Bill Summary
This legislation, titled the "American Values and Security in International Athletics Act," directs the Department of State to ensure that individuals representing the United States at international athletic competitions in certain countries are properly informed about human rights and security concerns in those countries. The Act also requires the Secretary of State to consult with congressional committees, human rights organizations, and sports governing bodies to develop and implement a strategy for providing briefing materials to these individuals. The briefing materials must include information on human rights concerns in the host country as well as any potential risks to personal and digital privacy and security. The Act defines a "covered country" as any country that is communist, ranked as a Tier 3 country in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, determined by the Secretary of State to present serious human rights concerns, or determined by the Secretary of State to present a serious counterintelligence risk. This legislation aims to protect and inform American athletes competing in countries with known human rights issues and potential security risks.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could require athletes representing the US in international competitions to receive briefings on human rights concerns and potential security risks in the host country. This could affect the athletes by making them more aware of potential dangers and allowing them to take precautions to protect themselves.
2. The legislation could also potentially affect the relationship between the US and the host country, as the US government would be required to consult with NGOs and experts to determine the content of the briefings. This could lead to increased diplomatic efforts to address human rights concerns in the host country.
3. In countries with a history of human rights abuses, the legislation could potentially affect the public perception of the international athletic competition and shine a spotlight on the human rights record of the host country. This could lead to increased pressure from the international community and potential consequences for the host country if they do not address these concerns.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8405 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8405
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 30, 2020
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Department of State to ensure persons representing the
United States in international athletic competitions in certain
countries are appropriately informed, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Values and Security in
International Athletics Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In 2017, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
revised its Host City Contract to require host countries to
``protect and respect human rights and ensure any violation of
human rights is remedied in a manner consistent with
international agreements, laws, and regulations applicable in
the Host Country and in a manner consistent with all
internationally recognised human rights standards and
principles, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on
Business and Human Rights, applicable in the Host Country''.
(2) The Olympic Charter states the goal of Olympism is ``to
place sport at the service of the harmonious development of
humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society
concerned with the preservation of human dignity''.
(3) The IOC set up an advisory committee on human rights in
December 2018, and IOC President Thomas Bach said, ``Promoting
humanistic values in sport has been a core feature of the IOC
since its beginning. Our mission, to put sport at the service
of humanity, goes hand-in-hand with human rights, which is part
of our DNA.''.
(4) In the report, ``The Cybersecurity of Olympic Sports:
New Opportunities, New Risks'', the UC Berkley Center for Long-
Term Cybersecurity listed the ``hacking and release of
sensitive athletic data'' as one of the four significant
categories of cyberattacks on major sporting events.
(5) According to the State Department's 2019 Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices, the People's Republic of
China's Ministry of Public Security employs ``tens of millions
of surveillance cameras'' to monitor the general public, as
well as ``political dissidents, religious leaders and
adherents, Tibetans, and Uyghurs''.
(6) The People's Republic of China (PRC) Government's
extensive use of artificial intelligence surveillance
technology, including facial and voice pattern recognition
technology, poses grave humanitarian, privacy, and security
concerns. PRC authorities have used surveillance technology to
monitor, control, and repress an estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs
and other Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous
Region. PRC State media has confirmed that ``voice, image,
position and behavior recognition technologies'' will be used
in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
SEC. 3. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS FOR AMERICAN ATHLETIC DELEGATIONS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
individuals representing the United States at international athletic
competitions in foreign countries should have the opportunity to be
informed about human rights and security concerns in such countries and
how best to safeguard their personal security and privacy.
(b) In General.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall devise
and implement a strategy for disseminating briefing materials,
including information described in subsection (c), to
individuals representing the United States at international
athletic competitions in a covered country.
(2) Timing and form of materials.--
(A) In general.--The briefing materials referred to
in paragraph (1) shall be offered not later than 180
days prior to the commencement of an international
athletic competition in a covered country.
(B) Form of delivery.--Briefing materials related
to the human rights record of covered countries may be
delivered electronically or disseminated in person, as
appropriate.
(C) Special consideration.--Information briefing
materials related to personal security risks may be
offered electronically, in written format, by video
teleconference, or prerecorded video.
(3) Consultations.--In devising and implementing the
strategy required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State
shall consult with the following:
(A) The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations in the Senate, not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(B) Leading human rights nongovernmental
organizations and relevant subject-matter experts in
determining the content of the briefings required under
this subsection.
(C) The United States Olympic and Paralympic
Committee and the national governing bodies of amateur
sports that play a role in determining which
individuals represent the United States in
international athletic competitions, regarding the most
appropriate and effective method to disseminate
briefing materials.
(c) Content of Briefings.--The briefing materials required under
subsection (b) shall include, with respect to a covered country hosting
an international athletic competition in which individuals may
represent the United States, the following:
(1) Information on the human rights concerns present in
such covered country, as described in the Department of State's
Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.
(2) Information, as applicable, on risks such individuals
may face to their personal and digital privacy and security,
and recommended measures to safeguard against certain forms of
foreign intelligence targeting, as appropriate.
(d) Covered Country Defined.--In this section, the term ``covered
country'' means, with respect to a country hosting an international
athletic competition in which individuals representing the United
States may participate, any of the following:
(1) Any Communist country specified in subsection (f) of
section 620 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2370(f)).
(2) Any country ranked as a Tier 3 country in the most
recent Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons
Report.
(3) Any other country the Secretary of State determines
present serious human rights concerns for the purpose of
informing such individuals.
(4) Any country the Secretary of State, in consultation
with other cabinet officials as appropriate, determines
presents a serious counterintelligence risk.
Passed the House of Representatives November 18, 2020.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.