US Congress House Bill 8438 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-4)
Status: Engrossed on November 30 2020 - 50% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-11-30 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Pending: Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [PDF]

Expands the President's authority to impose sanctions related to Belarus to include activities surrounding the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election and subsequent government crackdown. The bill also expands authorized assistance to Belarus. The President may impose visa-blocking sanctions on any alien who (1) is a member of the Central Election Commission of Belarus or assisted in the manipulation of the August 9, 2020, presidential election, (2) is a government official responsible for the crackdown on independent media, (3) is an official of the Union State (an international organization consisting of Belarus and Russia), or (4) is a Russian individual who has significantly participated in the crackdown on the press or human rights abuses related to political repression in Belarus. (The President already has authority to impose such sanctions on certain aliens, such as senior leaders in the government of Belarus.) The bill also expands authorized assistance related to Belarus to include assistance to (1) counter internet censorship and surveillance technology, (2) support the work of women advocating for freedom and human rights, and (3) support political refugees fleeing the crackdown in Belarus.

Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020

Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ]	Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY]	Rep. Michael McCaul [R-TX]	Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH]
Rep. Adam Kinzinger [R-IL]	Rep. William Keating [D-MA]	Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick [R-PA]	Rep. Theodore Deutch [D-FL]
Rep. David Cicilline [D-RI]	Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]	Rep. Abigail Spanberger [D-VA]	Rep. Brad Sherman [D-CA]
Rep. Dean Phillips [D-MN]	Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]	Rep. Maxine Waters [D-CA]	Rep. Ron Kind [D-WI]

Date	Chamber	Action
2020-11-30	Senate	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
2020-11-18	House	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2020-11-18	House	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5915-5917)
2020-11-18	House	DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8438.
2020-11-18	House	Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5915-5920)
2020-11-18	House	Mr. Espaillat moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2020-10-01	House	Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
2020-10-01	House	Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2020-09-29	House	Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
2020-09-29	House	Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
2020-09-29	House	Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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.
2020-09-29	House	Introduced in House

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8438/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr8438/BILLS-116hr8438ih.pdf
Text	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr8438/BILLS-116hr8438eh.pdf