WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse › Chapter 32

22 U.S.C. 2151n: Human rights and development assistance

Created in 1975 by Public Law 87-195. Changed by 25 later laws. 2 bills in this Congress would change it.

This Congress

  • H.R. 7545 Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act · introduced · would change (h)
  • H.R. 6056 International Human Rights Defense Act of 2025 · introduced · would change (d)

How it got here

2023

  • Pub. L. 118–31 added par. (13). (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024) Law text · (d)

2018

  • Pub. L. 115–254, §1470(j)(1)(A), inserted ", and no support may be provided under subchapter II of chapter 103 of this title," after "subchapter I of this chapter". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 115–254, §1470(j)(1)(C), in second subsec. (b) relating to protection of children from exploitation, inserted "under subchapter I of this chapter, and no support may be provided under subchapter II of chapter 103 of this title," after "provided". (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 115–254, §1470(j)(1)(B), in first subsec. (b) relating to information to Congressional committees for realization of assistance for needy people; concurrent resolution terminating assistance, inserted "or subchapter II of chapter 103 of this title" after "allocated under subchapter I of thi… (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 115–254, §1470(j)(1)(C), substituted "under subchapter I of this chapter, or support provided under subchapter II of chapter 103 of this title, the Administrator, or the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, as applicable," … (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) Law text · (c)

2013

  • Pub. L. 113–4 added subsec. (g). (Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013) Law text · (g)

2010

  • Pub. L. 111–166 added par. (12). Law text · (d)

2004

  • Pub. L. 108–332 added par. (8) and redesignated former pars. (8) to (10) as (9) to (11), respectively. Law text · (d)

2002

  • Pub. L. 107–228, §665(a), added par. (9). (Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 107–228, §683(a), added par. (10). (Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003) Law text · (d)

2000

  • Pub. L. 106–386 amended subsec. (f) generally, substituting present provisions for provisions listing information required for report under subsec. (d) of this section, providing for consultation with human rights and other appropriate nongovernmental organizations in compiling data fo… (Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000) Law text · (f)

1999

  • Pub. L. 106–113, §1000(a)(7) [div. A, title VIII, §806(a)], added par. (8). (Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 106–113, §1000(a)(2) [title V, §597], added subsec. (f). (Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000) Law text · (f)

1998

  • Pub. L. 105–292, §421(a)(1), inserted "and in consultation with the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom" after "Labor" in introductory provisions. (International Religious Freedom Act of 1998) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 105–292, §421(a)(2)–(4), added par. (3). (International Religious Freedom Act of 1998) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 105–277, §2216(1), substituted "February 25" for "January 31" in introductory provisions. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 105–277, §2216(2), (3), added par. (3) and redesignated former pars. (3) and (4) as (4) and (5), respectively. Former par. (5) redesignated (6). (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 105–277, §2216(2), redesignated par. (5) as (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (7). See Codification note above. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 105–292, §102(d)(1), added par. (6). See Codification note above. (International Religious Freedom Act of 1998) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 105–277, §2216(2), redesignated par. (6) as (7). See Codification note above. (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 105–292, §501(b), inserted ", including the right to free religious belief and practice" after "adherence to civil and political rights". (International Religious Freedom Act of 1998) Law text · (e)

1996

  • Pub. L. 104–319 added pars. (3) and (4) and redesignated former par. (3) as (5). Law text · (d)

1994

  • Pub. L. 103–437 substituted "Foreign Affairs" for "International Relations" in subsec. (b) relating to submittal of information to Congress. · (b)
  • Pub. L. 103–236 substituted "Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor" for "Assistant Secretary for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs" in introductory provisions. · (c)

1993

  • Pub. L. 103–149 struck out "(1)" before "The President is authorized" and struck out par. (2) which authorized grants to nongovernmental organizations in South Africa promoting political, economic, social, juridical, and humanitarian efforts to foster a just society and to help victims… · (e)
  • Pub. L. 103–149 struck out subsec. (f) which authorized assistance to political detainees and prisoners and support for black-led community organizations in South Africa and subsec. (g) which authorized assistance to families of victims of violence in South Africa. · (f), (g)

1990

  • Pub. L. 101–513, §599D, added subsec. (b) prohibiting assistance to governments failing to protect children from exploitation, abuse or conscription. · (b)
  • Pub. L. 101–513, §562(d)(3), inserted ", part X of this subchapter," after "available under this part" and "or under part X of this subchapter, except that funds made available under part X of this subchapter may only be used under this subsection with respect to countries in sub-Sa… · (e)

1987

  • Pub. L. 100–204 added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3). · (d)

1986

  • Pub. L. 99–440, §202(a), inserted authorization of appropriations of $1,500,000 for fiscal year 1986 and for each fiscal year thereafter. · (e)
  • Pub. L. 99–440, §202(b), added subsec. (f). · (f)
  • Pub. L. 99–631 substituted "subsection" for "paragraph". · (f)
  • Pub. L. 99–440, §202(b), added subsec. (g). · (g)

1983

  • Pub. L. 98–164, §1002(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted "$3,000,000 of the funds made available under this part and part IV of subchapter II of this chapter for each fiscal year" for "$1,500,000 of the funds made available under this part for each of the fisca… · (e)

1981

  • Pub. L. 97–113 substituted "each of the fiscal years 1982 and 1983" for "the fiscal year 1981". · (e)

1980

  • Pub. L. 96–533, §701(a), prohibited assistance for government of any country causing the disappearance of persons by the abduction and clandestine detention of those persons. · (a)
  • Pub. L. 96–533, §305, substituted "1981" for "1980". · (e)

1979

  • Pub. L. 96–53, §504(a), designated existing provisions as cl. (A) and added cl. (B). · (d)
  • Pub. L. 96–53, §106, substituted "1980" for "1979". · (e)

1978

  • Pub. L. 95–424 substituted "The President is authorized and encouraged to use not less than $1,500,000 of" for "Of", and "1979" for "1978, not less than $750,000 may be used only". · (e)

1977

  • Pub. L. 95–105 substituted "Assistant Secretary" for "Coordinator". · (c)
  • Pub. L. 95–88, §111(a), inserted references to the formulation of development assistance programs under this subchapter and the consultation of the Administrator with the Coordinator for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs in the introductory provisions, designated the remainder of the existing p… · (c)
  • Pub. L. 95–88, §111(a), substituted provisions directing the Secretary of State to transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, by January 31 of each year, a full and complete report regarding the status of internationall… · (d)
  • Pub. L. 95–88, §111(b), added subsec. (e). · (e)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.