An original bill to amend section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require information on foreign government officials responsible for egregious offenses against human rights in the annual reports on the human rights practices of countries receiving United States security assistance.

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 389.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 27, 1998

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 with respect to the Secretary of State's annual report to the Congress concerning the human rights situation in countries proposed to receive security assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to include in such report the names of government officials, if any, of such a country who: (1) have been determined to have personal or policy-making responsibility for egregious violations of internationally recognized human rights; or (2) are currently under indictment or wanted by an international war crimes tribunal.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC] · R–NC

Committees

Foreign Relations Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

May 27, 1998
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 389.
May 27, 1998
Committee on Foreign Relations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Helms under the authority of the order of May 22, 98. Without written report.
May 27, 1998
Committee on Foreign Relations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Helms under the authority of the order of May 22, 98. Without written report.
May 27, 1998
Introduced in Senate
May 19, 1998
Committee on Foreign Relations ordered to be reported an original measure.

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Placed on Calendar Senate · May 27, 1998 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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 S.2126 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

Discuss S.2126, 105th Congress: An original bill to amend section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require information on foreign government officials responsible for egregious offenses against human rights in the annual reports on the human rights practices of countries receiving United States security assistance.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2126

Text version to examine: Placed on Calendar Senate · 1998-05-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2126/BILLS-105s2126pcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:02:50Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2126 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2126 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

Discuss S.2126, 105th Congress: An original bill to amend section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require information on foreign government officials responsible for egregious offenses against human rights in the annual reports on the human rights practices of countries receiving United States security assistance.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2126

Text version to examine: Placed on Calendar Senate · 1998-05-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2126/BILLS-105s2126pcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:02:50Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2126 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2126 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

Discuss S.2126, 105th Congress: An original bill to amend section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require information on foreign government officials responsible for egregious offenses against human rights in the annual reports on the human rights practices of countries receiving United States security assistance.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2126

Text version to examine: Placed on Calendar Senate · 1998-05-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2126/BILLS-105s2126pcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:02:50Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2126 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.2126 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

Discuss S.2126, 105th Congress: An original bill to amend section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require information on foreign government officials responsible for egregious offenses against human rights in the annual reports on the human rights practices of countries receiving United States security assistance.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2126

Text version to examine: Placed on Calendar Senate · 1998-05-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2126/BILLS-105s2126pcs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-14T19:02:50Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2126 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.