To ensure that goods made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China do not enter the United States market, and for other purposes.

Bill: 117-hr-6256
Sponsor: Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Introduced: 2021-12-14 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Foreign property
Human rights
Human trafficking
International organizations and cooperation
Labor standards
Manufacturing
Mining
Public participation and lobbying
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Sanctions
Smuggling and trafficking
Trade restrictions
Visas and passports
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: 
This bill imposes importation limits on goods produced using forced labor in China, especially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and imposes sanctions related to such forced labor.
 
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force shall report to Congress a strategy for preventing the importation of goods produced in China using forced labor. The strategy must contain certain information, including a list of entities (1) producing goods in Xinjiang using forced labor; or (2) working with the government in Xinjiang to move forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of Xinjiang.
 
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall generally presume that goods produced by these entities and certain other entities, including those sourcing material from Xinjiang or involved with Chinese government forced labor programs, are barred from importation into the United States. An importer may rebut this presumption by establishing, with clear and convincing evidence, that the good in question was not produced wholly or in part using forced labor.
 
The bill also expands existing asset- and visa-blocking sanctions related to Xinjiang to cover foreign individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses in connection with forced labor. 
 
The Department of State shall report to Congress a strategy to enhance international awareness of forced labor in Xinjiang and to address such forced labor.

action_date: 2021-12-14
text: 

 
This bill imposes importation limits on goods produced using forced labor in China, especially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and imposes sanctions related to such forced labor.
 
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force shall report to Congress a strategy for preventing the importation of goods produced in China using forced labor. The strategy must contain certain information, including a list of entities (1) producing goods in Xinjiang using forced labor; or (2) working with the government in Xinjiang to move forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of Xinjiang.
 
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall generally presume that goods produced by these entities and certain other entities, including those sourcing material from Xinjiang or involved with Chinese government forced labor programs, are barred from importation into the United States. An importer may rebut this presumption by establishing, with clear and convincing evidence, that the good in question was not produced wholly or in part using forced labor.
 
The bill also expands existing asset- and visa-blocking sanctions related to Xinjiang to cover foreign individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses in connection with forced labor. 
 
The Department of State shall report to Congress a strategy to enhance international awareness of forced labor in Xinjiang and to address such forced labor.

action_date: 2021-12-16
text: 
This bill imposes importation limits on goods produced using forced labor in China, especially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and imposes sanctions related to such forced labor.
 
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force shall report to Congress a strategy for preventing the importation of goods produced in China using forced labor. The strategy must contain certain information, including a list of entities (1) producing goods in Xinjiang using forced labor; or (2) working with the government in Xinjiang to move forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of Xinjiang.
 
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall generally presume that goods produced by these entities and certain other entities, including those sourcing material from Xinjiang or involved with Chinese government forced labor programs, are barred from importation into the United States. An importer may rebut this presumption by establishing, with clear and convincing evidence, that the good in question was not produced wholly or in part using forced labor.
 
The bill also expands existing asset- and visa-blocking sanctions related to Xinjiang to cover foreign individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses in connection with forced labor. 
 
The Department of State shall report to Congress a strategy to enhance international awareness of forced labor in Xinjiang and to address such forced labor.

action_date: 2021-12-23
text: 
This bill imposes importation limits on goods produced using forced labor in China, especially the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and imposes sanctions related to such forced labor.
 
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force shall report to Congress a strategy for preventing the importation of goods produced in China using forced labor. The strategy must contain certain information, including a list of entities (1) producing goods in Xinjiang using forced labor; or (2) working with the government in Xinjiang to move forced labor or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of Xinjiang.
 
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall generally presume that goods produced by these entities and certain other entities, including those sourcing material from Xinjiang or involved with Chinese government forced labor programs, are barred from importation into the United States. An importer may rebut this presumption by establishing, with clear and convincing evidence, that the good in question was not produced wholly or in part using forced labor.
 
The bill also expands existing asset- and visa-blocking sanctions related to Xinjiang to cover foreign individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses in connection with forced labor. 
 
The Department of State shall report to Congress a strategy to enhance international awareness of forced labor in Xinjiang and to address such forced labor.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-12-23
text: Became Public Law No: 117-78.
action_date: 2021-12-23
text: Became Public Law No: 117-78.
action_date: 2021-12-23
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2021-12-23
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2021-12-20
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2021-12-20
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2021-12-16
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2021-12-16
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9231)
action_date: 2021-12-16
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9231)
action_date: 2021-12-15
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7804-7806)
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7804-7806)
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6256.
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7804-7808)
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: Mr. Meeks moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, 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: 2021-12-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, 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: 2021-12-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, 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: 2021-12-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-12-14
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 117-78