Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009

The Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2009 (S. 1159) seeks to link future increases in U.S. non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam with measurable improvements in that country’s human rights record. The bill would freeze most economic and security assistance at 2009 levels unless the Vietnamese government demonstrates progress in democracy promotion or the U.S. provides matching funds for human rights programs.

For citizens and those with ties to the region, the bill aims to protect workers' rights and freedom of association by withholding certain duty-free trade benefits until labor standards are met. Additionally, the legislation would expand efforts to bypass government censorship of Radio Free Asia and reopen refugee resettlement opportunities for Vietnamese nationals and ethnic minorities who were previously denied entry into the United States due to administrative errors.