Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act

Bill: 116-hr-4270
Sponsor: Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Introduced: 2019-09-10 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Foreign aid and international relief
Hong Kong
Human rights
Law enforcement administration and funding
Licensing and registrations
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Protest and dissent
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2019-09-10
text: 

Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act or the PROTECT Hong Kong Act

 
This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export certain defense items and services to various forces in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department, and the Hong Kong Government Flying Service. 
 
Items subject to the prohibition include defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List and certain crime control and detection technology and software.
 
The prohibition shall not take effect if the President takes certain actions, such as certifying to Congress that the prohibited exports to a covered force other than the Hong Kong Police Force are required to achieve U.S. foreign policy goals. 
 
The Department of State shall report to Congress as to items subject to the prohibition that have been exported to the Hong Kong forces covered in the bill in the last five years.

action_date: 2019-10-15
text: 

Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act or the PROTECT Hong Kong Act

 
This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export certain defense items and services to the Hong Kong Police Force or the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. 
 
Items subject to the prohibition include defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List and certain crime-control and detection technology and software.
 
The prohibition shall not apply to a particular license if the President certifies to Congress that the covered exports are important to U.S. national interests and foreign policy goals. The prohibitions shall terminate when the President certifies to Congress that (1) the covered Hong Kong forces have not engaged in gross human rights violations for the one-year period leading up to the certification, (2) there has been an independent examination of human rights concerns related to the covered forces' crowd-control tactics, and (3) and the Hong Kong government has adequately addressed such concerns.
 
The Department of State and the Department of Commerce shall report to Congress as to items subject to the prohibition that have been exported to the Hong Kong forces covered in the bill in the last five years.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8124-8125)
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8124-8125)
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4270.
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8124-8127)
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Mr. Sherman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2019-09-25
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2019-09-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-09-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2019-09-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-09-10
text: Introduced in House