H.R. 6151

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6151 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6151

To impose sanctions with respect to foreign persons responsible for 
violations of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 
queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 19, 2025

Ms. McBride (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Aguilar, Mr. 
Amo, Ms. Ansari, Ms. Balint, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. 
Brownley, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Carson, Mr. Carter of 
Louisiana, Mr. Casar, Mr. Case, Mr. Casten, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mrs. 
Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Chu, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Correa, Mr. 
Costa, Ms. Craig, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. 
DeLauro, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Deluzio, Mr. DeSaulnier, Ms. Dexter, Mrs. 
Dingell, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Fletcher, Mrs. 
Foushee, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Frost, Mr. Garcia of 
California, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Goldman of 
New York, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Gottheimer, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Himes, Mr. 
Horsford, Ms. Houlahan, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Ivey, Mr. 
Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr. 
Keating, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr. Khanna, 
Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Larson of 
Connecticut, Mr. Latimer, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieu, Ms. 
Lofgren, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Magaziner, Ms. Matsui, Ms. McCollum, Mr. 
McGarvey, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Meng, Mr. Min, Ms. 
Morrison, Mr. Moskowitz, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Norcross, Ms. 
Norton, Ms. Omar, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Peters, Ms. Pettersen, Ms. Pingree, 
Mr. Pocan, Mr. Quigley, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Salinas, Ms. 
Scanlon, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Schneider, Ms. Scholten, Mr. Sherman, Ms. 
Sherrill, Ms. Simon, Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Swalwell, Mrs. 
Sykes, Mr. Takano, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. 
Tonko, Mr. Torres of New York, Mr. Tran, Ms. Underwood, Mr. Vargas, Mr. 
Veasey, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Wilson of Florida, 
and Mr. Nadler) introduced the following bill; which was 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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To impose sanctions with respect to foreign persons responsible for 
violations of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 
queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Global Respect Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) The dignity, freedom, and equality of all human beings 
are fundamental to a thriving global community.
(2) The rights to life, liberty, and security of the 
person, the right to privacy, and the right to freedom of 
expression and association are fundamental human rights.
(3) Many countries are making positive developments in the 
protection of the basic human rights of LGBQTI individuals.
(4) The alarming trend of increasing violence directed at 
LGBTQI individuals around the world continues.
(5) Approximately \1/3\ of all countries have laws 
criminalizing consensual same-sex relations, and 12 countries 
carry the possibility of the death penalty.
(6) Laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations 
severely hinder access to HIV/AIDS treatment, information, and 
preventive measures for LGBTQI individuals and families.
(7) Celebrations of LGBTQI individuals and communities, 
such as film festivals, Pride events, and demonstrations, are 
often forced underground due to inaction on the part of, or 
harassment by, local law enforcement and government officials, 
in violation of freedoms of assembly and expression.
(8) Every year, countless individuals around the world are 
targeted for discrimination, harassment, arbitrary arrest and 
detention, physical attack, and murder on the basis of their 
actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex 
characteristics.
(9) Those who commit crimes against LGBTQI individuals 
often do so with impunity, and are not held accountable for 
their crimes.
(10) Homophobic and transphobic statements by government 
officials in many countries in every region of the world 
promote negative public attitudes and can lead to increased 
discrimination and violence toward LGBTQI individuals.
(11) In many instances, police, prison, military, and 
civilian government authorities have been directly complicit in 
abuses aimed at LGBTQI citizens, including arbitrary arrest, 
extortion, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, torture, and 
sexual abuse.

