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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 4036 (104th)

Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

5 September 1996

Last action

19 October 1996 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 104-319.

Sponsors

Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Gilman, Benjamin A. [R-NY-20], Rep. Hamilton, Lee H. [D-IN-9], Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12], Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6], Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27], Rep. Goodling, William F. [R-PA-19]

Subjects

Asylum, Defence, Taxation

Source updated

7 April 2025

Asylum · Defence · Taxation

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Foreign Relations Provisions Title II: Foreign Assistance Provisions Human Rights Restoration Act of 1996 - Title I: Foreign Relations Provisions - Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 to revise provisions authorizing the charging of fees for processing machine readable nonimmigrant visas and machine readable combined border crossing identification cards and nonimmigrant visas. Changes the use of such fees, for FY 1996 and 1997, from recovering the costs of consular services to recovering the costs of the Department of State's border security program. Repeals the prohibition against charging such fees to a citizen of a country signatory to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (Sec. 102) Directs the President to report semiannually to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) methods employed by Cuba to enforce the United States-Cuba agreement of September 1994 to restrict Cuban immigration to the United States; and (2) the treatment of such people by Cuba who have returned there pursuant to the United States-Cuba agreement of 1995. (Sec. 103) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 to extend through FY 1997 the special allocation of 1,000 admissions into the United States per year of refugees from the independent states of the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania who have been persecuted for participation in the Ukrainian Catholic or Orthodox churches. Extends through FY 1997 the period for specified aliens from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to be paroled into the United States after denial of refugee status for purposes of qualifying for adjustment of status to permanent resident. (Sec. 104) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the definition of "refugee" to declare that a person who has been forced to have an abortion or undergo involuntary sterilization, or who has been persecuted for refusing to do so, or for other resistance to a coercive population control program, shall be deemed to have been persecuted on account of political opinion. States that anyone with a well-founded fear that he or she will be forced to undergo such a procedure, or be subjected to persecution for such failure, refusal, or resistance, shall be deemed to have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of political opinion. (Sec. 105) Requires the Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) to take steps to provide opportunities for participation in educational and cultural exchange programs to human rights and democracy leaders of countries whose people do not enjoy freedom and democracy, including but not limited to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet, and Burma. (Sec. 106) Directs the USIA Director to establish educational and cultural exchange programs between the United States and Tibet. Specifies the number of scholarships to be made available during FY 1997 to Tibetan and Burmese students and professionals who are outside their respective countries. (Sec. 107) Amends Federal law to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to make improvements to the Rio Grande Canalization Project, especially in the reach between the Percha Diversion Dam in New Mexico and the American Diversion Dam in El Paso, Texas. Title II: Foreign Assistance Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require a certain human rights report to include: (1) the votes of each member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on all country-specific and thematic resolutions voted on at the Commission's annual session; and (2) the extent to which each country has extended protection to refugees, including the provision of first asylum and resettlement. (Sec. 202) Prohibits the President from providing economic or military assistance or arms transfers to the Government of Mauritania unless he certifies to the Congress that such government has taken action to eliminate chattel slavery, including the enactment and enforcement of anti-slavery laws that provide appropriate punishment for violators.

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Timeline

  1. 5 September 1996

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on International Relations, 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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 5 September 1996

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on International Relations, 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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 5 September 1996

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 5 September 1996

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 17 September 1996

    Passed

    Committee Agreed to Seek Consideration Under Suspension of the Rules, (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  6. 17 September 1996

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  7. 17 September 1996

    Committee

    Executive Comment Requested from State.

    Source: Committee

  8. 20 September 1996

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.

    Source: Committee

  9. 25 September 1996

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

  10. 25 September 1996

    Passed

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  11. 25 September 1996

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  12. 25 September 1996

    Passed

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

  13. 25 September 1996

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  14. 25 September 1996

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H11126-11129)

    Source: Floor

  15. 25 September 1996

    Floor

    Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

  16. 26 September 1996

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

    Source: IntroReferral

  17. 3 October 1996

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S12408-12409)

    Source: Floor

  18. 3 October 1996

    Passed

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

    Source: Floor

  19. 4 October 1996

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  20. 4 October 1996

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  21. 4 October 1996

    Passed

    On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H12281-12283)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  22. 4 October 1996

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.(consideration: CR H12281-12283)

    Source: NotUsed

  23. 4 October 1996

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Smith (NJ) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  24. 10 October 1996

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  25. 10 October 1996

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  26. 19 October 1996

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 104-319.

    Source: President

  27. 19 October 1996

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  28. 19 October 1996

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

14 official files

Public Law (text)

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 20 October 1996

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 20 October 1996

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN · 4 October 1996

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN · 4 October 1996

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  • Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)

    Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 3 October 1996

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  • Engrossed Amendment Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 3 October 1996

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 3 October 1996

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  • Received in Senate (text)

    Received in Senate · EN · 26 September 1996

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  • Received in Senate (PDF)

    Received in Senate · EN · 26 September 1996

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 25 September 1996

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 25 September 1996

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 5 September 1996

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 5 September 1996

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 5 September 1996

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