UIGHUR Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-178
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2019-01-17 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Asia
Business ethics
China
Congressional oversight
Congressional tributes
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of State
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign and international corporations
Government information and archives
Human rights
Human trafficking
Industrial facilities
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Labor standards
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing
News media and reporting
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Right of privacy
Sanctions
Technology transfer and commercialization
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
United Nations
Visas and passports
Wages and earnings

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-17
text: 

Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 

 
This bill directs various U.S. government bodies to prepare reports on China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group. 
 
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report to Congress on issues including the security threats caused by the Chinese government's reported crackdown on the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province, the frequency with which other governments are forcibly returning Turkic Muslim refugees and asylum seekers to China, and the development or transfer of technology that facilitates mass internment and surveillance.
 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report on topics such as its efforts to protect ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals in the United States from Chinese government intimidation.
 
The U.S. Agency for Global Media shall report on media-related matters, including the reach of U.S. media into Xinjiang, assessments of Chinese propaganda strategies, and U.S. actions to counter such efforts to downplay the crackdown.
 
The Department of State shall report on the scope of the reported crackdown in Xinjiang, including the number of detained individuals, the use of forced labor in the region, an assessment of government surveillance in the province, and U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crackdown. 

action_date: 2019-06-03
text: 

Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 

 
This bill directs various U.S. government bodies to prepare reports on China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group. 
 
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report to Congress on issues including the security threats caused by the Chinese government's reported crackdown on the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province, the frequency with which other governments are forcibly returning Turkic Muslim refugees and asylum seekers to China, and the development or transfer of technology that facilitates mass internment and surveillance.
 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report on topics such as its efforts to protect ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals in the United States from Chinese government intimidation.
 
The U.S. Agency for Global Media shall report on media-related matters, including the reach of U.S. media into Xinjiang, assessments of Chinese propaganda strategies, and U.S. actions to counter such efforts to downplay the crackdown.
 
The Department of State shall report (1) on the scope of the reported crackdown in Xinjiang, including the number of detained individuals, the use of forced labor in the region, an assessment of government surveillance in the province, and U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crackdown; and (2) on whether certain individuals, including the Chinese Communist Party secretary for Xinjiang, meet the criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

action_date: 2019-09-11
text: 

Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 

 
This bill directs various U.S. government bodies to prepare reports on China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group. 
 
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report to Congress on issues including the security threats caused by the Chinese government's reported crackdown on the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province, the frequency with which other governments are forcibly returning Turkic Muslim refugees and asylum seekers to China, and the development or transfer of technology that facilitates mass internment and surveillance.
 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report on topics such as its efforts to protect ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals in the United States from Chinese government intimidation.
 
The U.S. Agency for Global Media shall report on media-related matters, including the reach of U.S. media into Xinjiang, assessments of Chinese propaganda strategies, and U.S. actions to counter such efforts to downplay the crackdown.
 
The Department of State shall report (1) on the scope of the reported crackdown in Xinjiang, including the number of detained individuals, the use of forced labor in the region, an assessment of government surveillance in the province, and U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crackdown; and (2) on whether certain individuals, including the Chinese Communist Party secretary for Xinjiang, meet the criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

action_date: 2019-12-03
text: 

Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act of 2019 or the UIGHUR Act of 2019

 
This bill directs the President to impose sanctions and export restrictions related to China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group.
 
The President shall report to Congress a list of senior Chinese government officials who are engaged in or responsible for serious human rights abuses, including mass incarceration and political indoctrination, against Turkic Muslims in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The President shall impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on such individuals. The President may waive the imposition of such sanctions on U.S. national interest grounds.
 
The President shall identify items that provide China with a critical capability to suppress basic human rights, including items that provide capability to (1) conduct surveillance, (2) monitor and restrict an individual's movement, (3) monitor and restrict access to the internet, and (4) identify individuals through facial or voice recognition. The President shall (1) place such items on the Commerce Control List (a list of items subject to export controls); and (2) require authorization for the export, reexport, or transfer of such items to or within China.
 
The bill terminates certain prohibitions, such as a prohibition against obligating funds for U.S. Trade and Development Agency activities in China, upon a report by the President to Congress that China has taken specified actions, including ending the mass internment of Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang.
 
The Department of State shall report to Congress on human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including an assessment of the number of individuals detained in forced labor camps. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-10-21
text: Second cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 207. (CR S6343)
action_date: 2020-10-20
text: Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S6318)
action_date: 2020-10-19
text: Second cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) presented in Senate. (CR S6050)
action_date: 2020-10-19
text: Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S6050-6052)
action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S5923-5924)
action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of the House message to accompany S. 178 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 46. Record Vote Number: 198. (CR S5923)
action_date: 2020-09-10
text: Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 168. (CR S5532-5533)
action_date: 2020-09-08
text: Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) presented in Senate.
action_date: 2020-09-08
text: Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) made in Senate. (CR S5433)
action_date: 2020-09-08
text: Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2499) withdrawn.
action_date: 2020-09-08
text: Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S5433)
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2499) made in Senate. (CR S4618)
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4618-4622)
action_date: 2020-07-30
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of the House message to accompany S. 178 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 42. Record Vote Number: 153. (CR S4617)
action_date: 2019-12-04
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
action_date: 2019-12-03
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-12-03
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 644). (text: CR H9201-9203)
action_date: 2019-12-03
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 644).(text: CR H9201-9203)
action_date: 2019-12-03
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9209)
action_date: 2019-12-03
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2019-12-03
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 178.
action_date: 2019-12-03
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9201-9208)
action_date: 2019-12-03
text: Mr. Sires moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2019-10-30
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and 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: 2019-09-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and 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: 2019-09-12
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and 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: 2019-09-12
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2019-09-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5450-5452; text: CR S5450-5452)
action_date: 2019-09-11
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5450-5452; text: CR S5450-5452)
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 99.
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-06-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2019-05-22
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2019-01-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2019-01-17
text: Introduced in Senate