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H.R. 1383: Vietnam Human Rights Act

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H.R. 1383: Vietnam Human Rights Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-02-26 · International Affairs · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-02-26 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 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

Vietnam Human Rights Act

Plain summary

Vietnam Human Rights Act This bill amends various reporting requirements related to foreign assistance and human rights. It also authorizes various aid programs related to Vietnam. In its annual reports to Congress on human rights in foreign countries and U.S. security assistance programs, the Department of State shall include assessments of online freedom of expression in each country, including efforts by governments to censor information, punish individuals for their speech, and monitor communications. The State Department's annual report on human rights in Vietnam shall include information regarding the country's progress in various areas, including with respect to ending torture and violence against religious groups and returning property improperly confiscated by the Vietnamese government. The bill authorizes the State Department to establish programs to (1) monitor and halt sex trafficking of women from Vietnam and other Asian countries, and (2) address Vietnam's growing sex-ratio disparity. It authorizes the President to provide assistance for ethnic minority groups in Vietnam affected by human rights violations and directs the State Department to report on such efforts.

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

Vietnam Human Rights Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · 51 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Tom Cole (R-OK), Adam Smith (D-WA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Al Green (D-TX), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] reported raising $797,217 (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)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr1383 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116