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HR 590 114th Congress House International Affairs Civil actions and liability Congressional oversight Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Department of State Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Executive agency funding and structure Foreign aid and international relief HIV/AIDS Human rights Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination Violent crime World health

International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015

Introduced: January 28, 2015 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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
Feb 11, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
Jan 28, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Jan 28, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015

Directs the Secretary of State to establish in the Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor a Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Peoples who shall:

  • direct U.S. government efforts regarding the human rights of LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender);
  • represent the United States in diplomatic matters relevant to the human rights of LGBT people, including discrimination and violence against LGBT people;
  • serve as the principal advisor to the Secretary of State regarding human rights for LGBT people; and
  • implement activities regarding support, education, resettlement, and empowerment of LGBT people.

Directs the Special Envoy to develop or update annually for five years a U.S. global strategy to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against LGBT people.

Authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide assistance to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against LGBT people.

What's happening now February 11, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.

 Related & companion bills 1
 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. 590: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-590/
MLA
"H.R. 590: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-590/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 590, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-590/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 590: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-590/)
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