,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #acfi  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #h1 #bjai,mr4     
,cornyn 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,mr4 
,cassidy1 & ,mr4 ,rubio7 introduc$ !    
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to impose sanctions on        
individuals :o are complicit 9 human    
rights abuses committ$ aga9/ nationals (
 ,vietnam or _! family memb]s1 & = o!r  
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,vietnam ,human ,rights    
,sanctions ,act ( #bjai4  #b4 ,f9d+s    
,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! 
relation%ip betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !  
,sociali/ ,republic ( ,vietnam has gr[n 
sub/antially s9ce ! end ( ! trade emb>go
 9 #aiid1 ) annual trade betwe5 !       
c\ntries rea*+ m ?an #cf1jjj1jjj1jjj 9  
#bjad4  7#b7 ,h[ev]1 ! transition by !  
,gov]nm5t ( ,vietnam t[>d great]        
economic activity & trade1 :i* has l$ to
 increas$ bilat]al engagem5t betwe5 !   
,unit$ ,/ates & ,vietnam1 has n be5     

mat*$ by great] political fre$om or     
sub/antial improvem5ts 9 basic human    
rights = ! p ( ,vietnam4  7#c7 ,vietnam 
rema9s an au?orit>ian /ate rul$ by !    
,communi/ ,p>ty ( ,vietnam1 :i* cont9ues
 to d5y ! "r ( ! p ( ,vietnam to        
p>ticipate 9 free & fair elections4     
7#d7 ,accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's  
#bjad ,c\ntry ,reports on ,human ,rights
 ,practices1 ,vietnam's mo/ significant 
human rights problems 4 4 4 7 sev]e     
gov]nm5t re/rictions ( citiz5s'         
political rights1 p>ticul>ly _! "r to   
*ange _! gov]nm5t ?r\gh free & fair     
elections2 limits on citiz5s' civil     
lib]ties1 includ+ fre$om ( assembly &   
expression2 & inadequate protection (   
citiz5s' due process rights1 includ+    
protection aga9/ arbitr>y det5tion4     
7#e7 ,! ,c\ntry ,reports also /ate t !  
,gov]nm5t ( ,vietnam cont9u$ to re/rict 
spee* t criticiz$ individual gov]nm5t   
lead]s2 promot$ political pluralism or  
multi-p>ty democracy2 or que/ion$       
policies on s5sitive matt]s1 su* z human

 rights1 religi\s fre$om1 or sov]eignty 
disputes ) ,*9a & s\ght to imp$e        
criticism by monitor+ meet+s &          
communications ( political activi/s4    
7#f7 ,fur!rmore1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate    
docum5ts t arbitr>y arre/ & det5tion1   
p>ticul>ly = political activi/s1 rema9$ 
a problem1 ) ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,vietnam     
s5t5c+ #bi arre/$ activi/s dur+ #bjad4  
,( ^?1 #f activi/s 7 convict$ on        
national security *>ges 9 ! p5al code = 
und]m9+ ! unity policy1 #ag = caus+     
public disord]1 & #f = abus+ democratic 
fre$oms4  7#g7 ,at ! end ( #bjad1 !     
,gov]nm5t ( ,vietnam report$ly held m   
?an #abe political prison]s4  7#h7 ,on  
,septemb] #bd1 #bjab1 #c prom95t        
,vietnamese blogg]s--,nguy5 ,van ,hai   
7also kn[n z ,dieu ,cay71 ,ta ,phong    
,tan1 & ,phan ,?anh ,hai 7also kn[n z   
,anh ,ba ,saigon7--7 s5t5c$ to prison   
bas$ on #c-ye>-old blog po/+s criticiz+ 
! ,gov]nm5t & lead]s ( ,vietnam & !     
,communi/ ,p>ty ( ,vietnam4 ,nguy5 ,van 
,hai s]v$ #b ye>s ( a #ab-ye> prison    

