Joaquin Castro (D-TX)
Requesting information on El Salvador's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
A Democratic resolution with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
A House resolution is the House speaking for itself: stating a position, honouring someone, or setting its own rules. Adopting it is the whole process. Once the House agrees to it, it is officially the House's word; it is not a law, so the Senate and the President have no part in it.
What this bill would do
H. Res. 368 requests that the Secretary of State provide a statement regarding human rights practices in El Salvador. This statement must be submitted to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations within 30 days. The report will cover alleged human rights violations, including torture and forced disappearances. It also requires a description of steps the U.S. Government has taken to promote human rights and discourage harmful practices. Additionally, it asks for assessments regarding U.S. security assistance and the treatment of U.S. citizens or residents detained in El Salvador.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill focuses on reporting and addressing the denial of due process for individuals in El Salvador.
- Scored +5
Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad?
The bill promotes accountability for human rights in El Salvador and oversight of US security assistance.
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires the Secretary of State to report on human rights and the use of US security assistance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Accountability for Human Rights Violations: By requesting information on torture, inhumane treatment, forced disappearances, and transnational repression, the resolution seeks to uncover alleged violations by the Government of El Salvador (Section 1(b)(1)).
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Protection of Non-Citizens: The resolution specifically asks for information on the treatment of citizens or residents of other countries detained in El Salvador and their opportunity to show they are wrongfully imprisoned (Section 1(b)(1)(E)).
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Safeguarding U.S. Citizens: The resolution requires descriptions of actions taken to release U.S. citizens or residents in compliance with U.S. court orders and efforts to address their detention, torture, or forced disappearances (Section 1(b)(3)(C) and (D)).
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Preventing Unlawful Removal: The resolution seeks information on actions taken to protect U.S. citizens and residents from unlawful rendering, trafficking, or other means of removal to El Salvador (Section 1(b)(3)(F)).
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Oversight of U.S. Aid: The Secretary of State must assess if U.S. security assistance could be used by El Salvador officials to support the rendition, trafficking, detention, or imprisonment of non-nationals (Section 1(b)(3)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups in the United States are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill focuses on reporting and addressing the denial of due process for individuals in El Salvador. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary of State to report on human rights and the use of US security assistance.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill seeks to protect non-nationals from unlawful rendering, trafficking, and wrongful detention. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill seeks to address human rights violations in a country of significant interest to the Hispanic community.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — The bill promotes accountability for human rights in El Salvador and oversight of US security assistance.
- 5/14/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/1/2025
- Submitted in House
- Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Norma TorresDemocrat · California
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan