119-hr-6056119th Congress

International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

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, Robert [D-CA-42]

CA • D

Cosponsors

Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 10/29/2026
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 10/26/2026
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/26/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 10/26/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 10/26/2026
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]
GA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]
GA • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/1/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
CO • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/13/2026
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/9/2026
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/9/2026
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/9/2026
Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
CT • D
Sponsored 8/6/2026
Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2026
Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4]
MA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2026

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Back to Legislation

International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025

Summary

How does this bill affect your finances?

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

Low Impact

Protection access for LGBTQI+ asylum seekers

Create LGBTQI+ rights envoy and reporting

U.S. aid and training for LGBTQI+ rights abroad

New nondiscrimination rules for federal grantees

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cosponsors

Roll Call Votes

Related Bills

Live Policy Activity

Not In My Barn Yard Act

Other Activity On This Topic

DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push

How These Connect

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Federal Communications Commission — Communications Regulation

FCC & Telecommunications Regulation

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