Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4830
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Armed Services, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-02T17:21:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act of 2025 aims to broaden sanctions against human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), including genocide and crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic groups. It seeks to counter the Chinese government's policies by expanding existing laws, providing support to victims, documenting atrocities, restricting U.S. government dealings with implicated entities, and addressing related issues like forced labor and propaganda.
Key Provisions
The bill includes 13 sections, outlined below:
- Section 2: Expansion of Sanctions under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020
Amends the 2020 Act to cover abuses against persons in XUAR or members of those groups abroad. Adds new categories of abuses, such as systematic rape, forced sterilizations, organ harvesting, child separation into boarding schools, and forced deportations. Requires identification of foreign entities providing goods/services or engaging in transactions related to these abuses. Authorizes the President to use economic powers (e.g., asset blocking) and issue regulations. Applies to reports submitted after enactment.
- Section 3: Denial of U.S. Entry for Individuals Complicit in Forced Abortions or Sterilizations
Strengthens an existing law by making denial of entry mandatory (previously discretionary) for those involved in such acts aimed at destroying ethnic/religious groups. Includes a waiver process for national security or international obligations, requiring congressional notification. Mandates public announcements of denials and reporting to Congress on usage.
- Section 4: Physical and Psychological Support for Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Other Ethnic Groups
Authorizes U.S. funding (up to 50% of costs) for medical care, physical therapy, and psychological support for survivors of torture, rape, forced labor, or other abuses who are now outside China. Supports grants to foreign treatment centers and training for health providers. Requires a report to Congress within one year on services provided.
- Section 5: Preservation of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Heritage
Expresses congressional intent to promote preservation efforts diplomatically. Requires a State Department report within one year assessing a potential grant program for threatened communities and funding needs. Authorizes $2 million annually (FY 2026–2029) for a Smithsonian Institution initiative on research, exhibitions, and education about cultures under threat from repressive regimes like China's.
- Section 6: Determination on Sanctions for Specific Chinese Entities
Requires the Treasury Secretary (with State and Justice input) to assess within 60 days if seven named Chinese companies (e.g., Hikvision, Dahua Technology, ByteDance) are complicit in XUAR abuses or meet sanctions criteria under laws like the Global Magnitsky Act. If so, add them to the U.S. sanctions list (specially designated nationals). Submit a report to Congress (unclassified, with possible classified annex).
- Section 7: Countering Chinese Propaganda
Requires a State Department strategy within 30 days to counter Chinese government-linked messaging denying genocide, blaming the U.S., targeting advocates, or pressuring UN members. Strategy must detail existing efforts, metrics for success, new pilots, goals, and funding needs. Authorizes use of existing funds for countering Chinese influence.
- Section 8: Documenting Atrocities in XUAR
Authorizes State Department assistance (financial/technical) to NGOs and experts for collecting evidence (e.g., victim testimonies, social media), identifying perpetrators, building investigative skills, supporting foreign/multilateral probes, and protecting witnesses.
- Section 9: Prohibition on Certain U.S. Government Contracts
Bars executive agencies from contracting with persons identified in prior Uyghur reports, those producing forced-labor goods denied U.S. entry, or entities facilitating XUAR genocide/abuses. Also prohibits deals contributing to forced labor or violating worker rights. Requires consultation with a forced labor task force and a presidential report to Congress within 180 days.
- Section 10: Strategy on Forced Organ Harvesting
Requires a State Department determination within 90 days on whether forced organ harvesting occurred in XUAR since 2017, followed by a strategy to address it in China (e.g., diplomatic outreach, rewards for information). Includes consultations with intelligence agencies and analysis of past deterrents.
- Section 11: Information on Detained Family Members of U.S. Citizens
Directs the State Department to compile data on detained/missing relatives of U.S. citizens/permanent residents in XUAR (e.g., specific cases like Gulshan Abbas), especially those targeted for advocacy. Use in U.S.-China diplomacy; aggregate by congressional district; consult Uyghur-American community.
- Section 12: Report on National Security Implications of Chinese Seafood Procurement
Requires a State Department-led report within 120 days (with Defense, Agriculture, etc.) on U.S. government purchases of Chinese seafood since FY 2022, including sources, uses (e.g., prisons, military), forced labor links, legal prohibitions, agency rules, and security risks (e.g., benefits to North Korea via labor). Unclassified with possible classified annex.
- Section 13: Prohibition on Procurement and Commissary Sales of Chinese Seafood
Bans Defense Department contracts for Chinese seafood in military dining (effective 90 days post-enactment), with exceptions/waivers for overseas bases or undue burdens. Amends law to prohibit sales at commissary stores (30-day transition for stock disposal), with compliance reporting. Waivers possible.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 by adding abuse categories, extraterritorial scope, and entity identification requirements; enhances implementation via economic emergency powers.
- Converts discretionary entry denials (under an existing foreign relations act) to mandatory, with stricter waivers and transparency.
- Introduces new bans on U.S. government contracts tied to forced labor (building on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act) and seafood procurement/sales (amending defense laws).
- Adds reporting/strategy mandates not previously required, such as on organ harvesting, propaganda, and seafood security.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for State, Treasury, Defense, and others via new reports, determinations, strategies, and procurement restrictions; limits contracting options and commissary sourcing, potentially raising costs or requiring alternatives.
- Citizens: Provides support services for U.S.-based or abroad survivors; affects military personnel/families via seafood bans in dining/commissaries; aids U.S. citizens with detained relatives through compiled information for advocacy.
- International Relations: Heightens U.S.-China tensions by targeting specific companies and policies, potentially straining trade/diplomacy; supports global human rights efforts (e.g., UN, allies) but may prompt Chinese retaliation; aids victims abroad via funding and evidence collection.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Other Muslim Ethnic Groups: Direct beneficiaries of support, heritage preservation, and atrocity documentation; family members of U.S. citizens gain visibility.
- U.S. Government Agencies and Personnel: State, Treasury, Defense, and executive branches face new compliance/reporting duties; military and commissary users impacted by seafood changes.
- Chinese Entities and Government: Named companies (e.g., tech firms) risk sanctions/listings; broader government faces counters to propaganda and diplomatic pressure on abuses.
- NGOs and Experts: Gain funding/assistance for investigations and victim support.
- U.S. Seafood Industry and Consumers: Potential market shifts from procurement bans; indirect benefits to domestic producers via reduced Chinese competition.
- Uyghur-American Community: Involved in consultations; empowered through aggregated data for congressional outreach.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on existing authorities (e.g., International Emergency Economic Powers Act for sanctions, immigration laws for entry bans) without new constitutional challenges; emphasizes evidence-based determinations to avoid overreach. Enhances enforceability of forced labor bans under trade laws.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers over foreign affairs, commerce, and immigration; waivers for national security preserve executive flexibility.
- Political: Signals strong bipartisan U.S. commitment to human rights, potentially unifying allies against China but risking escalation in U.S.-China rivalry; promotes transparency via public reports/announcements, influencing domestic/international opinion on genocide recognition.
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 (2)
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Armed Services, 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.
- 2025-08-01: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-01: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act of 2025 — issued 2025-08-01 — PDF (29 pages)