WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken supporting new proposed rules for the U.S. State Department bolstering human rights commitments in the delivery of U.S. foreign assistance. 

“Advancing human rights is fundamental to U.S. foreign policy as human rights protections are the foundation of strong economies and democratic societies,” said Rep. Dina Titus. “U.S. foreign assistance strengthens the community of nations which respect individual civil and economic rights. The swift adoption of these proposed rules will underscore our commitment to the human rights of all people and ensure U.S. foreign assistance is not used to discriminate against marginalized communities.”

Rep. Titus led 63 Members of Congress in this letter which was endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign; Council for Global Equality; Equality California; Silver State Equality; International Institute for Race, Equality, and Human Rights; American Jewish World Service; Outright International; amfAR; and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Background
Recently, the State Department proposed two rules, “Department of State Acquisition Regulation: Nondiscrimination in Foreign Assistance” and “Nondiscrimination in Foreign Assistance.” 

These rules will prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, pregnancy, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, indigeneity, marital status, parental status, political affiliation, or veteran's status.

Sixty years ago, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, recognizing the central role the U.S. federal government plays in eliminating discrimination and providing avenues of recourse when people are marginalized because of their protected characteristics. 

In the decades since the Civil Rights Act’s passage, Congress and Presidential Administrations have continued to take actions to strengthen our commitment to civil rights protections at home and abroad, including through efforts to ensure those protections are reflected within our foreign assistance. 

In 1978, Congress passed the International Development and Food Assistance Act to amend the Foreign Assistance Act to clearly state that “the individual liberties, economic prosperity, and security of the people of the United States are best sustained and enhanced in a community of nations which respect individual civil and economic rights...”. These two proposed rules will play a crucial role in furthering this U.S. foreign assistance priority.

The full letter can be found HERE.