The issues of human rights and extending normal trade relations status to Laos were brought up in a recent congressional hearing on the U.S Department of State 2003 Human Rights Report.
Noting that Laos has failed to improve its human rights records according to the State Department's report, Congressman Mark Green of Wisconsin and Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota questioned Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Lorne Craner, on these issues and asked if the U.S. administration still believes that extending NTR status to Laos will help improve the human rights situation there.