s5t5ce on *>ges ( conduct+ propag&a     
aga9/ ! /ate b 0 lat] releas$ & dep>t$ f
 ,vietnam4 ,if he 7 to return1 he w\ld  
likely h to complete 8 prison s5t5ce4   
7#i7 ,unit$ ,nations ,high ,commission] 
= ,human ,rights ,navi ,pillay respond$ 
to ! s5t5c+ ( ! blogg]s on ,septemb]    
#be1 #bjab1 /at+ t the h>% prison t]ms  
h&$ d[n to blogg]s exemplify ! sev]e    
re/rictions on fre$om ( expression 9    
,vietnam & call+ ! s5t5ces an un=tunate 
developm5t t und]m9es ! commitm5ts      
,vietnam has made int]nationally 4 4 4  
to protect & promote ! "r to fre$om (   
expression4  7#aj7 ,on ,m>* #ba1 #bjac1 
,deputy ,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,/ate =   
,democracy1 ,human ,rights1 & ,labor    
,daniel ,b4 ,ba] te/ifi$ be=e !         
,subcommittee on ,ea/ ,asian & ,pacific 
,affairs ( ! ,committee on ,=eign       
,relations ( ! ,s5ate t 9 ,vietnam we've
 be5 disappo9t$ 9 rec5t ye>s to see     
backslid+1 p>ticul>ly on 4 4 4 fre$om ( 
expression issues 4 4 4 p are be+       
prosecut$ = :at !y say onl9e "u really  

draconian national security laws 4 4 4 t
 is an issue t we cont9ue to raise1 bo? 
9 our human rights dialogue ) !         
,vietnamese z well z 9 o!r bilat]al     
engagem5ts4  7#aa7 ,al?\gh !            
,con/itution ( ,vietnam provides =      
fre$om ( religion1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's
 #bjac ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om  
,report ma9ta9s1 ,gov]nm5t practices &  
bureaucratic imp$im5ts re/rict$ religi\s
 fre$om4 ,unregi/]$ & unrecogniz$       
religi\s gr\ps 7 (t5 subject to         
h>assm5t1 z well z co]cive & punitive   
actions by au?orities44  7#ab7          
,likewise1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,commission  
on ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om #bjae
 ,annual ,report /ates1 ,! ,vietnamese  
gov]nm5t cont9ues to control all        
religi\s activities ?r\gh law &         
adm9i/rative ov]sight1 re/rict sev]ely  
indep5d5t religi\s practice1 & repress  
individuals & religi\s gr\ps x views z  
*all5g+ its au?ority1 includ+ indep5d5t 
,buddhi/s1 ,hoa ,hao1 ,cao ,dai1        
,ca?olics1 & ,prote/ants44  7#ac7 ,!    

#bjac ,annual ,report notes t 9 #bjjd ! 
,unit$ ,/ates designat$ ,vietnam z a    
c\ntry ( p>ticul> conc]n = religi\s     
fre$om pursuant to section #djb7;b77#a7 
( ! ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om ,act
 ( #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fddb7;b77#a771 
& t ,vietnam respond$ at t "t by releas+
 prison]s1 prohibit+ ! policy ( =c$     
r5unciations ( fai?1 & exp&+ protections
 = religi\s gr\ps1 & t mo/ religi\s     
lead]s 9 ,vietnam attribut$ ^! positive 
*anges to ! c\ntry ( p>ticul> conc]n    
designation & ! priority plac$ on       
religi\s fre$om conc]ns 9               
,u4,s4-,vietnamese bilat]al relations4  
7#ad7 ,h[ev]1 ! #bjac ,annual ,report   
concludes t s9ce ! designation z a      
c\ntry ( p>ticul> conc]n 0 lift$ f      
,vietnam 9 #bjjf1 religi\s fre$om       
conditions 9 ,vietnam rema9 mix$1 &     
!re=e recomm5ds to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate t
 ,vietnam %\ld be r$esignat$ z a c\ntry 
( p>ticul> conc]n4  7#ae7 ,deputy       
,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,ba]        
likewise te/ifi$ t in ,vietnam ! "r to  