SEC. 3. SANCTIONS ON INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLATIONS OF 
HUMANRIGHTS AGAINST LGBTQI PEOPLE.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and biannually thereafter, the President shall 
transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of each 
foreign person the President determines, based on credible information, 
including information obtained by other countries or by nongovernmental 
organizations that monitor violations of human rights--
(1) is responsible for, or complicit in, with respect to 
persons based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender 
identity, or sex characteristics--
(A) torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading 
treatment or punishment;
(B) prolonged detention without charges and a 
trial;
(C) causing the disappearance of such persons by 
the abduction and clandestine detention of such 
persons; or
(D) other flagrant denial of the right to life, 
liberty, or the security of such persons; or
(2) acted as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign person 
in a matter relating to an activity described in paragraph (1).
(b) Form; Updates; Removal.--
(1) Form.--The list required by subsection (a) shall be 
transmitted in unclassified form and published in the Federal 
Register, except that the President may include a foreign 
person in a classified, unpublished annex to such list if the 
President--
(A) determines that--
(i) it is vital for the national security 
interests of the United States to do so; and
(ii) the use of such annex, and the 
inclusion of such person in such annex, would 
not undermine the overall purpose of this 
section to publicly identify foreign persons 
engaging in the conduct described in subsection 
(a) in order to increase accountability for 
such conduct; and
(B) not later than 15 days before including such 
person in a classified annex, provides to the 
appropriate congressional committees notice of, and a 
justification for, including or continuing to include 
each foreign person in such annex despite the existence 
of any publicly available credible information 
indicating that each such foreign person engaged in an 
activity described in subsection (a).
(2) Updates.--The President shall transmit to the 
appropriate congressional committees an update of the list 
required by subsection (a) as new information becomes 
available.
(3) Removal.--A foreign person may be removed from the list 
required by subsection (a) if the President determines and 
reports to the appropriate congressional committees, not later 
than 15 days before the removal of such person from such list, 
that--
(A) new, credible information is discovered 
confirming that such person did not in fact engage in 
the activity for which the person was included in such 
list;
(B) such person has been prosecuted appropriately 
for the activity in which such person engaged;
(C) such person has credibly demonstrated a 
significant change in behavior, has paid an appropriate 
consequence for the activities in which such person 
engaged, and has credibly committed to not engage in an 
activity described in subsection (a); or
(D) removal of such sanctions is in the vital 
national security interests of the United States.
(c) Public Submission of Information.--The President shall issue 
public guidance, including through United States diplomatic and 
consular posts, setting forth the manner by which the names of foreign 
persons that may meet the criteria to be included on the list required 
by subsection (a) may be submitted to the Department of State for 
evaluation.
(d) Requests From Chair and Ranking Member of Appropriate 
Congressional Committees.--
(1) Consideration of information.--In addition to the 
guidance issued pursuant to subsection (c), the President shall 
also consider information provided by the Chair or Ranking 
Member of each of the appropriate congressional committees in 
determining whether to include a foreign person in the list 
required by subsection (a).
(2) Requests.--Not later than 120 days after receiving a 
written request from the Chair or Ranking Member of one of the 
appropriate congressional committees with respect to whether a 
foreign person meets the criteria for being included in the 
list required by subsection (a), the President shall transmit a 
response to such Chair or Ranking Member, as the case may be, 
with respect to the President's determination relating to such 
foreign person.
(3) Removal.--If the President removes from the list 
required by subsection (a) a foreign person that had been 
included in such list pursuant to a request under paragraph 
(2), the President shall provide to the relevant Chair or 
Ranking Member of the appropriate congressional committees any 
information that contributed to such decision.
(4) Form.--The President may transmit a response required 
by paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) in classified form if the 
President determines that it is necessary for the national 
security interests of the United States to do so.
(e) Inadmissibility of Certain Individuals.--
(1) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien who the 
Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a 
designee of one of such Secretaries) knows, or has reason to 
believe, is described in subsection (a) is--
(A) inadmissible to the United States;
(B) ineligible for a visa or other documentation to 
enter the United States; and
(C) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled 
into the United States or to receive any other benefit 
under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101 et seq.).
(2) Current visas revoked.--
(A) In general.--The issuing consular officer, the 
Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Homeland 
Security (or a designee of one of such Secretaries) 
shall, in accordance with section 221(i) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), 
revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to 
an alien described in subparagraph (A) regardless of 
when the visa or other entry documentation is issued.
(B) Effect of revocation.--A revocation under 
clause (i)--
(i) shall take effect immediately; and
(ii) shall automatically cancel any other 
valid visa or entry documentation that is in 
the alien's possession.
(3) Sense of congress with respect to additional 
sanctions.--It is the sense of Congress that the President 
should impose additional targeted sanctions with respect to 
foreign persons on the list required by subsection (a) to push 
for accountability for flagrant denials of the right to life, 
liberty, or the security of the person, through the use of 
designations and targeted sanctions provided for such conduct 
under other existing authorities.
(4) Exceptions.--
(A) Exception with respect to national security.--
This section shall not apply with respect to--
(i) activities subject to the reporting 
requirements under title V of the National 
Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); 
or
(ii) any authorized intelligence or law 
enforcement activities of the United States.
(B) Exception to comply with international 
obligations.--Sanctions under paragraphs (1) and (2) 
shall not apply with respect to a person if admitting 
or paroling the person into the United States is 
necessary to permit the United States to comply with 
the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United 
Nations signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and 
entered into force November 21, 1947, between the 
United Nations and the United States or other 
applicable international obligations.
(C) Exception for certain immediate family 
members.--
(i) In general.--A covered individual shall 
not be subject to sanctions under this section 
if the President certifies to the appropriate 
congressional committees, in accordance with 
clause (ii), that such individual has a 
reasonable fear of persecution based on--
(I) actual or perceived sexual 
orientation, gender identity, or sex 
characteristics;
(II) race, religion, or 
nationality; or
(III) political opinion or 
membership in a particular social 
group.
(ii) Determination and certification.--A 
certification under clause (i) shall be made 
not later than 30 days after the date of the 
determination required by such clause. Any 
proceedings relating to such determination 
shall not be publicly available.
(iii) Covered individual.--For purposes of 
this subparagraph, the term ``covered 
individual'' means an individual who is an 
immediate family member of foreign person on 
the list required by subsection (a).
(5) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of 
sanctions or restrictions imposed with respect to a foreign 
person under this section if the President certifies to the 
appropriate congressional committees, not later than 15 days 
before such waiver is to take effect, that the waiver is vital 
to the national interest of the United States.
(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President, 
acting through the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on--
(1) the actions taken to carry out this section, 
including--
(A) the number of foreign persons added to or 
removed from the list required by subsection (a) during 
the year preceding each such report, the dates on which 
such persons were so added or removed, and the reasons 
for so adding or removing such persons; and
(B) an analysis that compares increases or 
decreases in the number of such persons added or 
removed year-over-year and the reasons therefor;
(2) any efforts by the President to coordinate with the 
governments of other countries, as appropriate, to impose 
sanctions that are similar to the sanctions imposed under this 
section;
(3) the impact of the sanctions imposed under this section 
with respect to altering the behavior of each of the foreign 
persons included, as of the date of submission of the report, 
in the list required by subsection (a); and
(4) steps the Department can take to improve coordination 
with foreign governments, civil society groups, and the private 
sector, to prevent the commission of the human rights 
violations described in section 3(a)(1) against persons based 
on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or 
sex characteristics.
(g) Form; Publication.--The report required by subsection (f) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex. 
The unclassified portion of such report shall be published on a 
publicly available website of the Department of State.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Homeland Security, 
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on 
the Judiciary of the Senate.
(2) Immediate family member.--The term ``immediate family 
member'' has the meaning given such term for purposes of 
section 7031(c) of division K of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021.
(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
to allow the imposition of sanctions with respect to, or otherwise 
authorize any other action against, any foreign person based solely 
upon religious belief.

