Expressing concern over the detainment of Sandy Phan-Gillis, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hres-18
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
Introduced: 2017-01-03
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia

China

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Detention of persons

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Government studies and investigations

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Latest action: action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Expresses concern about the detainment of Sandy Phan-Gillis in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, in August 2004.</p> <p> Encourages the Department of State and the intelligence community to: (1) jointly continue investigations and consider all plausible explanations for Phan-Gillis's detainment, (2) coordinate investigations with the Chinese government and solicit information from appropriate regional affairs and law enforcement experts on plausible explanations, and (3) continue to work with and inform Congress and Phan-Gillis's family on efforts to possibly recover Phan-Gillis and to resolve her detainment.</p> <ul> </ul>

tv_txt: IV 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 18 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 3, 2017 Mr. Al Green of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence , 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 RESOLUTION Expressing concern over the detainment of Sandy Phan-Gillis, and for other purposes.

Whereas Sandy Phan-Gillis, a naturalized United States citizen of Chinese ancestry and Texas businesswoman, has been detained by the Chinese State Security since March 2015; Whereas Sandy traveled to China to promote business opportunities in her hometown of Houston, Texas; Whereas Sandy was detained by Chinese security agents as she was passing through an immigration control connecting mainland China with Macau; Whereas Chinese authorities waited six months before admitting she had been detained; Whereas in June 2016, a United Nations panel ruled that China had violated international human rights by denying Sandy access to legal assistance and holding her without bringing her before judicial authorities; Whereas Sandy is charged with going on a spy mission to Guangxi, China, on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency in the summer of 1996; Whereas Sandy’s passport for 1996 had no Chinese visa, no Chinese entry stamps, and no Chinese exit stamps; Whereas Sandy’s pay stubs from the Houston Police Department, where she worked from 1993 to 1998, showed that during the time in question she took a total of 11 hours of vacation; Whereas Sandy has denied any wrongdoing and said her detention was political and not criminal, according to a letter transcribed by a United States consular official in China; Whereas China has provided little information about its allegations, saying only that she is suspected of stealing and spying on its national secrets and that during her arrest a new crime of espionage was uncovered; and Whereas the Department of State has said consular officials meet every month with Phan-Gillis and are monitoring the case closely: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) expresses its ongoing concern about the detaining of Sandy Phan-Gillis in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China, in August 2004; (2) encourages the Department of State and the intelligence community to jointly continue investigations and to consider all plausible explanations for Sandy’s detainment; (3) urges the Department of State and the intelligence community to coordinate investigations with the Government of the People's Republic of China and solicit information from appropriate regional affairs and law enforcement experts on plausible explanations for Sandy's detainment; and (4) requests that the Department of State and the intelligence community continue to work with and inform Congress and the family of Sandy Phan-Gillis on efforts to possibly recover Sandy and to resolve her detainment.