religi\s fre$om1 :i* seem$ to be improv+
 sev]al ye>s ago1 has be5 /agnant =     
sev]al ye>s4  #c4 ,imposition (         
sanctions on c]ta9 individuals :o are   
complicit 9 human rights abuses committ$
 aga9/ nationals ( ,vietnam or _! family
 memb]s  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3
 7#a7 ,admitt$2 ali52 immigration laws2 
national ,! t]ms admitt$1 ali51         
immigration laws1 & national h ! mean+s 
giv5 ^? t]ms 9 section #aja ( !         
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    
,u4,s4,c4 #aaja74  7#b7 ,appropriate    
congressional committees ,! t]m         
appropriate congressional committees    
means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee on ,f9ance1 ! 
,committee on ,bank+1 ,h\s+1 & ,urban   
,affairs1 & ! ,committee on ,=eign      
,relations ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7 !        
,committee on ,ways & ,means1 !         
,committee on ,f9ancial ,s]vices1 & !   
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives4  7#c7 ,conv5tion     
aga9/ ,torture ,! t]m ,conv5tion aga9/  
,torture means ! ,unit$ ,nations        

,conv5tion aga9/ ,torture & ,o!r ,cruel1
 ,inhuman or ,degrad+ ,treatm5t or      
,puni%m5t1 done at ,new ,york on        
,decemb] #aj1 #aihd4  7#d7 ,unit$ ,/ates
 p]son ,! t]m ,unit$ ,/ates p]son       
means-- 7,a7 a ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5 or  
an ali5 lawfully admitt$ = p]man5t      
resid5ce to ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 or  7,b7 an
 entity organiz$ "u ! laws ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates or ( any jurisdiction )9 ! ,unit$
 ,/ates1 includ+ a =eign bran* ( su* an 
entity4  7b7 ,imposition ( sanctions    
,except z provid$ 9 subsections 7e7 &   
7f71 ! ,presid5t %all impose ! sanctions
 describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 ) respect to 
ea* individual on ! li/ requir$ by      
subsection 7c77#a74  7c7 ,li/ (         
individuals :o are complicit 9 c]ta9    
human rights abuses  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n   
lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,presid5t %all   
submit to ! appropriate congressional   
committees a li/ ( individuals :o are   
nationals ( ,vietnam t ! ,presid5t      
det]m9es are complicit 9 human rights   

abuses committ$ aga9/ nationals (       
,vietnam or _! family memb]s1 reg>dless 
( :e!r su* abuses occurr$ 9 ,vietnam4   
7#b7 ,updates ( li/ ,! ,presid5t %all   
submit to ! appropriate congressional   
committees an updat$ li/ "u p>agraph    
7#a7 z new in=mation becomes available &
 n less frequ5tly ?an annually4  7#c7   
,public availability ,! li/ requir$ by  
p>agraph 7#a7 %all be made available to 
! public & po/$ on ! websites ( !       
,dep>tm5t ( ! ,treasury & ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,/ate4  7#d7 ,consid]ation ( data f o!r 
c\ntries & nongov]nm5tal organizations  
,9 prep>+ ! li/ requir$ by p>agraph     
7#a71 ! ,presid5t %all consid] data     
already obta9$ by o!r c\ntries &        
nongov]nm5tal organizations1 includ+    
organizations 9 ,vietnam1 t monitor !   
human rights abuses ( ! ,gov]nm5t (     
,vietnam4  7d7 ,sanctions  7#a7         
,prohibition on entry & admission to !  
,unit$ ,/ates ,an individual on ! li/   
requir$ by subsection 7c77#a7 may n--   
7,a7 be admitt$ to1 ent]1 or transit    

