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S. 559: Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005

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S. 559: Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005

109th Congress · introduced 2005-03-08 · International Affairs · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 453.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2005-03-08 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 453. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005

Plain summary

Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) develop a comprehensive strategy for the protection of vulnerable populations, especially women and children, who are affected by a humanitarian emergency; and (2) designate an individual within the Department of State or the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the coordinator for such efforts. Authorizes USAID to establish a fellowship program to increase USAID expertise in carrying out protective activities of vulnerable populations, especially women and children, affected by a humanitarian emergency. Prohibits certain Department or USAID funds for refugees or internally displaced persons to be provided to a primary grantee or contractor unless the grantee or contractor has adopted a code of conduct that is consistent with the six core principles recommended by the United Nations (UN) Inter-Agency Standing Committee. Directs the coordinator to seek to provide health services to vulnerable populations, including: (1) prevention of of sexual violence; (2) reduction of HIV transmission; (3) provision of obstetric care; and (4) integrating women's health services into the primary health care services provided during a humanitarian emergency. Amends the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000 to seek to extend microcredit program availability to vulnerable populations. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to: (1) permit providing military education and training where it would provide for the protection vulnerable populations; and (2) authorize the President to provide assistance for programs to protect vulnerable populations during humanitarian emergencies. Expresses the sense of Congress that the UN should strengthen the ability of its Department of Peacekeeping Operations to protect civilians, especially women and children, from sexual exploitation by peacekeeping personnel.

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

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

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

Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act of 2005

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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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: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

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 (1)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong109-s559 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong109 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong109