Bill Summary
The "Preshevo Valley Discrimination Assessment Act" is a proposed piece of legislation that mandates the Secretary of State to prepare a comprehensive report on the treatment of ethnic minorities, specifically ethnic Albanians, in Serbia. The report must be submitted to relevant congressional committees within 180 days of the Act's enactment.
Key components to be examined include:
1. The issue of "passivation" of addresses, which may hinder ethnic Albanians from obtaining identity documents and exercising their rights.
2. The level of integration of ethnic Albanians in public institutions and the recognition of their educational qualifications from Kosovo.
3. Restrictions on the use of the Albanian language in public and legal documents.
4. Access to educational resources in Albanian for students in the Preshevo Valley.
5. Financial disparities in government grants between majority-Albanian and majority-Serb municipalities.
6. Instances of police intimidation against ethnic Albanians.
7. Support for Albanian-language media and cultural activities.
8. Potential mandatory military service for ethnic Albanians and any measures that might increase poverty or hinder living conditions in their communities.
The report should be primarily unclassified, though it may include a classified section if necessary. The legislation aims to assess and bring attention to the treatment of ethnic minorities in Serbia, particularly in regard to systemic discrimination and civil rights issues.
Possible Impacts
The "Preshevo Valley Discrimination Assessment Act" could affect people in several ways, particularly for the ethnic Albanian community in Serbia. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased International Attention and Accountability**: The enactment of this legislation may lead to increased scrutiny of Serbia's treatment of ethnic minorities, particularly Albanians in the Preshevo Valley. This could result in pressure on the Serbian government to address discrimination issues and improve the rights and living conditions of ethnic Albanians. For the affected community, this heightened visibility may provide an opportunity to advocate for their rights and seek redress for grievances.
2. **Potential Changes in Policy and Resource Allocation**: The report mandated by the legislation could influence Serbian government policies regarding ethnic Albanians. If findings reveal systemic discrimination, the Serbian government may be prompted to reform policies that restrict access to identity documents, education, or public services. This could lead to improved access to essential services and resources for ethnic Albanians, ultimately enhancing their social and economic well-being.
3. **Impact on Diplomatic Relations**: The findings of the report could affect diplomatic relations between the United States and Serbia. If the report highlights significant human rights violations, it may lead to diplomatic pressure or economic sanctions against Serbia. This could indirectly impact the lives of all residents in the region, as strained international relations might affect economic opportunities, security, and the overall political climate in Serbia and the surrounding areas.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6411 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6411
To direct the Secretary of State to prepare a report on the treatment
of ethnic minorities in Serbia.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 3, 2025
Mr. Self introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of State to prepare a report on the treatment
of ethnic minorities in Serbia.
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 ``Preshevo Valley Discrimination
Assessment Act''.
SEC. 2. REPORT ON TREATMENT OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN SERBIA.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall prepare and submit
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on the
treatment of ethnic minorities in Serbia.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required by subsection (a)
should include the following:
(1) The deactivation of registered residences, referred to
as ``passivation'' or ``passivization'' of addresses by Serbian
government authorities, belonging to ethnic Albanians in the
Preshevo Valley (also referred to as the ``Presevo Valley'',
``Presheva Valley'', or the ``Presevo Valley'').
(2) If such occurrence is confirmed, whether such
passivation is preventing ethnic Albanians from renewing
identity documents and exercising basic rights that require
identification, such as voting.
(3) Whether Serbia disregards a proportional integration of
ethnic Albanians in state and other public institutions.
(4) Whether Serbia neglects or refuses to recognize
diplomas and degrees earned in Kosovo by Albanians who live in
the Preshevo Valley.
(5) Whether Serbia restricts or prohibits the use of the
Albanian language in public institutions at any level or on any
personal documents, including personal identification, driver's
licenses, health cards, birth, marriage, or death certificates,
particularly in Serbian municipalities where most of the
inhabitants are Albanian.
(6) Whether Serbia is preventing or hindering the regular
and timely provision of school textbooks in the Albanian
language to ethnic Albanian students in the Preshevo Valley.
(7) Whether Serbia actively opposes or disregards a
proportional integration of ethnic Albanians in state or other
public institutions.
(8) Whether Serbia provides low amounts of central
government grants to majority-Albanian municipalities relative
to majority-Serb municipalities, and whether if such grant
funding adequately enables local governments to maintain or
build new infrastructure or provide other public goods as
needed by local residents.
(9) Whether Serbia suppresses or restricts the use of
symbols which are a feature of one's ethnic identity.
(10) Whether Serbia uses police or any law enforcement
forces to interrogate, threaten, and intimidate local ethnic
Albanians without due cause or process.
(11) The level of support provided by Serbia for Albanian
language media, press, or cultural activities.
(12) Serbia's consideration to implement mandatory military
service for ethnic Albanians.
(13) Whether Serbia takes any measures to deliberately
increase poverty or make life unsustainable in the Preshevo
Valley for ethnic Albanians.
(c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) should be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex if
necessary.
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