Impact Key Legislation
CURRENT POLICY PRIORITIES
Summary:
Introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act aims to combat the Chinese government’s state-sponsored practice of forcibly harvesting organs from political and religious prisoners, including Uyghurs, Falun Gong practitioners, and other persecuted groups. This bill establishes new reporting requirements and sanctions against individuals and entities involved in organ trafficking and unethical transplantation practices.
Key Provisions:
•Imposes financial and travel sanctions on those who participate in or facilitate organ harvesting.
•Requires the U.S. State Department to report annually on countries involved in organ trafficking and organ transplant abuses.
•Mandates visa denial for individuals complicit in forced organ harvesting.
Current Status:
The bill has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and is awaiting a vote in the Senate. It has garnered bipartisan support and the endorsement of numerous human rights organizations.
What is Needed Now:
We need the Senate to expedite the passage of this bill and increase advocacy from civil society and international partners to ensure the legislation is implemented effectively once passed.
Summary:
Introduced by U.S. Representatives Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL), the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act mandates publicly traded companies to disclose all information regarding potential links between their products and Uyghur forced labor in the Uyghur region, East Turkistan. The bill seeks to enhance transparency and hold corporations accountable for complicity in the use of forced labor in their production processes.
Key Provisions:
•Mandates that companies file annual reports detailing any links their supply chains have to the Uyghur region.
•Increases transparency by requiring disclosures to be included in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.
•Holds companies accountable for failing to address forced labor in their supply chains through fines and public scrutiny.
Current Status:
The bill was introduced in both the House and Senate but has faced resistance from corporations concerned about regulatory impacts. It is currently under review in committee.
What is Needed Now:
We need stronger coalition-building to push this bill through Congress. Support from business leaders, investors, and advocacy organizations is critical to pressure lawmakers and demonstrate widespread backing for transparency in corporate supply chains.
Summary:
The Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act (UGASA), introduced in the House by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Uyghur Caucus, and in the Senate by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), aims to strengthen and expand existing measures to hold Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials accountable for the genocide and severe human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Uyghur Region (East Turkistan). Building upon the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, UGASA enforces stricter sanctions, ensures support for victims, and addresses forced organ harvesting, among other severe abuses.
Key Provisions:
•Expanded Sanction Authorities: Allows for the expansion of sanctions against CCP officials responsible for the genocide and human rights atrocities in the Uyghur Region.
•Strategy to Combat Forced Organ Harvesting: Directs the U.S. government to develop a comprehensive strategy to deter and prevent the forced harvesting of organs from Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities.
•Prohibition of U.S. Government Contracts with Implicated Businesses: Prohibits U.S. government agencies from engaging in contracts with businesses that are complicit in forced labor practices in the Uyghur Region.
•Support for Victims: Authorizes the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide technical assistance and support to victims of genocide.
•Cultural and Linguistic Preservation: Promotes the preservation and revitalization of cultural and linguistic heritages suppressed by the CCP, ensuring that Uyghur identity and cultural practices are maintained.
•Funding for Documentation Efforts: Provides funding to organizations actively documenting atrocities in the Uyghur Region, to support efforts in raising awareness and building an evidence-based case for international accountability.
Current Status:
The bill was introduced in the House as H.R. 8124 by Reps. Smith and Suozzi and in the Senate as S. 3474 by Sens. Rubio and Merkley. It has garnered bipartisan support and has been referred to the relevant committees in both chambers for further consideration. However, it has not yet been brought to a vote.
What is Needed Now:
We need increased pressure on congressional leaders to prioritize this bill for a vote in both the House and Senate. Advocacy from human rights organizations, diaspora communities, and international partners is essential to ensure the passage and implementation of this legislation, which will bolster global efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for genocide and severe human rights abuses.
Summary:
Introduced by Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), H.R. 8366 seeks to extend existing U.S. sanctions authorities under various laws to address ongoing human rights abuses in Hong Kong, Tibet, and the Uyghur Region (East Turkistan). This legislation specifically targets officials and entities involved in forced labor, political repression, and other severe violations, ensuring that they remain subject to U.S. sanctions.
Key Provisions:
•Extension of Sanctions Authorities: Extends the existing sanctions authority under the Global Magnitsky Act and the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act to include any entities involved in human rights abuses in the designated regions.
•Increased Oversight: Mandates a comprehensive review and update of sanctioned individuals and entities on an annual basis.
•Cross-Regional Applicability: Aligns sanctions policies across Hong Kong, Tibet, and the Uyghur Region, emphasizing the need for a unified response to the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations.
Current Status: It is currently under consideration but has not yet progressed to a vote.
What is Needed Now: We need greater advocacy to support the bill’s passage, encouraging lawmakers to prioritize this legislation and ensure that U.S. sanctions are enforced robustly across all targeted regions.
Uyghur Congressional Caucus
The Uyghur Congressional Caucus, co-chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), is a bipartisan group in the U.S. Congress committed to advocating for the rights and freedom of Uyghurs facing genocide and persecution by the Chinese government. The Caucus plays a pivotal role in supporting legislative action, raising awareness on Capitol Hill, and ensuring that Uyghur voices are heard.
Call to Action:
Encourage your congressional representative to join the Caucus and help strengthen the fight for Uyghur human rights! Contact them today and urge their support!