PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.Con.Res.156 / 105th Congress

Expressing concern for the continued deterioration of human rights in Afghanistan and emphasizing the need for a peaceful political settlement in that country.

Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Official summary

Version 36 · Passed House amended · Nov 9, 1997

Condemns the violations of international humanitarian law in Afghanistan and the targeted discrimination against women and girls. Expresses concern regarding the reported cases of stoning, public executions, and street beatings and the prohibition of employment and education for women and girls. Urges the Taliban and all other parties in Afghanistan to cease providing safe haven to suspected terrorists or permitting Afghan territory to be used for terrorist training. Affirms the need for peace negotiations and expresses hope that the Afghan parties will agree to a cease-fire. Urges the President to: (1) continue to monitor the human rights situation in Afghanistan; (2) call for adherence to international humanitarian law by all Afghan factions; (3) call for an end to the systematic discrimination and harassment of women and girls in Afghanistan; (4) encourage efforts to procure a durable peace in Afghanistan and support the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to assist in brokering a peaceful resolution to years of conflict; (5) call upon all countries to use their influence on the contending factions to end the fighting and come to the negotiating table, abide by internationally recognized norms of behavior, cease human rights violations, end provision of safe haven to terrorists and close terrorist training camps, and reverse discriminatory policies against women and girls; (6) call upon all nations to cease providing financial assistance, arms, and other kinds of support to the militaries or political organizations of any factions that abuse human rights in Afghanistan; and (7) support efforts by Afghan individuals to establish a cessation of hostilities and a transitional multiparty government leading to freedom, respect for human rights, and free and fair elections.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-14] · D–NY

Committees

  • Foreign Relations Committee
  • Foreign Affairs Committee
41 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

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

  3. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

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

  5. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

  6. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10540-10543)

  7. Mr. Rohrabacher moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

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

  9. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  10. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

  11. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  12. Executive Comment Requested from State.

  13. Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

  14. Referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.

  15. Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

  16. Introduced in House

  17. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Con.Res.156 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Con.Res.156 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Con.Res.156 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Con.Res.156 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources