CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Christopher Coons (D-DE)

S.Amdt. 6146

S.Amdt. 6146 · Senate amendment

A Democratic amendment with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor

Changes S. 4784 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Offered

Offered, and not voted on yet. Most amendments never get a vote: the Senate takes up the bill and moves on without them.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

This amendment aims to add a new section to bill S. 4784 to create the Senate Human Rights and Democracy Commission. The purpose is to transition the work of the Senate Human Rights Caucus into a formalized commission that puts testimony on human rights and democracy into the public record.

Goals and Duties

The commission is designed to:

  • Serve as a bipartisan forum for discussing international human rights and democracy issues.
  • Monitor global human rights and raise awareness of violations through roundtables, hearings, and briefings.
  • Work with the executive branch, congressional entities, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations.
  • Maintain records of its activities.

Key Limitations

To ensure it does not overstep, the commission:

  • Cannot take legislative action on any resolution or bill.
  • Does not have legislative jurisdiction.
  • Cannot encroach on the jurisdiction of any special, select, or standing Senate committee.

Structure and Oversight

  • Membership: It consists of 10 Senators (5 from the majority party and 5 from the minority party) appointed by the President of the Senate. The Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations serve as nonvoting, ex officio members.
  • Leadership: Two co-chairpersons are appointed by the majority and minority leaders.
  • Funding and Staff: The commission is authorized to hire staff and pay for expenses using the Contingent Fund of the Senate.
  • Expiration: This section will end on January 1, 2029.