119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 3122
The Vietnam Human Rights Act directs the U.S. government to prioritize human rights concerns in its relationship with Vietnam, despite the countries' $124 billion annual trade relationship. The bill requires the State Department to impose sanctions—including travel bans and financial restrictions—on Vietnamese government officials responsible for arbitrary detention, torture, religious persecution, corruption, online censorship, and surveillance. It also establishes policies to combat Vietnam's restrictive internet environment by distributing censorship-circumvention tools, requiring U.S. companies with government contracts to report censorship demands from Vietnam, and pressuring Vietnam to end restrictions on freedom of expression and adopt international labor standards. Additionally, the legislation directs the State Department to consider designating Vietnam as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations and to include internet freedom, religious property rights, and labor protections in annual human rights dialogues with Vietnam. The bill contains no specific new funding or timeline, instead directing federal agencies to integrate these human rights priorities into existing diplomatic and trade mechanisms.