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Bill114th CongressFiled Jan 28, 2015International Affairs
S. 284

Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

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What it doesSummary passed senate amended (Dec 17, 2015)

Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

(Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the President to impose U.S. entry and property sanctions against any foreign person (or entity) who:

  • is responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals in any foreign country seeking to expose illegal activity carried out by government officials, or to obtain, exercise, or promote human rights and freedoms;
  • acted as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign person in such activities;
  • is a government official or senior associate of such official responsible for, or complicit in, ordering or otherwise directing acts of significant corruption, including the expropriation of private or public assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, bribery, or the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption to foreign jurisdictions; or
  • has materially assisted or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such activities.

The authority to block and prohibit transactions in property and property interests shall not include the authority to impose sanctions on the importation of goods (any article, natural or man made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, excluding technical data).

The President shall, after receiving a request from the chairperson and ranking member of one of the appropriate congressional committees with respect to whether a foreign person has engaged in a prohibited activity:

  • determine if the person has engaged in such an activity; and
  • report to the chairperson and ranking member whether or not the President imposed or intends to impose specified sanctions against the person.

Sanctions shall not apply to an individual as necessary for law enforcement purposes, or to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters or other applicable international obligations of the United States.

The President may terminate sanctions under specified conditions.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor may submit to the Department of State the names of foreign persons who may meet the sanctions criteria.

(Sec. 4) The President shall report to Congress annually regarding each foreign person sanctioned, the type of sanctions imposed, and the reason for their imposition.

What just happenedMay 18, 2016

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD](D-MD)Sponsor
10 cosponsors5 D5 R
Read on Congress.gov
10cosponsors3committees18actions1amendments2related bills11subjects
  1. May 18, 2016Committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  2. May 18, 2016Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  3. Apr 18, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

    Judiciary Committee
  4. Apr 18, 2016IntroReferralH11100-A

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

  5. Apr 18, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  6. Dec 18, 2015FloorH15000

    Held at the desk.

  7. Dec 18, 2015Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Dec 18, 2015FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  9. Dec 17, 2015Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  10. Dec 17, 2015Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

  11. Dec 17, 2015Floor

    The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8836)

  12. Dec 17, 2015Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8835-8836; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S8835-8836)

  13. Jul 29, 2015Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 174.

  14. Jul 29, 2015Committee

    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment. Without written report.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  15. Jul 29, 2015Committee14000

    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment. Without written report.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  16. Jul 29, 2015Committee

    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  17. Jan 28, 2015IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  18. Jan 28, 2015IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Passed Senate amendedDec 17, 201535

Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

(Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the President to impose U.S. entry and property sanctions against any foreign person (or entity) who:

  • is responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals in any foreign country seeking to expose illegal activity carried out by government officials, or to obtain, exercise, or promote human rights and freedoms;
  • acted as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign person in such activities;
  • is a government official or senior associate of such official responsible for, or complicit in, ordering or otherwise directing acts of significant corruption, including the expropriation of private or public assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, bribery, or the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption to foreign jurisdictions; or
  • has materially assisted or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such activities.

The authority to block and prohibit transactions in property and property interests shall not include the authority to impose sanctions on the importation of goods (any article, natural or man made substance, material, supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test equipment, excluding technical data).

The President shall, after receiving a request from the chairperson and ranking member of one of the appropriate congressional committees with respect to whether a foreign person has engaged in a prohibited activity:

  • determine if the person has engaged in such an activity; and
  • report to the chairperson and ranking member whether or not the President imposed or intends to impose specified sanctions against the person.

Sanctions shall not apply to an individual as necessary for law enforcement purposes, or to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters or other applicable international obligations of the United States.

The President may terminate sanctions under specified conditions.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor may submit to the Department of State the names of foreign persons who may meet the sanctions criteria.

(Sec. 4) The President shall report to Congress annually regarding each foreign person sanctioned, the type of sanctions imposed, and the reason for their imposition.

Reported to Senate with amendment(s)Jul 29, 20151

Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

(Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the President to impose U.S. entry and property sanctions against any foreign person (or entity) who:

  • is responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals in any foreign country seeking to expose illegal activity carried out by government officials, or to obtain, exercise, or promote human rights and freedoms;
  • acted as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign person in such activities;
  • is a government official responsible for, or complicit in, ordering or otherwise directing acts of significant corruption or the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption to foreign jurisdictions; or
  • has materially assisted or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such activities.

The President is also authorized, with regard to such sanctions, to:

  • waive their application, with prior congressional notification, if in U.S. national security interests; and
  • terminate them under specified conditions.

Sanctions shall not apply as necessary to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters or other applicable international obligations of the United States.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor may submit to the Department of State the names of foreign persons who may meet the sanctions criteria.

(Sec. 4) The President shall report to Congress annually regarding each foreign person sanctioned, the type of sanctions imposed, and the reason for their imposition.

Introduced in SenateJan 28, 2015

Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

Authorizes the President to impose U.S. entry and property sanctions against any foreign person (or entity) who:

  • is responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals in any foreign country seeking to expose illegal activity carried out by government officials, or to obtain, exercise, or promote human rights and freedoms;
  • acted as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign person in such activities;
  • is a government official responsible for, or complicit in, ordering or otherwise directing acts of significant corruption or the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of corruption to foreign jurisdictions; or
  • has materially assisted or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such activities.

Prescribes related penalties.

Authorizes the President, with regard to such sanctions, to:

  • waive their application, with prior congressional notification, if in U.S. national security interests; and
  • terminate them under specified conditions.

States that sanctions shall not apply as necessary to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters or other applicable international obligations of the United States.

Directs the President to report to Congress annually regarding each foreign person sanctioned, the type of sanctions imposed, and the reason for their imposition.

Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act — Informed