S.Res. 613: A resolution requesting a report on the observance of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedom in Saudi Arabia.

115th Congress · introduced 2018-08-22 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5834)

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2018-08-22 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5834) 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 requesting a report on the observance of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedom in Saudi Arabia.

Plain summary

Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the President should support Canada by calling upon Saudi Arabia to release Samar Badawi, Nassima al-Sada, Raif Badawi, Waleed Abu al-Khair, and other detained human rights activists, journalists, and religious minorities; and (2) the arrest of women's rights activists is contrary to Saudi Arabia's stated goals. Requests that the Department of State submits to Congress a statement regarding human rights and fundamental freedom in Saudi Arabia.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), 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 requesting a report on the observance of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedom in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · 7 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] reported raising $5.4 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 (2)

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.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115sres613.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/sres>

Record fed-us-cong115-sres613 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115