SEC. 4. DISCRIMINATION RELATED TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, 
OR SEX CHARACTERISTICS.

(a) Tracking Violence or Criminalization Related to Sexual 
Orientation or Gender Identity.--The Assistant Secretary of State for 
Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor shall designate 1 or more bureau-
based senior officer or officers, who shall be responsible for tracking 
violence, criminalization, and restrictions on the enjoyment of 
fundamental freedoms in foreign countries based on actual or perceived 
sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
(b) Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.--The Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 is amended--
(1) in section 116(d) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d))--
(A) in paragraph (11)(C), by striking ``and'' after 
the semicolon at the end;
(B) in paragraph (12)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
``and'' after the semicolon at the end; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; 
and
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
``(13) Wherever applicable, information relating to 
violence or discrimination that affects fundamental freedoms, 
including widespread or systematic violation of the freedoms of 
expression, association, or assembly, of individuals in foreign 
countries that is based on actual or perceived sexual 
orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.''; and
(2) in section 502B(b) (22 U.S.C. 2304(b)), by inserting 
after the ninth sentence the following new sentence: ``Wherever 
applicable, such report shall also include information relating 
to violence or discrimination that affects the fundamental 
freedoms, including widespread or systematic violation of the 
freedoms of expression, association, or assembly, of 
individuals in foreign countries that is based on actual or 
perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex 
characteristics.''.
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