Global Respect Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6151
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-19: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T08:08:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Global Respect Act (H.R. 6151) aims to protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals worldwide by imposing sanctions on foreign persons responsible for serious violations against them, such as torture or arbitrary detention. It also seeks to improve U.S. government tracking and reporting of discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics to promote accountability and global respect for these rights.
Key Provisions
- Sanctions List (Section 3):
- The President must compile and update a public list (published in the Federal Register) of foreign persons (individuals or entities) determined to be responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses against LGBTQI people, including torture, prolonged detention without trial, forced disappearances, or other severe denials of life, liberty, or security.
- The list is based on credible information from sources like other countries or nongovernmental organizations monitoring human rights.
- Initial list due within 180 days of enactment; updates biannually or as new information arises.
- Sanctions include:
- Inadmissibility to the U.S., ineligibility for visas or entry documents, and revocation of existing visas (effective immediately).
- Public guidance allows submissions of names for the list via U.S. diplomatic posts; Congress members can request inclusions or removals, with responses due within 120 days.
- Removals possible if the person is prosecuted, shows significant behavioral change, or for U.S. national security reasons (with congressional notification).
- Annual reports to Congress on list activities, international coordination, impacts on behavior, and ways to improve prevention efforts (unclassified, with possible classified annex; public version online).
- Exceptions and Waivers:
- Does not apply to U.S. intelligence/law enforcement activities or to comply with U.N. obligations.
- Waivers available if vital to U.S. national interests (with 15-day congressional notice).
- Immediate family members of listed persons exempt if they fear persecution based on protected grounds (certified within 30 days).
- Enhanced Tracking and Reporting (Section 4):
- Designates senior officers in the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor to track violence, criminalization, and restrictions on freedoms related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
- Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require annual U.S. human rights reports to include information on such discrimination and violations of freedoms like expression, association, and assembly.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amendments to Human Rights Reporting: Adds a new requirement to sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n and 2304), mandating inclusion of LGBTQI-specific violence and discrimination data in annual country reports on human rights practices. Previously, these reports focused on broader human rights but did not explicitly require coverage of issues tied to sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
- Introduces a new sanctions framework tailored to LGBTQI human rights violations, building on but distinct from existing authorities like those for general human rights abuses (e.g., under the Global Magnitsky Act). It emphasizes public listing and immigration restrictions, with specific congressional oversight and reporting not previously mandated for this category.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases workload for the State Department (tracking, reporting, list management), Department of Homeland Security (visa revocations and inadmissibility enforcement), and the President (determinations and waivers). Requires coordination with Congress and international partners, potentially straining resources but enhancing U.S. human rights diplomacy.
- On Citizens: Provides indirect protection for LGBTQI individuals globally by deterring abuses through accountability for perpetrators; may limit access to U.S. benefits for sanctioned persons but includes safeguards for persecuted family members. U.S. citizens and residents unaffected directly, though it aligns with domestic values on equality.
- On International Relations: Could pressure foreign governments to address LGBTQI rights, fostering alliances with supportive nations but risking tensions with countries criminalizing same-sex relations (about one-third of countries, per findings). Encourages global coordination on sanctions, potentially influencing HIV/AIDS access and event freedoms (e.g., Pride celebrations), while promoting U.S. leadership in human rights without targeting religious beliefs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- LGBTQI Individuals and Communities: Primary beneficiaries, as the law targets abuses like violence, arrest, and discrimination, potentially reducing impunity and improving safety/access to services.
- Foreign Persons and Governments: Officials, police, or others complicit in violations face U.S. sanctions, travel bans, and reputational damage; governments in non-compliant countries may face diplomatic pressure.
- U.S. Government Entities: State Department, DHS, and White House handle implementation; congressional committees (e.g., Foreign Affairs, Judiciary) gain oversight and input roles.
- Nongovernmental Organizations and Civil Society: Key sources for evidence; empowered through public submission processes and reporting enhancements.
- International Partners: Other countries and U.N. bodies may collaborate on sanctions or reporting, affecting global human rights norms.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement of international human rights standards (e.g., rights to life, privacy, expression) via domestic tools like immigration law (Immigration and Nationality Act). Includes a "rule of construction" clarifying no sanctions based solely on religious belief, avoiding First Amendment conflicts in the U.S. Exceptions for national security and U.N. obligations ensure compliance with treaties.
- Constitutional: Aligns with U.S. commitments to equality and non-discrimination; potential challenges could arise if waivers or classifications are seen as executive overreach, but congressional notifications mitigate this.
- Political: Bipartisan support (over 100 cosponsors) signals domestic consensus on LGBTQI rights as a foreign policy priority, but may polarize relations with socially conservative nations. Enhances U.S. soft power by publicly condemning abuses, though implementation depends on presidential discretion, risking inconsistent application across administrations. No direct impact on U.S. domestic law, focusing solely on foreign actors.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
Cosponsors (156)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] and 106 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-19: 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.
- 2025-11-19: 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.
- 2025-11-19: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Global Respect Act — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (17 pages)