Bill > HR5959

This bill reauthorizes the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, extending its provisions through 2030 and addressing ongoing human rights concerns in North Korea. The legislation highlights severe human rights violations in the country, including political imprisonment, torture, extrajudicial killings, and religious persecution, while also noting the devastating impact of COVID-19 border lockdowns and food insecurity. The bill calls on the United States government to take several actions, such as supporting radio broadcasting to North Korea, urging China to stop forcibly repatriating North Korean refugees, promoting humanitarian aid transparency, and expanding the Rewards for Justice program to encourage North Korean officials to provide evidence of human rights crimes. It mandates annual reports from the State Department on human rights efforts, requires the maintenance of the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues position, and encourages efforts to reunite Korean-American divided families. The bill also emphasizes the importance of increasing information access to North Korea and countering state propaganda, with a particular focus on supporting communications platforms that can effectively reach the North Korean people and promote awareness of human rights issues.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5959/all-info