S.Res. 168: A resolution supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.

115th Congress · introduced 2017-05-17 · International Affairs · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 226.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-05-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 226. 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

A resolution supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.

Plain summary

Condemns: (1) killings of peaceful protesters and excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces; (2) the detention of journalists, students, activists, and political leaders who exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression through peaceful protests; and (3) abuse of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation to stifle political and civil dissent and journalistic freedoms. Urges protesters in Ethiopia to refrain from violence and to reject violence in demonstrations. Calls on the government of Ethiopia to: address broad and persistent concerns expressed across large swatches of the citizenry; end the practice of excessive force by security forces, enforce professional discipline, and hold accountable security forces responsible for such abuses; grant the United Nations (U.N.) High Commissioner for Human Rights and U.N. Special Rapporteurs access to conduct a comprehensive examination of the state of human rights in Ethiopia and work with such entities to improve human rights conditions; conduct an investigation into the killings, detentions, and instances of excessive use of force that took place in response to protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions, hold security forces accused of such actions accountable through public proceedings, and publicly release written findings from such investigation; release from incarceration all dissidents, members of the political opposition, activists, and journalists who have been jailed for exercising constitutional rights; respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and guarantee freedom of the press and mass media; engage in open consultations relative to its development strategy, especially those strategies that could result in people's displacement from land; and cease proclamations that are used to harass individuals or organizations engaging in peaceful political dissent or that prohibit funding for civil society organizations working for respect for constitutional rights, the rule of law, and protection of human rights. Calls on the Department of State to: (1) share with Congress the recently concluded interagency review of U.S. security assistance and a description of current objectives and criteria that advance critical regional security objectives while mitigating the threat of assistance being misused; (2) engage with the Ethiopian government in strengthening the bilateral Working Group on Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights and provide support for implementation of Ethiopia's National Human Rights Action Plan; and (3) improve oversight and accountability of U.S. assistance to Ethiopia and ensure that such assistance reinforces long-term goals for improved governance. Calls on: (1) the U.S. Agency for International Development to lead efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy to support improved democracy and governance in Ethiopia; and (2) the President to apply appropriate sanctions on foreign persons or entities responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against any nationals in Ethiopia. Supports the peaceful efforts of the Ethiopian people to exercise their constitutional rights.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s)), 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

A resolution supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))

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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. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] · 32 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), John Thune (R-SD), Tim Scott (R-SC), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gary C. Peters (D-MI)

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.
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.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
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 (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115sres168.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/sres>

Record fed-us-cong115-sres168 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115