House Passes Vietnam Human Rights Act

On Tuesday (by a vote of 414-3) the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3096, the Vietnam Human Rights Act. Among other things, it prohibits any increase in nonhumanitarian foreign aid to Vietnam until the President certifies that various human rights goals have been met. Among these are "substantial progress toward respecting the right to freedom of religion, including the right to participate in religious activities and institutions without interference by or involvement of the Government" and "substantial progress toward releasing all political and religious prisoners". The bill, which now goes to the Senate, also calls for the State Department to submit an annual report on Vietnam's progress in various areas of concern. Vietnam's News Service today published an opinion piece criticizing passage of the bill.