,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #cj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #be 7legislative day1 ,january #bd71 #bjai ,mrs4 ,feinstein 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 and ,mr4 ,murphy7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,condemning efforts to undermine democracy in ,hungary and urging ,president ,trump to defend the universal human rights and democratic norms under attack by the ,orban government4 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,hungary have a shared history dating to the times of ,lajos ,kossuth1 whose bust graces the halls of the ,united ,states ,congress2 ,whereas ,hungarians have come to the ,united ,states since its founding as immigrants and refugees1 enriching our national fabric2 ,whereas the ,united ,states first established diplomatic relations with ,hungary in #aiba2 ,whereas the ,united ,states supported ,hungary's accession to the ,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization in #aiii1 improving ,hungary's national security and building upon our common alliance2 ,whereas ,,nato member states have collectively identified corruption and poor governance1 including within member states1 as security challenges which undermine democracy1 the rule of law and economic development2 ,whereas ,viktor ,orban has led the ,fidesz party since #bjjc and has continuously served as ,hungary's ,prime ,minister since #bjaj2 ,whereas1 since #bjaj1 the ,fidesz government has retained a super majority in ,parliament despite not winning a majority of votes1 and ,prime ,minister ,orban has systematically undermined the ,hungarian ,constitution1 independent media and judiciary2 ,whereas ,hungary's #bjaa law on religion discriminates against some minority faiths by stripping legal recognition from more than #cjj previously recognized faiths1 violating their rights to freedom of association and freedom of religion1 and has spurred a legal challenge from a range of religious faiths in ,hungary1 including the ,hungarian ,evangelical ,fellowship and ,mennonite1 reform ,jewish1 and ,buddhist congregations2 ,whereas1 following the #bjad ,parliamentary elections in ,hungary1 the ,,osce noted that ,fidesz enjoyed an undue advantage because of restrictive campaign regulations1 biased media coverage1 and campaign activities that blurred the separation between political party and the state2 ,whereas ,prime ,minister ,orban used his parliamentary super majority to redraw ,hungary's electoral map and reduce the number of seats in ,hungary's ,parliament1 providing an advantage which has allowed the ,prime ,minister to more easily remain in power2 ,whereas the ,government of ,hungary created the ,national ,media and ,communications ,agency and empowered it to impose fines against independent media outlets for coverage the government finds unbalanced or offensive2 ,whereas1 in ,november #bjah1 more than #djj media publications1 websites1 television channels and radio stations in ,hungary1 already concentrated in the hands of a few owners1 were donated1 without compensation1 by their owners to a central holding company which1 according to a subsequently passed law1 is exempt from competition oversight2 ,whereas1 according to the ,department of ,state's #bjag report on human rights1 ,hungary has passed a series of laws modifying the judicial system by restricting the ,constitutional ,court1 altering the rules for electing ,constitution ,court justices1 and vested the president of the ,national ,office for the ,judiciary1 a position appointed by the parliament1 with significant decision-making power2 ,whereas1 according to a ,human ,rights ,watch analysis of ,hungary's judicial reforms since #bjaa1 changes to the judiciary have undermined an important check on the government by curbing the judiciary's independence1 forcing nearly #cjj judges into early retirement1 and imposing limitations on the ,constitutional ,court's ability to review laws and complaints2 ,whereas the ,government of ,hungary has enacted legislation stigmatizing non-governmental organizations that receive financial support from abroad1 drawing a legal challenge from the ,european ,court of ,justice2 ,whereas1 in #bjag1 the ,government of ,hungary adopted a law on nongovernmental organizations that1 according to the ,department of ,state1 unfairly burdens a targeted group of ,hungarian civil society organizations1 many of which focus on fighting corruption and protecting human rights and civil liberties2 ,whereas1 in ,february #bjah1 more than #bej nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in opposition to ,hungary's escalating effort to crackdown on the legitimate work of civil society groups in ,hungary seeking to promote and defend human rights1 provide legal and social services to people in need in the country1 and publicly express dissenting opinions in the press and online2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 the ,government of ,hungary adopted amendments to a law on aiding illegal migration1 which criminalizes the provision of assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers1 including public advocacy and humanitarian assistance1 and makes the distribution of know-your-rights leaflets punishable by up to one year in prison2 ,whereas1 in #bjah1 the ,government of ,hungary introduced a #be-percent tax on organizations that engage in disfavored speech regarding immigration1 thereby establishing a content-based punishment to restrict free speech2 ,whereas1 in #bjag1 the ,government of ,hungary enacted a law requiring the mandatory detention of all asylum-seekers in transit camps while their asylum applications are reviewed and permitting the immediate deportation of certain asylum-seekers to ,serbia2 ,whereas1 in response1 the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,refugees said that this new law violates ,hungary's obligations under international and ,,eu laws1 and will have a terrible physical and psychological impact on women1 children and men who have already greatly suffered2 and ,whereas the erosion of democratic institutions and norms in ,hungary has been found to be in clear violation of the ,european ,union's values1 resulting in the initiation of sanctions proceedings against the ,orban government3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 rejects the ,government of ,hungary's efforts to undermine the independence of the judiciary1 restrict civil society groups1 infringe on the freedom of the press1 and violate the rights of asylum-seekers in ,hungary2 and 7#b7 urges the ,president to vigorously defend the universal freedoms and democratic norms under attack by the ,orban government in ,hungary4