Designating the Chinese Communist Party as a Transnational Organized Crime Group Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8760
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-28T19:13:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to formally designate the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a transnational organized crime group, enabling the application of U.S. racketeering laws to its activities. It seeks to address a range of alleged actions by the CCP, including human rights issues, intellectual property theft, and contributions to public health crises, by treating the party as a criminal entity subject to prosecution.
Key Provisions
- The bill includes an extensive findings section citing specific events and reports, such as the national security law in Hong Kong, restrictions on Uyghurs, fentanyl trafficking, mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak, and large-scale intellectual property theft estimated at $250 billion to $600 billion annually.
- It requires the Attorney General to designate the CCP as a transnational organized crime group upon enactment.
- The FBI Director must list the CCP as a top international criminal organization.
- A new section (1969) is added to Chapter 96 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, applying racketeering provisions to the CCP. This includes a required report within 90 days on racketeering activities, recommendations for penalties, an extended 15-year statute of limitations for related offenses, and removal of certain legal liability protections for the CCP during investigations or charges.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill amends existing racketeering statutes (RICO provisions under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961–1964) by creating a targeted section for the CCP. It extends the statute of limitations beyond standard limits and eliminates protections typically available to foreign state agencies under Chapter 97 of Title 28, allowing broader legal actions against the party. These changes do not alter general RICO definitions but apply them specifically to CCP-related activities.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies such as the Department of Justice and FBI would gain authority to investigate and prosecute CCP activities as organized crime, potentially increasing caseloads and requiring new reporting.
- U.S. citizens and businesses could face indirect effects through heightened scrutiny of dealings involving the CCP, such as in trade or technology sectors.
- International relations with China may see increased strain, as the designation could affect diplomatic channels, sanctions, and cooperation on issues like trade or global health.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. federal agencies, including the Attorney General's office, FBI, and congressional committees on foreign affairs and intelligence.
- The Chinese Communist Party and its members.
- U.S. citizens impacted by issues referenced in the findings, such as victims of fentanyl-related deaths or intellectual property losses.
- Foreign nationals or entities in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, or other regions mentioned.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications Legally, the bill treats a foreign ruling political party as a criminal organization, which could raise questions about applying domestic criminal statutes extraterritorially and waiving immunity-like protections. Constitutionally, it may involve due process considerations for foreign entities and potential conflicts with international law norms on sovereign immunity. Politically, the measure could escalate U.S.-China tensions and influence broader policy on economic espionage and human rights.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-12: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Designating the Chinese Communist Party as a Transnational Organized Crime Group Act — issued 2026-05-12 — PDF (9 pages)