International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Garcia (CA)
Introduced
Summary
Creates a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ People. This bill would make the State Department's office the lead for U.S. diplomacy on LGBTQI+ rights, expand reporting on bias-motivated violence abroad, and authorize programs to prevent criminalization and violence.
Show full summary
- LGBTQI+ people worldwide would gain a dedicated diplomatic advocate and a biannual global strategy. The bill highlights that 64 countries criminalize same-sex relations and would push decriminalization, stigma reduction, and HIV/AIDS response work.
- Activists, local NGOs, and community leaders would get capacity building and a new leadership program to foster collaboration and share successful practices. The Envoy must consult NGOs and monitor the impact of funded activities.
- People fleeing persecution and justice systems would see strengthened protections and targeted training. The bill would prioritize protection for people with a well-founded fear of persecution and expand trainings for foreign police, military, and judicial officials to address abuse and discrimination.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Protection access for LGBTQI+ asylum seekers
If enacted, people who fear persecution for being LGBTQI+ could seek protection in the United States. This would also cover people targeted for supporting LGBTQI+ rights. It is a policy priority and does not change current asylum rules.
Create LGBTQI+ rights envoy and reporting
If enacted, the State Department would create a Special Envoy for LGBTQI+ human rights. The President would appoint the Envoy; the Senate may confirm at ambassador rank. The Envoy would coordinate policy and programs. They would brief Congress within 180 days and each year after. Country human rights reports would add details on laws, violence, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people. The bill defines key terms like sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex.
U.S. aid and training for LGBTQI+ rights abroad
If enacted, the State Department could fund aid to protect LGBTQI+ people overseas. This could include legal help, health and HIV support, and activist leadership training. U.S. personnel would add LGBTQI+-specific training for foreign police, military, and judges. The bill does not list funding amounts.
New nondiscrimination rules for federal grantees
If enacted, groups that get U.S. federal money would need clear nondiscrimination policies. Policies must cover sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. They would also need to protect staff and program users from harm. This would apply to contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, starting at enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Garcia (CA)
CA • D
Cosponsors
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Amo
RI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Scott, David
GA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Schneider
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Underwood
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Dean (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
DeLauro
CT • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Goldman (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Larsen (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Lee (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Moskowitz
FL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Dexter
OR • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Gottheimer
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Takano
CA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Ramirez
IL • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Case
HI • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Subramanyam
VA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Johnson (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Stevens
MI • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Frost
FL • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Strickland
WA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Garcia (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Perez
WA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Balint
VT • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Torres (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Morelle
NY • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Gomez
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Pappas
NH • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Walkinshaw
VA • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Foster
IL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Frankel, Lois
FL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Stanton
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Sykes
OH • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Menendez
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Golden (ME)
ME • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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