# 119-s-3426: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025

119-s-3426, International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA); status introduced (as of 2026-04-22).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3426
- As of: 2026-04-22
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3426
- Congress: 119
- Title: International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-10
- Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 35
- Policy area: unknown
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-22

## Summary

**A permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ People** would lead a coordinated U.S. foreign policy and a biannual global strategy to prevent criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI+ people worldwide. - LGBTQI+ people and asylum seekers: the bill would direct U.S. policy to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence and to guarantee protection and asylum opportunities for those with well-founded fears of persecution. - Local partners and governments: it would require regular consultations with nongovernmental organizations and push for capacity building across health, education, legal, and social sectors to support inclusion and safety. - U.S. agencies and foreign officials: the Secretary of State and the Special Envoy would coordinate interagency action, deploy resources for protection and resettlement, train military, police, and judicial officials on LGBTQI+ rights, and require nondiscrimination from federal funding recipients.

## Cosponsors (35)

- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (D-WA), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] (D-MI), 2026-01-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2026-03-05T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New U.S. Envoy for LGBTQI+ Rights: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would create a permanent Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ People at the State Department. The President would appoint the Envoy as an Ambassador with Senate confirmation. The Envoy would coordinate U.S. foreign policy and direct State Department activities and fund…
- U.S. Grants to Protect LGBTQI+ People: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary of State fund programs to prevent and respond to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQI+ people abroad. Grants could support legal reform, police and court training, and protection programs. Grants could help health systems detect a…
- Add LGBTQI+ Data to U.S. Reports: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require U.S. human rights reports to include information on criminalization, discrimination, and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics. Reports must identify countries that have laws or constitutions that criminalize or discriminate…
- Clear Definitions for Key Terms: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would define terms used across the law and reports. It would name the appropriate congressional committees for briefings. It would define gender identity, intersex, LGBTQI+, and sexual orientation for implementation and reporting. These definitions would guide how agencies appl…
- Nondiscrimination Rules for Federal Grantees: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would require all recipients of Federal funding to adopt nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The rule would apply to contractors, grant recipients, and cooperative agreement holders for both acquisition and assis…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025
- 119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-s-1115: Paycheck Fairness Act

## Sources
- [119-s-3426 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3426)

## Related
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-852)
- [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150)
- [119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2523)
- [119-s-1115: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1115)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3426 (as of 2026-04-22).