H.R. 5834: North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2008-04-17 · International Affairs · Latest: Became Public Law No: 110-346.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2008-04-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 110-346. (final step reached)
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

North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 22, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 - Expresses the sense of Congress with respect to the resettlement of North Korean refugees. Amends the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to authorize appropriations through FY2012 for: (1) activities to support human rights and democracy and freedom of information (by increasing the availability of non-government controlled sources) in North Korea; and (2) assistance to North Koreans who are outside North Korea. Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report respecting U.S. broadcasting to North Korea and the extent to which the Board has achieved the goal of 12-hour-per-day broadcasting to North Korea. States that the Special Envoy on North Korean human rights issues (as renamed by this Act) in North Korea shall have the rank of ambassador. Extends the Special Envoy's annual congressional reporting requirement through FY2012. Extends the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) congressional reporting requirement respecting U.S. humanitarian assistance to North Koreans and efforts to improve transparency and monitoring in the provision of such assistance inside North Korea through 2012. Sets forth specified reporting provisions.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), 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

North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5834, North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 (2008-05-12); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5834, North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2008 (2008-05-12)

Cosponsors on this site

Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA)

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 (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
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

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-110hr5834.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/110/hr>

Record fed-us-cong110-hr5834 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110