,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #djdd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ba1 #bjbd,mr4 ,van ,hollen 7for himself and ,mr4 ,durbin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide for the consideration of the human rights records of recipients of support of special operations to combat terrorism1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,upholding ,human ,rights ,abroad ,act4 #b4 ,consideration of human rights records of recipients of support of special operations for irregular warfare ,section #abg;d of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c77#b71 by adding at the end of the following new subparagraph3 7,f7 ,the processes through which the ,secretary shall1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 ensure that prior to a decision to provide support to individual members or units of foreign forces1 irregular forces1 or groups in a foreign country full consideration is given to any credible information available to the ,department of ,state relating to gross violations of human rights by such individuals or units4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7g77#b7-- 7,a7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,f7 as subparagraph 7,g72 and 7,b7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,e7 the following new subparagraph 7,f73 7,f7 ,a description of the human rights record of the recipient1 including for purposes of section #cfb of this title1 and any relevant attempts by such recipient to remedy such record4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7i77#c71 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,i7 ,an assessment of how support provided under this section advances ,united ,states national security priorities and aligns with other ,united ,states ,government interests in countries in which activities under the authority in this section are ongoing4 2 7#d7 by redesignating subsection 7k7 as subsection 7l72 and 7#e7 by inserting after subsection 7j7 the following new subsection 7k73 7i7 ,prohibition on use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c71 no funds may be used to provide support to any individual member or unit of a foreign force1 irregular force1 or group in a foreign country if the ,secretary of ,defense has credible information that such individual or unit has committed a gross violation of human rights4 7#b7 ,waiver authority ,the ,secretary of ,defense1 after consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 may waive the prohibition under paragraph 7#a7 if the ,secretary determines that the waiver is required by extraordinary circumstances4 7#c7 ,exception ,the prohibition under paragraph 7#a7 shall not apply with respect to individual members or units of such foreign forces1 irregular forces1 or groups if the ,secretary of ,defense1 after consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 determines that-- 7,a7 the government of such country has taken all necessary corrective steps2 or 7,b7 the support is necessary to assist in disaster relief operations or other humanitarian or national security emergencies4 4 #c4 ,consideration of human rights records of recipients of support of special operations to combat terrorism ,section #abg;e of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7c77#b71 by adding at the end of the following new subparagraph-- 7,d7 ,the processes through which the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 shall ensure that1 prior to a decision to provide any support to foreign forces1 irregular forces1 groups1 or individuals1 full consideration is given to any credible information available to the ,department of ,state relating to violations of human rights by such entities4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7d77#b7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,h71 by inserting 1 including the promotion of good governance and rule of law and the protection of civilians and human rights before the period at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,i7-- 7i7 by striking the period at the end and inserting or violations of the laws of armed conflict1 including the ,geneva ,conventions of #aidi1 including--2 and 7ii7 by adding at the end the following new clauses3 7i7 vetting units receiving such support for violations of human rights2 7ii7 providing human rights training to units receiving such support2 and 7iii7 providing for the investigation of allegations of gross violations of human rights and termination of such support in cases of credible information of such violations4 2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,j7 ,a description of the human rights record of the recipient1 including for purposes of section #cfb of this title1 and any relevant attempts by such recipient to remedy such record4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7i77#c71 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,i7 ,an assessment of how support provided under this section advances ,united ,states national security priorities and aligns with other ,united ,states ,government efforts to address underlying risk factors of terrorism and violent extremism1 including repression1 human rights abuses1 and corruption4 2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following new subsections3 7j7 ,prohibition on use of funds 7#a7 ,except as provided in paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c71 no funds may be used to provide support to any individual member or unit of a foreign force1 irregular force1 or group in a foreign country if the ,secretary of ,defense has credible information that such individual or unit has committed a gross violation of human rights4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary of ,defense1 after consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 may waive the prohibition under paragraph 7#a7 if the ,secretary determines that the waiver is required by extraordinary circumstances4 7#c7 ,the prohibition under paragraph 7#a7 shall not apply with respect to the foreign forces1 irregular forces1 groups1 or individuals of a country if the ,secretary of ,defense determines that-- 7,a7 the government of such country has taken all necessary corrective steps2 or 7,b7 the support is necessary to assist in disaster relief operations or other humanitarian or national security emergencies4 7k7 ,savings clause ,nothing in this section shall be construed to constitute a specific statutory authorization for any of the following3 7#a7 ,the conduct of a covert action1 as such term is defined in section #ejc7;e7 of the ,national ,security ,act of #aidg 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cjic7;e774 7#b7 ,the introduction of ,united ,states armed forces1 within the meaning of section #e7;b7 of the ,war ,powers ,resolution1 into hostilities or into situations wherein hostilities are clearly indicated by the circumstances4 7#c7 ,the provision of support to regular forces1 irregular forces1 groups1 or individuals for the conduct of operations that ,united ,states ,special ,operations ,forces are not otherwise legally authorized to conduct themselves4 7#d7 ,the conduct or support of activities1 directly or indirectly1 that are inconsistent with the laws of armed conflict4 4