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HR 515 112th Congress House International Affairs Belarus Congressional oversight Europe Foreign aid and international relief Human rights International exchange and broadcasting Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Protest and dissent Religion Sanctions Visas and passports

Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011

Introduced: January 26, 2011 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 32 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 3, 2012
Signed by President.
Jan 3, 2012
Became Public Law No: 112-82.
Dec 23, 2011
Presented to President.
Dec 20, 2011
On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR 12/19/2011 H9938)
Dec 20, 2011
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.(text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR 12/19/2011 H9938)
Dec 20, 2011
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9999)
Dec 20, 2011
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 19, 2011
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendments to H.R. 515.
Dec 19, 2011
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H9938-9940)
Dec 19, 2011
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
Dec 15, 2011
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 14, 2011
Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote. (text: CR S8611)
Dec 14, 2011
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.(text: CR S8611)
Dec 14, 2011
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8611)
Dec 14, 2011
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jul 7, 2011
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jul 6, 2011
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 6, 2011
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4632-4634)
Jul 6, 2011
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4632-4634)
Jul 6, 2011
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 515.
Jul 6, 2011
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4632-4638)
Jul 6, 2011
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Apr 14, 2011
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 13, 2011
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
Apr 13, 2011
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 13, 2011
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Mar 23, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade.
Mar 1, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.
Mar 1, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia.
Feb 14, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
Jan 26, 2011
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 26, 2011
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 14, 2011. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011 - Amends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 to express the sense of Congress that the President should continue to support radio, television, and Internet broadcasting to the people of Belarus in languages spoken in Belarus by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Voice of America, European Radio for Belarus, and Belsat.

Includes among the criteria that the government of Belarus must meet in order to end U.S. sanctions: (1) release of individuals who were jailed based on political beliefs or expression in connection with the repression that attended the December 2010 presidential election; (2) prosecution of senior leadership of the government of Belarus responsible for violations of human rights violations, including human rights violations in connection with the presidential election; (3) withdrawal of politically motivated legal charges against opposition activists and independent journalists in connection with the presidential election; and (4) holding free and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections consistent with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) standards and under OSCE supervision.

Authorizes the denial of U.S. entry to members of the security or law enforcement services who have participated in the crackdown on opposition leaders, journalists, and peaceful protesters or in the persecution of religious groups or human rights defenders.

Requires that the President's annual Belarus report to Congress include information about government of Belarus cooperation with any foreign government or organization related to Internet censorship or surveillance or the purchase or receipt of any technology or training for such purposes.

What's happening now January 3, 2012

Became Public Law No: 112-82.

 Committees of jurisdiction 8
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3