Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025

Bill Number: H.R. 1503
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: International Affairs
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-05-08: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Last Updated: 2026-07-10T20:23:19Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 aims to address the global issue of forced organ harvesting and human trafficking for organ removal. It establishes U.S. policies to fight these practices, promote ethical organ donation systems, protect human rights, and impose accountability on those involved, including specific mention of members of the Chinese Communist Party.

Key Provisions

Policy Statement: Declares U.S. commitment to combating international organ trafficking, encouraging voluntary organ donation with strong enforcement in diplomatic and health forums, upholding human dignity per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and holding perpetrators accountable.
Definitions:
Forced organ harvesting: Removing organs from a person through coercion (force or threats), abduction (kidnapping), deception (lying), fraud (false promises), or exploiting vulnerability (e.g., poverty or power imbalances).
Trafficking in persons for organ removal: Recruiting, transporting, or harboring people for organ removal using similar coercive methods or payments to controllers of vulnerable individuals.
Organ: Defined as a human organ under the National Organ Transplant Act (a U.S. law prohibiting organ sales).
Appropriate congressional committees: Key Senate and House panels on foreign relations and judiciary.
Passport Restrictions (Section 4): The Secretary of State can deny or revoke passports for individuals convicted under the National Organ Transplant Act (for illegal organ transport or sales) if they used a passport or crossed borders during the crime and are under imprisonment, parole, or supervision.
Reporting Requirements (Section 5): Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to mandate annual U.S. State Department reports on forced organ harvesting and related trafficking in every foreign country. These assessments will be included in existing human rights reports (sections 116 and 502B), using the Act's definitions.
Sanctions (Section 6):
Within 180 days of enactment, the President must submit to Congress a list of individuals or entities (including non-state actors) that fund, sponsor, or facilitate these activities.
Sanctions include:
Blocking all U.S.-related property and transactions (using powers from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, a law allowing economic measures in emergencies).
For individuals: Inadmissibility to the U.S., visa ineligibility/revocation, and cancellation of existing entry documents.
Exceptions: No sanctions on importing goods (e.g., products or materials); allowances for international treaty obligations (e.g., UN headquarters access or consular rights); and exemptions for humanitarian aid like food, medicine, or related transport/finance.
Waivers: The President can temporarily (up to 180 days) waive sanctions if vital to U.S. national security, with congressional notification.
Enforcement: Uses IEEPA authorities; violators face fines or imprisonment as per IEEPA penalties.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Foreign Assistance Act Amendments: Adds new subsections (116(h) and 502B(k)) requiring specific assessments of organ harvesting/trafficking in annual human rights reports, integrating these issues into existing foreign aid evaluations without creating new reporting structures.
Passport Authority: Builds on the National Organ Transplant Act by linking convictions to new State Department powers for border-related offenses, expanding passport revocation beyond standard criteria (e.g., drug trafficking).
Sanctions Framework: Introduces a targeted list-based sanctions regime under IEEPA, similar to those for terrorism or corruption, but focused on organ-related abuses; it avoids declaring a new national emergency by leveraging existing IEEPA tools.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Increases workload for the State Department (passport actions, annual reports) and Treasury/President (sanctions implementation and list creation). Enhances congressional oversight through required briefings.
Citizens: U.S. citizens and residents may face indirect effects via stricter global human rights reporting, potentially influencing foreign aid decisions; no direct impact on domestic organ donation.
International Relations: Could strain ties with countries implicated in reports or sanctions (e.g., China, as referenced), promoting U.S. advocacy for ethical organ systems in diplomacy. May encourage global cooperation on anti-trafficking but risk diplomatic backlash if sanctions are applied broadly.
Victims and Broader Society: Aims to deter trafficking, potentially protecting vulnerable people worldwide by disrupting networks and raising awareness.

Main Stakeholders Affected

U.S. Government: Executive branch (President, State, Treasury) for enforcement; Congress (foreign relations and judiciary committees) for oversight and reports.
Foreign Individuals and Entities: Those involved in organ harvesting/trafficking (e.g., officials, organizations, or non-state actors like criminal networks), facing asset freezes, travel bans, or visa revocations.
Victims and At-Risk Groups: Trafficked persons, prisoners, or vulnerable populations (e.g., minorities, political detainees) in countries with reported abuses, who may benefit from increased scrutiny and accountability.
International Community: Health organizations, diplomatic partners, and countries receiving U.S. aid, affected by reports that could influence funding or bilateral talks.
U.S. Businesses/Individuals: Potentially impacted if dealing with sanctioned entities, though humanitarian and goods exceptions mitigate this.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Relies on established laws (IEEPA, Immigration and Nationality Act) for sanctions and visas, ensuring enforceability without new courts; definitions align with international anti-trafficking standards (e.g., UN protocols), but broad "facilitation" language could lead to challenges over due process or evidence standards.
Constitutional: Balances executive foreign policy powers with congressional mandates (e.g., report requirements), respecting separation of powers; passport revocations may raise First/Fifth Amendment concerns if seen as restricting travel rights, though tied to convictions.
Political: Signals strong U.S. stance on human rights abuses, potentially bipartisan support for anti-trafficking but partisan divides over targeting specific entities (e.g., Chinese Communist Party); could set precedent for sanctioning health-related human rights violations, influencing future legislation on global ethics.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]

Recent Actions

2025-05-08: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
2025-05-07: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-05-07: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 1 (Roll no. 119). (text: 5/5/2025 CR H1819-1820) (Roll call 119)
2025-05-07: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 1 (Roll no. 119). (text: 5/5/2025 CR H1819-1820) (Roll call 119)
2025-05-07: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1894-1895)
2025-05-05: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2025-05-05: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1503.
2025-05-05: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1819)
2025-05-05: Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2025-02-21: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
2025-02-21: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
2025-02-21: Introduced in House
2025-02-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-07 — PDF (14 pages)
Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-21 — PDF (12 pages)
Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-08 — PDF (12 pages)