PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.4240 / 112th Congress

Ambassador James R. Lilley and Congressman Stephen J. Solarz North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2012

Became Public Law No: 112-172.

Official summary

Version 82 · Passed Senate without amendment · Aug 2, 2012

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 15, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Ambassador James R. Lilley and Congressman Stephen J. Solarz North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should: (1) continue to seek cooperation from foreign governments to allow the United States to process North Korean refugees overseas for U.S. resettlement, (2) urge China to halt its forcible repatriation of North Koreans, and (3) allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) access to North Koreans inside China to determine whether such North Koreans are refugees requiring protection.

Amends the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 to authorize appropriations through FY2017: (1) for grants that promote democracy, human rights, and a market economy in North Korea, (2) to increase the availability of non-government controlled information inside North Korea, and (3) for organizations or persons that provide humanitarian assistance to North Koreans who are outside of North Korea.

Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.

Read full official summaryShow less

Extends through 2017 the annual congressional reporting requirement for: (1) the Secretary of State to report on activities to increase the availability of non-government controlled information inside North Korea, (2) the Special Envoy for North Korean human rights issues to report on human rights related activities, (3) the Secretary and Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to report on U.S. humanitarian assistance inside North Korea and to North Koreans outside of North Korea, and (4) the Secretary and the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to report on the number of North Koreans seeking refugee status or political asylum in the United States.

Directs the Broadcasting Board of Governors to report to Congress regarding U.S. broadcasting to North Korea and the extent to which the Board has achieved the goal of 12-hour-per-day broadcasting to North Korea.

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. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18] · R–FL

Committees

  • Foreign Relations Committee
  • Foreign Affairs Committee
28 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. Became Public Law No: 112-172.

  2. Became Public Law No: 112-172.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6006)

  9. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S6006)

  10. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 458.

  11. Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry without amendment. Without written report.

  12. Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry without amendment. Without written report.

  13. Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

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

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

  16. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2685-2686)

  17. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2685-2686)

  18. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4240.

  19. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2685-2687)

  20. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  21. Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

  22. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  23. Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

  24. Introduced in House

  25. 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.R.4240 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.R.4240 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.R.4240 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.R.4240 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