In Section 1 of the International Freedom Protection Act, the section provides the short title of the Act and outlines its table of contents, detailing the main topics covered, which focus on addressing transnational repression, authoritarianism, corruption, and supporting democracy and political prisoners.

Congress finds that democracy has been in decline for many years due to factors such as weakened institutions and corruption, with rising authoritarian regimes from countries like China and Russia contributing to this trend by collaborating to suppress dissent. These authoritarian actions threaten global and national security and prompt a need for the U.S. to strengthen its strategies and tools to effectively counter authoritarianism and support democracy.

The section defines key terms used in the Act: "appropriate congressional committees" refers to specific Senate and House committees; "relevant Federal agencies" includes the Department of State, USAID, and others related to the Act's goals; and "transnational repression" involves harmful actions by governments against individuals outside their borders, which can include serious offenses like killings, detentions, and digital threats.

The bill section describes the U.S. policy on stopping transnational repression, where foreign governments target people internationally to silence them, often using threats or surveillance. It calls for protecting individuals, training personnel, monitoring such acts, and working with other countries to stop these harmful practices, with regular reports on progress.

The section of the bill focuses on enhancing measures against authoritarian practices, including using sanctions for people involved in transnational repression and corruption. It also details visa ineligibility for foreign officials involved in significant corruption or human rights abuses and introduces restrictions on assistance to governments following military coups, with specific exemptions for national security, democracy promotion, and humanitarian aid.

The section outlines restrictions on providing assistance to the government of any country where a military coup has overthrown a democratically elected leader. However, exceptions exist if the U.S. Secretary of State certifies it's crucial for national security, or if the assistance promotes democracy, aids a democratic transition, or serves humanitarian needs.

The section focuses on fighting corruption and authoritarianism by directing U.S. efforts toward improving government accountability, protecting civic freedoms, and strengthening justice systems. Additionally, it highlights the importance of international cooperation and introduces a program to recover assets linked to government corruption.

The section outlines a program led by the Secretary of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to research and develop strategies for supporting democracy globally. This includes boosting innovation, promoting collaboration to tackle threats to democracy, and encouraging private companies to adopt democratic practices, with a report on its progress due in two years.

Congress suggests that the U.S. should use its influence at the United Nations and other global organizations to support civil society, monitor attacks against human rights defenders, and apply targeted sanctions against those responsible. The U.S. should work towards reforms to prevent countries with poor human rights records from serving on the United Nations Human Rights Council, and oppose the election of countries that engage in human rights violations, terrorism, trafficking, conscript child soldiers, or have committed atrocities like genocide or war crimes.

The section outlines the U.S. policy to fight digital authoritarianism by promoting internet freedom, countering misinformation, and supporting efforts to bypass government censorship and surveillance. It also requires a report on these efforts to be submitted by the Secretary of State within 270 days of the act's enactment.

The section outlines that the Secretary of State must provide a report within 270 days about political prisoners worldwide, detailing efforts by the Department of State to monitor and support these prisoners, including attending trials, engaging with foreign governments, and using sanctions to advocate for their release. Additionally, it calls for identifying resource gaps and forming strategies to improve these efforts.

The section outlines the formal title and the table of contents for the “International Freedom Protection Act,” listing its various sections, including findings, combating transnational repression, strengthening tools against authoritarianism, amendments to existing programs, and initiatives focusing on promoting democracy and protecting political prisoners.

Congress has found that democracy worldwide has been declining due to factors like attacks on institutions, corruption, and repression by authoritarian regimes from countries like China, Russia, and Iran. These regimes are using both physical and digital tactics to suppress human rights and weaken democratic systems, posing a threat to global stability and security, and highlighting the urgent need for the United States to update its strategies to combat authoritarianism effectively.

The section defines key terms used in the Act. "Appropriate congressional committees" refer to specific groups in the U.S. Senate and House, while "relevant Federal agencies" include the Department of State and others involved in the Act. "Transnational repression" involves actions by foreign governments crossing borders to harm or intimidate individuals like activists or journalists, through means such as harassment, detention, or cyberattacks.

The section outlines the U.S. policy to combat transnational repression, which includes actions such as protecting those targeted, training personnel, strengthening embassies, and holding perpetrators accountable. It mandates a report on efforts to address the issue and includes guidelines for training U.S. and Foreign Service personnel to identify and respond to threats of transnational repression.

The section addresses measures to combat authoritarianism by granting the President authority to impose sanctions on foreign individuals involved in transnational repression, corruption, or human rights violations. It also includes rules for reporting on these actions, restrictions on entry to the U.S. for such individuals and their families, conditions for lifting these restrictions, and limits on providing assistance to countries experiencing military coups, with some exceptions for national security and humanitarian aid.

The section prohibits providing assistance to any country's central government if its leader was overthrown in a military coup, but it allows exceptions for national security, democracy promotion, and humanitarian aid. The Secretary of State can exempt aid for national security reasons and must inform Congress, while assistance may resume if a democratically-elected government takes office.

The amendment to the Rewards for Justice Program expands the reasons for giving rewards by adding that individuals can be rewarded for helping with actions related to the restraining, seizing, forfeiting, or sending back of stolen assets connected to foreign government corruption.

The section outlines a program led by the Secretary of State, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development, aimed at researching and advancing democracy. It emphasizes supporting innovation in democratic policies, gathering best practices for future use, involving private companies in strengthening democracy, and increasing the resilience of democratic institutions and actors.

The section expresses Congress's view that the U.S. should actively work within the United Nations to support human rights and civil society, prevent reprisals against defenders, reform membership processes of the Human Rights Council, and oppose countries with poor human rights records or associations with terrorism, trafficking, child soldiers, or severe crimes like genocide from becoming members.

The section describes U.S. policy aimed at combating digital authoritarianism, which involves using technology to limit civil rights, undermine democracy, or target activists and media. It emphasizes promoting internet freedom and fighting government censorship, and it requires the Secretary of State to report on these efforts within 270 days of the legislation's enactment.

The bill requires the Secretary of State to report within 270 days on efforts to protect political prisoners worldwide. This includes improving Department of State activities such as monitoring and reporting on political prisoners, engaging with foreign governments, attending trials, providing care, and using sanctions to encourage their release.