United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 8438 (116th)
Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020
Introduced
29 September 2020
Last action
30 November 2020 · Introduced
Status
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Sponsors
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22], Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
Subjects
Asylum
Source updated
28 May 2025
Summary
Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020 This bill 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.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
29 September 2020
Introduced
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.
Source: IntroReferral
29 September 2020
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
29 September 2020
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
1 October 2020
Reported
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Source: Committee
1 October 2020
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
18 November 2020
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
18 November 2020
Passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5915-5917)
Source: Floor
18 November 2020
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5915-5917)
Source: Floor
18 November 2020
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8438.
Source: Floor
18 November 2020
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5915-5920)
Source: Floor
18 November 2020
Floor
Mr. Espaillat moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Source: Floor
30 November 2020
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Referred in Senate · 30 November 2020 · Download file
- Engrossed in House · 18 November 2020 · Download file
- Introduced in House · 29 September 2020 · Download file
Documents
8 official files
Referred in Senate (text)
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Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 30 November 2020
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 30 November 2020
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 18 November 2020
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 18 November 2020
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Passed House
summary · EN · 18 November 2020
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 29 September 2020
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 29 September 2020
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 29 September 2020
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3] · D · Cosponsor
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3] · D · Cosponsor
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Related records
No cross-record relationships stored yet.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8438
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/116/hr/8438
- us · 116-hr-8438 · source updated 28 May 2025