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HR 2534 108th Congress House

Human Rights Information Act

Official title: To promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law by providing a process for executive agencies for declassifying on an expedited basis and disclosing ce… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law by providing a process for executive agencies for declassifying on an expedited basis and disclosing certain documents relating to human rights abuses in countries other than the United States.

Introduced: June 19, 2003 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Administrative remediesArmed Forces and National SecurityCaribbean areaCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
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)
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 2, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census.
Jun 19, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
Jun 19, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 2, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Human Rights Information Act - Requires certain Federal agencies to identify, review, and organize all human rights records, for declassification and public disclosure, if the President determines bona fide a request for them by an individual or entity carrying an official mandate to investigate a pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

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

Requires each Federal agency to identify, review, and organize all human rights records regarding activities occurring in Guatemala and Honduras for declassification and public disclosure.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Democratic 5 Republican 1
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Jun 19, 2003
 D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Jun 19, 2003
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Jun 19, 2003
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jun 19, 2003
SANDLIN, MAX
· Jun 19, 2003
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Jun 19, 2003
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jun 19, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2534: Human Rights Information Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2534/
MLA
"H.R. 2534: Human Rights Information Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2534/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2534, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2534/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2534: Human Rights Information Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2534/)
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