A bill to prohibit the commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force.

Bill: 116-s-2710
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2019-10-24
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: China

Congressional oversight

Hong Kong

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

Licensing and registrations

Protest and dissent

Trade restrictions
Latest action: action_date: 2019-11-27
text: Became Public Law No: 116-77.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-10-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export specified munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. The specified items include tear gas, rubber bullets, and handcuffs. The President may make an exception upon certifying to Congress as to how such exports are important to U.S. national interests and foreign policy goals.</p>

action_date: 2019-11-19
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export specified munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. The specified items include tear gas, rubber bullets, and handcuffs. The President may make an exception upon certifying to Congress as to how such exports are important to U.S. national interests and foreign policy goals. This prohibition shall expire one year after the bill's enactment.</p> <p>

action_date: 2019-11-27
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p>This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export specified munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. The specified items include tear gas, rubber bullets, and handcuffs. The President may make an exception upon certifying to Congress as to how such exports are important to U.S. national interests and foreign policy goals. This prohibition shall expire one year after the bill's enactment.</p> <p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2710 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 24, 2019 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Markey , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Coons , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Blumenthal , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Inhofe , and Mr. Wyden ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To prohibit the commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force.

1. Definitions (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (2) Covered munitions items The term covered munitions items means tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, foam rounds, bean bag rounds, pepper balls, water cannons, handcuffs, shackles, stun guns, and tasers. (3) Hong kong The term Hong Kong has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 5702 ). (4) Hong kong police force The term Hong Kong Police Force means— (A) the Hong Kong Police Force; and (B) the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. 2. Prohibition on commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall prohibit the issuance of licenses to export covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force. (b) Exceptions The prohibition set forth in subsection (a) shall not apply to the issuance of a license with respect to which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees, not fewer than 30 days before the date of such issuance, a written notice— (1) certifying that the exports to be covered by such license are important to the national interests and foreign policy goals of the United States; and (2) describing the manner in which such exports will promote such interests and goals.

tv_txt: One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America 1st Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen S. 2710 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To prohibit the commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force.

1. Definitions (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (2) Covered munitions items The term covered munitions items means tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, foam rounds, bean bag rounds, pepper balls, water cannons, handcuffs, shackles, stun guns, and tasers. (3) Hong Kong The term Hong Kong has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 5702 ). (4) Hong Kong police force The term Hong Kong Police Force means— (A) the Hong Kong Police Force; and (B) the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. 2. Prohibition on commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall prohibit the issuance of licenses to export covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force. (b) Exceptions The prohibition set forth in subsection (a) shall not apply to the issuance of a license with respect to which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees, not fewer than 30 days before the date of such issuance, a written notice— (1) certifying that the exports to be covered by such license are important to the national interests and foreign policy goals of the United States; and (2) describing the manner in which such exports will promote such interests and goals. 3. Sunset The prohibition under section 2 shall expire one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate

tv_txt: 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2710 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To prohibit the commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force.

1. Definitions (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate ; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives . (2) Covered munitions items The term covered munitions items means tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, foam rounds, bean bag rounds, pepper balls, water cannons, handcuffs, shackles, stun guns, and tasers. (3) Hong Kong The term Hong Kong has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 5702 ). (4) Hong Kong police force The term Hong Kong Police Force means— (A) the Hong Kong Police Force; and (B) the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force. 2. Prohibition on commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall prohibit the issuance of licenses to export covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force. (b) Exceptions The prohibition set forth in subsection (a) shall not apply to the issuance of a license with respect to which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees, not fewer than 30 days before the date of such issuance, a written notice— (1) certifying that the exports to be covered by such license are important to the national interests and foreign policy goals of the United States; and (2) describing the manner in which such exports will promote such interests and goals. 3. Sunset The prohibition under section 2 shall expire one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Passed the Senate November 19, 2019. Secretary