
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 16, 1999 | House · vote #591 | Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended | Passed | 412–1 | See who voted → |
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Plain-English summary
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the present Government of Laos should: (1) respect internationally recognized norms of human rights and the democratic freedoms of the people of Laos and honor its commitments to those norms and freedoms as embodied in its constitution and its participation in international organizations and agreements; (2) issue a public statement reaffirming its commitment to protecting religious freedom and other basic human rights; (3) institute a democratic electoral system, with openly contested, free, and fair elections by secret ballot, beginning no later than the next National Assembly elections, currently scheduled to be held in 2002; and (4) allow unrestricted access by international human rights monitors to all prisons and to all regions of the country to investigate alleged human rights abuses.
Decries the disappearance of Houa Ly and Michael Vang. Urges the Lao Government to return them or there remains to U.S. authorities and their families at once if it is determined that such Government is responsible for their disappearance. Warns the Lao Government of the serious consequences, including sanctions, of any unjustified arrest, abduction, imprisonment, disappearance, or other act of aggression against U.S. citizens. Urges the Department of State and other appropriate U.S. agencies to share the maximum amount of information regarding their disappearance.
What's happening now
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Bill text
2 versions
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Committees of jurisdiction
2
Cosponsors
3
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Res. 169: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to democracy, free elections, and human rights in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HRES-169/
"H. Res. 169: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to democracy, free elections, and human rights in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HRES-169/.
H. Res. 169, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HRES-169/.
[H. Res. 169: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to democracy, free elections, and human rights in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HRES-169/)