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H.R. 590: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015

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H.R. 590: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-01-28 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-01-28 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. 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

International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015

Plain summary

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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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

International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] · 64 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Steve Cohen (D-TN), James A. Himes (D-CT), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Smith (D-WA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), William R. Keating (D-MA), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Judy Chu (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and 4 more.

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.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr590 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114