Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

Bill: 117-s-65
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2021-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Asia
China
Congressional oversight
Customs enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Foreign property
Government information and archives
Human rights
Human trafficking
International organizations and cooperation
Labor standards
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Sanctions
Trade restrictions
Visas and passports
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: 

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

 
This bill imposes importation limits on goods produced using forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China and imposes sanctions related to such forced labor.
 
The Department of Homeland Security shall report to Congress a strategy for preventing the importation of goods produced in Xinjiang using forced labor. The strategy must contain certain information, including a list of entities 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 are barred from importation into the United States. 
 
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 (1) an assessment of whether human rights abuses committed by China's government against persecuted groups in Xinjiang constitute genocide under U.S. law, and (2) a strategy to enhance international awareness of forced labor in Xinjiang and to address such forced labor.

action_date: 2021-06-24
text: 

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

 
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 Department of Homeland Security and the Department of the Treasury 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 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, generally those sourcing material from Xinjiang or involved with Chinese government forced labor programs, are barred from importation into the United States. 
 
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: 2021-07-14
text: 

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

 
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 Department of Homeland Security 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 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, generally those sourcing material from Xinjiang or involved with Chinese government forced labor programs, are barred from importation into the United States. 
 
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: 2021-07-16
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2021-07-16
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2021-07-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2021-07-14
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S4905-4908; text: CR S4906-4908)
action_date: 2021-07-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S4905-4908; text: CR S4906-4908)
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 87.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate