Condemning the People's Republic of China's Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress and the Chinese Communist Party's campaign of forced assimilation against ethnic and religious minorities.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1400
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-30: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T16:10:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H. Res. 1400
Purpose
This resolution condemns the People's Republic of China's (PRC) Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress (Ethnic Unity Law), adopted on March 12, 2026, and scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026. It also condemns the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) broader campaign of forced assimilation targeting ethnic and religious minorities, including Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Hui Muslims, and Manchus.
Key Provisions
- Condemns the Ethnic Unity Law for prioritizing CCP ideology, Mandarin Chinese, and a national identity over minority languages, religions, cultures, and histories, with vague terms that risk criminalizing peaceful expression and advocacy.
- Condemns policies such as coercive boarding schools, family separations, and restrictions on religious practice in regions like the Uyghur Region (Xinjiang), Tibet, and Inner Mongolia.
- Affirms that the recognition and succession of the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders are religious matters to be decided solely by Tibetan Buddhists, without PRC or CCP interference.
- Urges the PRC to engage in dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama on Tibetan grievances.
- Supports advocacy for the release of political prisoners, including named individuals such as Ilham Tohti and Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.
- Urges the President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of the Treasury to impose sanctions and visa restrictions on officials involved in the law and related policies, using authorities like the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
- Calls for coordination with allies (e.g., European Union, Canada, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom) to monitor the law's effects and address transnational repression.
- Urges expansion of U.S. programs supporting endangered languages, cultural preservation, and independent media for affected communities.
- Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to protect U.S. diaspora communities from harassment and coercion linked to the law.
- Instructs the Secretary of State to raise these issues at the United Nations, assess potential atrocity crimes in Tibet, and include reporting on the law in annual human rights reports.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
As a non-binding resolution, this measure does not amend any statutes. It instead expresses congressional condemnation and urges executive branch actions on sanctions, international coordination, and reporting requirements under existing authorities.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Department of State (sanctions coordination, UN advocacy, reporting), Department of the Treasury (sanctions), and Department of Homeland Security (diaspora protection).
- On Citizens: Aims to shield U.S.-based diaspora communities from foreign coercion while potentially affecting U.S. persons through extraterritorial concerns raised in the law.
- On International Relations: Encourages alliances with democratic partners and pressure on the PRC, which could heighten tensions with China; references prior U.S. determinations of genocide in the Uyghur Region and calls for similar scrutiny in Tibet.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Congress and executive agencies (State, Treasury, Homeland Security).
- Ethnic and religious minority communities in the PRC (Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Hui Muslims, Manchus).
- U.S. diaspora communities from these groups.
- International bodies such as the United Nations and the European Parliament.
- PRC government and CCP officials.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Highlights potential conflicts with PRC constitutional claims of protecting minority rights and autonomy.
- Raises concerns about extraterritorial reach of the Ethnic Unity Law affecting speech and activities in the United States.
- Politically signals U.S. support for human rights norms, religious freedom, and opposition to forced assimilation, without creating new legal obligations.
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. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-30: 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.
- 2026-06-30: 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.
- 2026-06-30: Submitted in House
- 2026-06-30: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Condemning the People’s Republic of China’s Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress and the Chinese Communist Party’s campaign of forced assimilation against ethnic and religious minorities. — issued 2026-06-30 — PDF (8 pages)