S. 2129: Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-06-17 · International Affairs · Latest: Held at the desk.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-06-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Held at the desk. 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

Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2021

Plain summary

Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2021 This bill authorizes sanctions related to censorship in North Korea and addresses related issues. The President may impose property-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities responsible for implementing or facilitating North Korea's censorship laws and surveillance. For the individuals that meet such criteria, the President may also impose visa-blocking sanctions. The bill also authorizes the U.S. Agency for Global Media to provide increased broadcasting and grants for various purposes, including the development of internet freedom tools to facilitate information sharing related to North Korea and the restoration of the agency's broadcasting capacity to North Korea. The President must submit to Congress a strategy to combat North Korea's information environment. The Department of State and the Department of the Treasury must jointly report to Congress each year on U.S. government activities related to the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate), 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

Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate)

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 2129, Otto Warmbier Countering North Korean Censorship and Surveillance Act of 2021 (2021-12-06)

Cosponsors on this site

Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bill Hagerty (R-TN)

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 (1)

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).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117s2129.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/s>

Record fed-us-cong117-s2129 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117