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Bill116th CongressFiled Jan 17, 2019International Affairs
S. 178

UIGHUR Act of 2019

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What it doesSummary passed house (Dec 3, 2019)

Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act of 2019 or the UIGHUR Act of 2019

This bill directs the President to impose sanctions and export restrictions related to China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group.

The President shall report to Congress a list of senior Chinese government officials who are engaged in or responsible for serious human rights abuses, including mass incarceration and political indoctrination, against Turkic Muslims in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The President shall impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on such individuals. The President may waive the imposition of such sanctions on U.S. national interest grounds.

The President shall identify items that provide China with a critical capability to suppress basic human rights, including items that provide capability to (1) conduct surveillance, (2) monitor and restrict an individual's movement, (3) monitor and restrict access to the internet, and (4) identify individuals through facial or voice recognition. The President shall (1) place such items on the Commerce Control List (a list of items subject to export controls); and (2) require authorization for the export, reexport, or transfer of such items to or within China.

The bill terminates certain prohibitions, such as a prohibition against obligating funds for U.S. Trade and Development Agency activities in China, upon a report by the President to Congress that China has taken specified actions, including ending the mass internment of Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang.

The Department of State shall report to Congress on human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including an assessment of the number of individuals detained in forced labor camps.

What just happenedOct 21, 2020

Second cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 207. (CR S6343)

Who’s behind it

Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL](R-FL)Sponsor
50 cosponsors27 D21 R2 I
Read on Congress.gov
50cosponsors4committees38actions147amendments2related bills37subjects
  1. Oct 21, 2020Floor

    Second cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 207. (CR S6343)

  2. Oct 20, 2020Floor

    Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S6318)

  3. Oct 19, 2020Floor

    Second cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) presented in Senate. (CR S6050)

  4. Oct 19, 2020Floor

    Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S6050-6052)

  5. Sep 30, 2020Floor

    Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S5923-5924)

  6. Sep 30, 2020Floor

    Motion to proceed to consideration of the House message to accompany S. 178 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 46. Record Vote Number: 198. (CR S5923)

  7. Sep 10, 2020Floor

    Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 168. (CR S5532-5533)

  8. Sep 8, 2020Floor

    Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) presented in Senate.

  9. Sep 8, 2020Floor

    Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) made in Senate. (CR S5433)

  10. Sep 8, 2020Floor

    Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2499) withdrawn.

  11. Sep 8, 2020Floor

    Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S5433)

  12. Jul 30, 2020Floor

    Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2499) made in Senate. (CR S4618)

  13. Jul 30, 2020Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4618-4622)

  14. Jul 30, 2020Floor

    Motion to proceed to consideration of the House message to accompany S. 178 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 42. Record Vote Number: 153. (CR S4617)

  15. Dec 4, 2019Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

  16. Dec 3, 2019FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  17. Dec 3, 2019FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 644). (text: CR H9201-9203)

  18. Dec 3, 2019Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 644).(text: CR H9201-9203)

  19. Dec 3, 2019FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9209)

  20. Dec 3, 2019FloorH37220

    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.

  21. Dec 3, 2019FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 178.

  22. Dec 3, 2019FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9201-9208)

  23. Dec 3, 2019FloorH30300

    Mr. Sires moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  24. Oct 30, 2019Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  25. Oct 30, 2019Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  26. Sep 12, 2019IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and 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.

    Judiciary Committee
  27. Sep 12, 2019IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and 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.

    Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
  28. Sep 12, 2019IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and 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.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  29. Sep 12, 2019FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  30. Sep 12, 2019Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  31. Sep 11, 2019Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5450-5452; text: CR S5450-5452)

  32. Sep 11, 2019Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5450-5452; text: CR S5450-5452)

  33. Jun 3, 2019Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 99.

  34. Jun 3, 2019Committee

    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  35. Jun 3, 2019Committee14000

    Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  36. May 22, 2019Committee

    Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  37. Jan 17, 2019IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

    Foreign Relations Committee
  38. Jan 17, 2019IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Passed HouseDec 3, 201953

Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act of 2019 or the UIGHUR Act of 2019

This bill directs the President to impose sanctions and export restrictions related to China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group.

