H.R. 2404 – Reading Mode

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2404

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 30, 2023

Mr. Santos introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

A BILL

To prohibit the availability of funds to provide assistance to foreign countries that criminalize or discriminate based on gender, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Women’s Rights and Protection Act of 2023.

Prohibition on availability of funds for foreign countries that criminalize or discriminate based on gender

(a)

Prohibition

Except as provided in subsection (b), no Federal funds may be obligated or expended to provide assistance, directly or indirectly, to a country described in subsection (c).

(b)

Exception

(1)

In general

The President may authorize an obligation or expenditure of Federal funds to assist a country described in subsection (c) only if the President determines, on a case-by-case basis, that such proposed obligation or expenditure is vital to the national security interests of the United States.

(2)

Briefing

Upon making a determination under paragraph (1), the President, acting through the Secretary of State, shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees and congressional leadership a briefing on such determination.

(c)

Countries described

A country described in this subsection is a foreign country the government of which the President determines has enacted or established and is implementing any provision of law, or provision which has the force and effect of law, that criminalizes or discriminates on the basis of gender, including through such provisions that, on the basis of gender—

(1)

limit or prohibit women from—

(A)

enrolling in or attending any educational institution, school, or other program of instruction, or otherwise seeking or receiving education activities;

(B)

operating a vehicle;

(C)

freely exercising any religion; or

(D)

walking or otherwise traveling without a male escort; or

(2)

authorize (including as a form of punishment) female genital mutilation, sexual abuse, beheading, or any other practice that targets the lives of women.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means the following:

(A)

The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.

(B)

The Committee on Foreign Relations and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.

(2)

Congressional leadership

The term congressional leadership means the following:

(A)

The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(B)

The minority leader of the House of Representatives.

(C)

The majority leader of the Senate.

(D)

The minority leader of the Senate.

(e)

Effective date

This Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.