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Bill116th CongressFiled Sep 10, 2019International Affairs
H.R. 4270

Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house (Oct 15, 2019)

Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act or the PROTECT Hong Kong Act

This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export certain defense items and services to the Hong Kong Police Force or the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force.

Items subject to the prohibition include defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List and certain crime-control and detection technology and software.

The prohibition shall not apply to a particular license if the President certifies to Congress that the covered exports are important to U.S. national interests and foreign policy goals. The prohibitions shall terminate when the President certifies to Congress that (1) the covered Hong Kong forces have not engaged in gross human rights violations for the one-year period leading up to the certification, (2) there has been an independent examination of human rights concerns related to the covered forces' crowd-control tactics, and (3) and the Hong Kong government has adequately addressed such concerns.

The Department of State and the Department of Commerce shall report to Congress as to items subject to the prohibition that have been exported to the Hong Kong forces covered in the bill in the last five years.

What just happenedOct 16, 2019

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Who’s behind it

Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2](D-MA)Sponsor
32 cosponsors25 D7 R
Read on Congress.gov
32cosponsors2committees13actions13subjects
  1. Oct 16, 2019IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

    Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
  2. Oct 15, 2019FloorH38800

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  3. Oct 15, 2019FloorH38310

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

  4. Oct 15, 2019FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8124-8125)

  5. Oct 15, 2019Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8124-8125)

  6. Oct 15, 2019FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4270.

  7. Oct 15, 2019FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8124-8127)

  8. Oct 15, 2019FloorH30300

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

  9. Sep 25, 2019Committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  10. Sep 25, 2019Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  11. Sep 10, 2019IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    Foreign Affairs Committee
  12. Sep 10, 2019IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  13. Sep 10, 2019IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed HouseOct 15, 201953

Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act or the PROTECT Hong Kong Act

This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export certain defense items and services to the Hong Kong Police Force or the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force.

Items subject to the prohibition include defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List and certain crime-control and detection technology and software.

The prohibition shall not apply to a particular license if the President certifies to Congress that the covered exports are important to U.S. national interests and foreign policy goals. The prohibitions shall terminate when the President certifies to Congress that (1) the covered Hong Kong forces have not engaged in gross human rights violations for the one-year period leading up to the certification, (2) there has been an independent examination of human rights concerns related to the covered forces' crowd-control tactics, and (3) and the Hong Kong government has adequately addressed such concerns.

The Department of State and the Department of Commerce shall report to Congress as to items subject to the prohibition that have been exported to the Hong Kong forces covered in the bill in the last five years.

Introduced in HouseSep 10, 2019

Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act or the PROTECT Hong Kong Act

This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export certain defense items and services to various forces in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department, and the Hong Kong Government Flying Service.

Items subject to the prohibition include defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List and certain crime control and detection technology and software.

The prohibition shall not take effect if the President takes certain actions, such as certifying to Congress that the prohibited exports to a covered force other than the Hong Kong Police Force are required to achieve U.S. foreign policy goals.

The Department of State shall report to Congress as to items subject to the prohibition that have been exported to the Hong Kong forces covered in the bill in the last five years.

Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act — Informed