The President shall report to Congress a list of senior Chinese government officials who are engaged in or responsible for serious human rights abuses, including mass incarceration and political indoctrination, against Turkic Muslims in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The President shall impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on such individuals. The President may waive the imposition of such sanctions on U.S. national interest grounds.

The President shall identify items that provide China with a critical capability to suppress basic human rights, including items that provide capability to (1) conduct surveillance, (2) monitor and restrict an individual's movement, (3) monitor and restrict access to the internet, and (4) identify individuals through facial or voice recognition. The President shall (1) place such items on the Commerce Control List (a list of items subject to export controls); and (2) require authorization for the export, reexport, or transfer of such items to or within China.

The bill terminates certain prohibitions, such as a prohibition against obligating funds for U.S. Trade and Development Agency activities in China, upon a report by the President to Congress that China has taken specified actions, including ending the mass internment of Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang.

The Department of State shall report to Congress on human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including an assessment of the number of individuals detained in forced labor camps.

Passed SenateSep 11, 201955

Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019

This bill directs various U.S. government bodies to prepare reports on China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report to Congress on issues including the security threats caused by the Chinese government's reported crackdown on the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province, the frequency with which other governments are forcibly returning Turkic Muslim refugees and asylum seekers to China, and the development or transfer of technology that facilitates mass internment and surveillance.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report on topics such as its efforts to protect ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals in the United States from Chinese government intimidation.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media shall report on media-related matters, including the reach of U.S. media into Xinjiang, assessments of Chinese propaganda strategies, and U.S. actions to counter such efforts to downplay the crackdown.

The Department of State shall report (1) on the scope of the reported crackdown in Xinjiang, including the number of detained individuals, the use of forced labor in the region, an assessment of government surveillance in the province, and U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crackdown; and (2) on whether certain individuals, including the Chinese Communist Party secretary for Xinjiang, meet the criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Reported to SenateJun 3, 201925

Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019

This bill directs various U.S. government bodies to prepare reports on China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report to Congress on issues including the security threats caused by the Chinese government's reported crackdown on the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province, the frequency with which other governments are forcibly returning Turkic Muslim refugees and asylum seekers to China, and the development or transfer of technology that facilitates mass internment and surveillance.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report on topics such as its efforts to protect ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals in the United States from Chinese government intimidation.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media shall report on media-related matters, including the reach of U.S. media into Xinjiang, assessments of Chinese propaganda strategies, and U.S. actions to counter such efforts to downplay the crackdown.

The Department of State shall report (1) on the scope of the reported crackdown in Xinjiang, including the number of detained individuals, the use of forced labor in the region, an assessment of government surveillance in the province, and U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crackdown; and (2) on whether certain individuals, including the Chinese Communist Party secretary for Xinjiang, meet the criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Introduced in SenateJan 17, 2019

Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019

This bill directs various U.S. government bodies to prepare reports on China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall report to Congress on issues including the security threats caused by the Chinese government's reported crackdown on the Uyghur population in Xinjiang province, the frequency with which other governments are forcibly returning Turkic Muslim refugees and asylum seekers to China, and the development or transfer of technology that facilitates mass internment and surveillance.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation shall report on topics such as its efforts to protect ethnic Uyghurs and Chinese nationals in the United States from Chinese government intimidation.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media shall report on media-related matters, including the reach of U.S. media into Xinjiang, assessments of Chinese propaganda strategies, and U.S. actions to counter such efforts to downplay the crackdown.

The Department of State shall report on the scope of the reported crackdown in Xinjiang, including the number of detained individuals, the use of forced labor in the region, an assessment of government surveillance in the province, and U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crackdown.

UIGHUR Act of 2019 — Informed