China Human Rights Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2621
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2015-06-02 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Crimes against women
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Family planning and birth control
Foreign property
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Human rights
Human trafficking
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Labor standards
Labor-management relations
News media and reporting
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Protest and dissent
Religion
Sanctions
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-02
text: 

China Human Rights Protection Act of 2015

 
 Directs the President to impose U.S. entry and property sanctions against a national of China who: 
 
 
is responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals in China, particularly those who seek to exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights and freedoms; 
 
acted as an agent of or on behalf of a national of China in such activities; or
 
 has materially assisted or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, such activities.
 
 
Authorizes the President, with regard to such sanctions, to: 
 
 
waive their application, with prior congressional notification, if in U.S. national security interests; and 
 
terminate them under specified conditions. 
 
 
States that sanctions shall not apply if necessary to comply with the Agreement between the United Nations (U.N.) and the United States regarding the U.N. Headquarters, or other applicable international obligations of the United States. 
 
 Declares that the Secretary of State shall seek to provide for the establishment of, and provide funding for, a nongovernmental China Human Rights Documentation Center to: 
 
 
compile, publish, and archive evidence of nationals of China who commit gross violations of internationally recognized human rights against individuals in China, and against others seeking to expand freedoms in China; and 
 
establish an online and searchable database, in English and in Chinese of evidence of such violations for research and educational purposes.
 
 
Directs the President to report to Congress annually regarding each foreign person sanctioned, the type of sanctions imposed, and the reason for their imposition.
 
 Directs the Government Accountability Office to assess for Congress: 
 
 
 the process to determine whether a foreign person has engaged in a sanctionable activity, whether sanctions should be imposed, and whether the identity of a sanctioned foreign person should be classified; and 
 
 implementation of this Act.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
action_date: 2015-08-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
action_date: 2015-06-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2015-06-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-06-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-06-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-06-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-06-02
text: Introduced in House