Tillis, Young propose creation of John McCain human rights commission

U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Todd Young (R-IN) are among five lead original cosponsors of a bipartisan proposal to form a congressional human rights commission named for former U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who passed away in August.

“Our late friend and colleague John McCain understood that promoting and defending human rights was a cornerstone of America’s foreign policy and an inherent way of advancing American values,” Sen. Tillis said on Monday.

“Establishing this commission is an important and appropriate way to honor him and reinforce the central role of human rights in American foreign policy,” added Sen. Young.

Senate Resolution (S.Res.) 718 would establish the John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission to serve as a forum for the bipartisan discussion of international human rights issues and to promote internationally recognized human rights; raise awareness of international human rights violations through regular briefings and hearings; and collaborate with the executive branch, human rights groups and non-governmental organizations to promote human rights initiatives within the U.S. Senate, according to the text of the resolution.

“John McCain understood the importance of American international leadership on human rights, and establishing this commission is an important and appropriate way to honor him and reinforce the central role of human rights in American foreign policy,” said Sen. Young.

S.Res. 718, was introduced on Dec. 10 by U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), who along with Sen. Tillis are co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus.

“It’s an honor to join Senator Coons in proposing the establishment of the McCain Human Rights Commission, which will carry on John McCain’s legacy of shining a light on human rights abuses across the world and building bipartisan coalitions to take action,” Sen. Tillis said.

The John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission would be modeled on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. House of Representatives, named for former U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), a co-founder in 1983 of the House’s bipartisan Congressional Human Rights Caucus, who died in 2008.

“I am hopeful that we can advance this legislation and honor Senator McCain’s legacy by establishing a bipartisan commission here in the Senate that is dedicated to raising awareness about human rights abuses and promoting human liberty around the world,” said Sen. Coons.

S.Res. 718 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration Committee.