II 

Calendar No. 263 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 484 

To require the Secretary of Commerce to provide training and guidance 

relating to human rights abuses, including such abuses perpetrated 

against the Uyghur population by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 

Mr. PETERS (for himself and Ms. LUMMIS) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation 

DECEMBER 5, 2023 

Reported by Ms. CANTWELL, without amendment 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Commerce to provide training 

and guidance relating to human rights abuses, including 

such abuses perpetrated against the Uyghur population 

by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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•S 484 RS

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combating Human 

3 Rights Abuses Act of 2023’’. 

4 SEC. 2. TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT 

5 OF COMMERCE RELATING TO AWARENESS OF 

6 HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce shall 

8 provide training described in subsection (b) to such em9 ployees of the Department of Commerce who provide coun10 seling services to businesses engaged in interstate com11 merce or foreign direct investment as the Secretary con12 siders appropriate. 

13 (b) CONTENTS OF TRAINING.—The training required 

14 under subsection (a) shall be— 

15 (1) designed to raise awareness about emerging 

16 trends and issues with respect to human rights 

17 abuses occurring worldwide, such as human rights 

18 abuses perpetrated by the Government of the Peo19 ple’s Republic of China, including the use of forced 

20 labor, against Uyghurs and other ethnic minority 

21 populations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Re22 gion; and 

23 (2) incorporated to the greatest extent possible 

24 into existing training provided by the Department of 

25 Commerce. 


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•S 484 RS

1 (c) TIMING.—The training required under subsection 

2 (a) shall be offered and updated at such times as the Sec3 retary considers appropriate. 

4 SEC. 3. GUIDANCE FOR UNITED STATES BUSINESSES RE5 LATING TO AWARENESS OF HUMAN RIGHTS 

6 ABUSES. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce 

8 shall— 

9 (1) offer guidance for United States businesses 

10 engaged in interstate commerce or foreign direct in11 vestment, including such businesses that are, or are 

12 considering, conducting transactions with entities 

13 subject to the control or influence of jurisdictions 

14 where significant human rights abuses have oc15 curred, such as the People’s Republic of China; and 

16 (2) incorporate the guidance required under 

17 paragraph (1) into any counseling services that the 

18 Department of Commerce provides to such busi19 nesses as the Secretary considers appropriate. 

20 (b) CONTENTS OF GUIDANCE.—The guidance re21 quired under subsection (a) shall— 

22 (1) provide information about emerging trends 

23 and issues involving human rights abuses, such as 

24 information that describes— 


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•S 484 RS

1 (A) human rights abuses perpetrated by 

2 the Government of the People’s Republic of 

3 China, including the use of forced labor, against 

4 Uyghurs and other ethnic minority populations 

5 in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; 

6 (B) risk factors that may be used to iden7 tify entities subject to the influence or control 

8 of jurisdictions such as the People’s Republic of 

9 China that may be implicated in human rights 

10 abuses; 

11 (C) ways to avoid doing business with enti12 ties described in subparagraph (B); and 

13 (D) potential reputational, economic, legal, 

14 and other risks of conducting transactions with 

15 an entity described in subparagraph (B); and 

16 (2) make clear that the guidance is for advisory 

17 purposes and that the Department of Commerce is 

18 not responsible for certifying the accuracy or com19 pleteness of the information provided in the guid20 ance. 


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Calendar No. 263 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 484 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Commerce to provide 

other purposes. ment of the People’s Republic of China, and for against the Uyghur population by the Governabuses, including such abuses perpetrated training and guidance relating to human rights 

DECEMBER 5, 2023 

Reported without amendment 


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