Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-3289
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2019-06-13 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Foreign property
Freedom of information
Government information and archives
Hong Kong
Human rights
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Iran
Middle East
News media and reporting
North Korea
Nuclear weapons
Protest and dissent
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Sanctions
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
Trade restrictions
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-13
text: 

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019

 
This bill directs various departments to assess whether political developments in Hong Kong justify changing Hong Kong's unique treatment under U.S. law. 
 
Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.
 
The Department of State shall report annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from China to justify its unique treatment. The report shall assess whether China has eroded Hong Kong's civil liberties and rule of law as protected by Hong Kong's Basic Law.
 
The Department of Commerce shall report annually to Congress on China's efforts to use Hong Kong to evade U.S. export controls and sanctions.
 
The President shall provide Congress an assessment as to whether to withdraw from the U.S.-Hong Kong extradition treaty, and what actions are needed to protect U.S. citizens and national security interests, if Hong Kong (1) amends its laws to allow the rendition of individuals to countries that lack defendants' rights protections, or (2) passes a national security law.
 
The State Department shall allow otherwise qualified Hong Kong residents to obtain visas to work or study in the United States, even if the applicant had been arrested for participating in certain nonviolent protests supporting human rights or the rule of law.
 
The President shall report to Congress a list of individuals responsible for abducting and torturing people for exercising internationally recognized human rights in Hong Kong. The bill bars such individuals from entering the United States and imposes sanctions on them.

action_date: 2019-10-15
text: 

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses Hong Kong's status under U.S. law and imposes sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong. (Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.)
 
The Department of State shall certify annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong warrants its unique treatment under various treaties, agreements, and U.S. law. The analysis shall evaluate whether Hong Kong is upholding the rule of law and protecting rights enumerated in various documents, including (1) the agreement between the United Kingdom and China regarding Hong Kong's return to China, and (2) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
 
The bill extends existing annual reporting requirements on matters of U.S. interest in Hong Kong through 2027 and expands such reports to include assessments of (1) limits to Hong Kong's autonomy, either self-imposed or due to China's actions; and (2) whether rescission of Hong Kong's special treatment would further erode Hong Kong's autonomy. 
 
The President shall annually report to Congress on Hong Kong's enforcement of U.S. export controls, including whether items of U.S. origin have been used for mass surveillance in China and whether Hong Kong has been used to evade sanctions on North Korea or Iran. 
 
The State Department shall notify Congress if any proposed or enacted law in Hong Kong negatively impacts U.S. interests, including by putting U.S. citizens at risk of rendition to China.
 
The President shall impose property and visa-blocking sanctions on foreign persons responsible for gross human rights violations in Hong Kong.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-10-16
text: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 243.
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 H8119-8122)
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 H8119-8122)
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3289.
action_date: 2019-10-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8119-8124)
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: 2019-06-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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: 2019-06-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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: 2019-06-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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: 2019-06-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-06-13
text: Introduced in House