H.Con.Res. 486: Expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of Turkmenistan should take immediate steps to improve its respect for human rights and democratic practices, in keeping with its international commitments and obligations.

H.Con.Res. 486: Expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of Turkmenistan should take immediate steps to improve its respect for human rights and democratic practices, in keeping with its international commitments and obligations.

109th Congress · introduced 2006-09-27 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2006-09-27 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of Turkmenistan should take immediate steps to improve its respect for human rights and democratic practices, in keeping with its international commitments and obligations.

Plain summary

Expresses the sense of Congress that the government of Turkmenistan should: (1) release from prison and psychiatric institutions all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners, including Mukhametkuli Aimuradov, Sapardurdy Khajiev, Annakurba Amanklychev, Kakabai Tedjenov, Cheper Annaniyazova, and Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah; (2) provide the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with access to all detained persons, including Batyr Berdyev and Boris Shikhmuradov; (3) investigate the death in custody of Ogulsapar Muradova; (4) provide fair retrials of those imprisoned for the alleged 2002 assassination attempt of President Niyazov; (5) provide independent investigations into allegations of torture, ill-treatment; and deaths in custody; (6) permit the normal functioning of opposition groups, independent nongovernmental groups; (7) cease the use of collective punishment, psychiatric hospitals, and house arrest of relatives and associates of perceived dissidents; (8) allow press and related freedoms; (9) end the diversion of state funds into President Niyazov's personal offshore accounts; (10) make educational reforms; (11) continue to discuss human rights and democratization in Turkmenistan and; and (12) support increased Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) activities in Turkmenistan. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should consider: (1) appropriate responses if the government of Turkmenistan continues to ban peaceful independent political party participation in the upcoming December elections; (2) designating Turkmenistan a "country of particular concern;" (3) withholding Turkmenistan's waiver under the Jackson-Vanik amendment until the right to freedom of movement is ensured; (4) encouraging companies which transport Turkmen gas to account for revenues and make public the identities of all their shareholders and beneficiaries; (5) raising with the European Union (EU), as well as transit and purchasing countries, the importance of not entering into trade agreements with Turkmenistan until the government demonstrates a commitment to implementing basic norms of fiscal transparency; (6) issuing a report on the personal assets and wealth of President Niyazov; and (7) working with other U.N. member states to introduce a resolution denouncing human rights violations in Turkmenistan.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

A Yea supports adopting this resolution.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of Turkmenistan should take immediate steps to improve its respect for human rights and democratic practices, in keeping with its international commitments and obligations.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] reported raising $797,217 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (5)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote: A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-109hconres486.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/109/hconres>

Record fed-us-cong109-hconres486 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109