H.Res. 1631: Calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts from and in Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus as well as for general respect for religious freedom.

111th Congress · introduced 2010-09-16 · International Affairs · Latest: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2010-09-16 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 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

Calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts from and in Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus as well as for general respect for religious freedom.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Expresses the appreciation of the House of Representatives for the efforts of those countries that have restored religious property wrongly confiscated during the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus. Welcomes the initiatives and commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to work to restore and maintain religious heritage sites. Urges the government of Turkey to: (1) implement immediately the United Nations Security Council Resolutions relevant to Cyprus as well as the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights; (2) work to retrieve and restore all lost artifacts and immediately halt destruction on religious sites, illegal archaeological excavations, and traffic in icons and antiquities; and (3) allow for the proper preservation and reconstruction of destroyed or altered religious sites and immediately cease all restrictions on freedom of religion for the enclaved Cypriots. Calls on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the President, the Secretary of State, and the State Department Office of International Religious Freedom to take specified steps to address the concerns and actions called for in this resolution. Urges the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to: (1) ensure that member states do not receive stolen Cypriot art and antiquities; and (2) press the government of Turkey to abide by its international commitments in this matter.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment), 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.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts from and in Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus as well as for general respect for religious freedom.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9] · 27 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Dina Titus (D-NV), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Jim Costa (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-9] reported raising $2.3 million (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 (4)

Ballot initiative: A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
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 (Passed House without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111hres1631.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/hres>

Record fed-us-cong111-hres1631 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111