US Congress House Bill 515 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 8-5)
Status: Passed on January 3 2012 - 100% progression
Action: 2012-01-03 - Became Public Law No: 112-82.
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [PDF]

Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011 - Amends the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 to express the sense of Congress that the President should continue to support radio, television, and Internet broadcasting to the people of Belarus in languages spoken in Belarus by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Voice of America, European Radio for Belarus, and Belsat. Includes among the criteria that the government of Belarus must meet in order to end U.S. sanctions: (1) release of individuals who were jailed based on political beliefs or expression in connection with the repression that attended the December 2010 presidential election; (2) prosecution of senior leadership of the government of Belarus responsible for violations of human rights violations, including human rights violations in connection with the presidential election; (3) withdrawal of politically motivated legal charges against opposition activists and independent journalists in connection with the presidential election; and (4) holding free and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections consistent with Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) standards and under OSCE supervision. Authorizes the denial of U.S. entry to members of the security or law enforcement services who have participated in the crackdown on opposition leaders, journalists, and peaceful protesters or in the persecution of religious groups or human rights defenders. Requires that the President's annual Belarus report to Congress include information about government of Belarus cooperation with any foreign government or organization related to Internet censorship or surveillance or the purchase or receipt of any technology or training for such purposes.

Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011

Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ]	Rep. Dan Burton [R-IN]	Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]	Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D-TX]
Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]	Rep. Tom Marino [R-PA]	Rep. Thaddeus McCotter [R-MI]	Rep. Mike McIntyre [D-NC]
Rep. Frank Pallone [D-NJ]	Rep. Mike Pompeo [R-KS]	Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [R-CA]	Rep. John Shimkus [R-IL]
Rep. Frank Wolf [R-VA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2012-01-03	Senate	Became Public Law No: 112-82.
2012-01-03	Senate	Signed by President.
2011-12-23	Senate	Presented to President.
2011-12-20	Senate	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2011-12-20	Senate	On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR 12/19/2011 H9938)
2011-12-20	Senate	Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9999)
2011-12-19	Senate	At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
2011-12-19	Senate	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendments to H.R. 515.
2011-12-19	Senate	Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H9938-9940)
2011-12-15	Senate	Message on Senate action sent to the House.
2011-12-14	Senate	Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote. (text: CR S8611)
2011-12-14	Senate	S.AMDT.1462 Amendment SA 1462 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
2011-12-14	Senate	S.AMDT.1462 Amendment SA 1462 proposed by Senator Reid for Senator Kerry. (consideration: CR S8611; text: CR S8611)To make minor edits to the bill.
2011-12-14	Senate	Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8611)
2011-12-14	Senate	Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
2011-07-07	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
2011-07-06	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2011-07-06	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4632-4634)
2011-07-06	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 515.
2011-07-06	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4632-4638)
2011-07-06	House	Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2011-04-14	House	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2011-04-13	House	Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
2011-04-13	House	Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2011-04-13	House	Subcommittee Hearings Held.
2011-03-23	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade.
2011-03-01	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.
2011-03-01	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia.
2011-02-14	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
2011-01-26	House	Referred to House Financial Services
2011-01-26	House	Referred to House Judiciary
2011-01-26	House	Referred to House Foreign Affairs
2011-01-26	House	Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/515/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr515/BILLS-112hr515ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr515/BILLS-112hr515eh.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr515/BILLS-112hr515eas.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr515/BILLS-112hr515enr.pdf