?r\gh ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7,b7 receive any
 lawful immigration /atus 9 ! ,unit$    
,/ates "u ! immigration laws1 includ+   
any relief "u ! ,conv5tion aga9/        
,torture2 or  7,c7 file any application 
or petition to obta9 su* admission1     
entry1 or /atus4  7#b7 ,f9ancial        
sanctions ,! ,presid5t %all block &     
prohibit all transactions 9 all prop]ty 
& int]e/s 9 prop]ty ( an individual on !
 li/ requir$ by subsection 7c77#a7 if   
su* prop]ty & int]e/s 9 prop]ty are 9 ! 
,unit$ ,/ates1 come )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 
or are or come )9 ! possession or       
control ( a ,unit$ ,/ates p]son4  7#c7  
,exceptions ,to comply ) int]national   
agreem5ts ,! ,presid5t may1 by          
regulation1 au?orize exceptions to !    
imposition ( sanctions "u p>agraph 7#a7 
to p]mit ! ,unit$ ,/ates to comply ) !  
,agreem5t reg>d+ ! ,headqu>t]s ( !      
,unit$ ,nations1 sign$ at ,lake ,success
 ,june #bf1 #aidg1 & ent]$ into =ce     
,novemb] #ba1 #aidg1 betwe5 ! ,unit$    
,nations & ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & o!r       

applicable int]national agreem5ts4  7#d7
 ,exception relat+ to importation (     
goods  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! requirem5t to   
block & prohibit all transactions 9 all 
prop]ty & int]e/s 9 prop]ty "u p>agraph 
7#b7 %all n include ! au?ority to impose
 sanctions on ! importation ( goods4    
7,b7 ,good def9$ ,9 ?is p>agraph1 ! t]m 
good means any article1 natural or      
man-made sub/ance1 mat]ial1 supply or   
manufactur$ product1 includ+ inspection 
& te/ equipm5t1 & exclud+ te*nical data4
  7e7 ,waiv] ,! ,presid5t may waive !   
requirem5t to impose or ma9ta9 sanctions
 ) respect to an individual "u          
subsection 7b7 or ! requirem5t to       
include an individual on ! li/ requir$  
by subsection 7c77#a7 if ! ,presid5t--  
7#a7 det]m9es t su* a waiv] is 9 !      
national int]e/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &    
7#b7 submits to ! appropriate           
congressional committees a report       
describ+ ! reasons = ! det]m9ation4  7f7
 ,t]m9ation ( sanctions ,! provisions ( 
?is section %all t]m9ate on ! date on   

:i* ! ,presid5t det]m9es & c]tifies to !
 appropriate congressional committees t 
! ,gov]nm5t ( ,vietnam has-- 7#a7       
unconditionally releas$ all political   
prison]s2  7#b7 ceas$ its practices (   
viol5ce1 unlawful det5tion1 torture1 &  
abuse ( nationals ( ,vietnam :ile ^?    
nationals are engag+ 9 peaceful         
political activity2 &  7#c7 conduct$ a  
transp>5t inve/igation into ! kill+s1   
arre/1 & abuse ( peaceful political     
activi/s 9 ,vietnam & prosecut$ ^?      
responsible4  #d4 ,s5se ( ,congress on  
designation ( ,vietnam z a c\ntry (     
p>ticul> conc]n ) respect to religi\s   
fre$om ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t-- 7#a7
 ! relation%ip betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & 
,vietnam _c progress :ile ! record ( !  
,gov]nm5t ( ,vietnam ) respect to human 
rights & ! rule ( law cont9ues to       
det]iorate2  7#b7 ! designation (       
,vietnam z a c\ntry ( p>ticul> conc]n = 
religi\s fre$om pursuant to section     
#djb7;b77#a7 ( ! ,int]national ,religi\s
 ,fre$om ,act ( #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4    

#fddb7;b77#a77 w\ld be a p[]ful &       
effective tool 9 highlight+ abuses (    
religi\s fre$om 9 ,vietnam & 9 enc\rag+ 
improvem5t 9 ! respect = human rights 9 
,vietnam2 &  7#c7 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate   
%\ld1 9 accordance ) ! recomm5dation ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,commission on           
,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om1        
designate ,vietnam z a c\ntry ( p>ticul>
 conc]n = religi\s fre$om4