US senators propose human rights commission named for John McCain
Dec 10, 2018, 3:42 PM
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., makes a comment as North Carolina Senate candidate Thom Tillis, right, listens during a national security roundtable at the Wayne County Veterans Services in Goldsboro, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
On Human Rights Day, the co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus introduced a resolution Monday to establish a bipartisan human rights commission named after the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
Sens. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) officially proposed the John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The commission is modeled after the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the House and, if established, would promote human rights initiatives in the Senate and examine violations through regular hearings and briefings.
“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,” Coons said in a press release.
Today, on the 70th anniversary of the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I'm proud to introduce legislation with @SenThomTillis, @SenMarkey, @SenJeffMerkley, @SenToddYoung, and @marcorubio to establish a John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission.
— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) December 10, 2018
McCain, who served in the Senate for more than three decades, died of brain cancer 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,” Tillis said in the release.
Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) joined the committee co-chairs introducing the resolution.
