Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 This bill addresses Hong Kong's status under U.S. law and imposes sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong. (Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.) The Department of State shall certify annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong warrants its unique treatment under various treaties, agreements, and U.S. law. The analysis shall evaluate whether Hong Kong is upholding the rule of law and protecting rights enumerated in various documents, including (1) the agreement between the United Kingdom and China regarding Hong Kong's return to China, and (2) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The bill extends existing annual reporting requirements on matters of U.S. interest in Hong Kong through 2027 and expands such reports to include assessments of (1) limits to Hong Kong's autonomy, either self-imposed or due to China's actions; and (2) whether rescission of Hong Kong's special treatment would further erode Hong Kong's autonomy. The President shall annually report to Congress on Hong Kong's enforcement of U.S. export controls, including whether items of U.S. origin have been used for mass surveillance in China and whether Hong Kong has been used to evade sanctions on North Korea or Iran. The State Department shall notify Congress if any proposed or enacted law in Hong Kong negatively impacts U.S. interests, including by putting U.S. citizens at risk of rendition to China. The President shall impose property and visa-blocking sanctions on foreign persons responsible for gross human rights violations in Hong Kong.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial 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.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mr. Sherman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8119-8124)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3289.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8119-8122)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8119-8122)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 243.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial 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.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mr. Sherman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8119-8124)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3289.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8119-8122)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8119-8122)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 243.
Arms control and nonproliferationAsiaChinaCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDrug trafficking and controlled substancesElections, voting, political campaign regulationForeign propertyFreedom of informationGovernment information and archivesHong KongHuman rightsInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationIranMiddle EastNews media and reportingNorth KoreaNuclear weaponsProtest and dissentReligionRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTerrorismTrade restrictionsTravel and tourismVisas and passportsWar and emergency powers
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019
USA116th CongressHR-3289| House
| Updated: 10/16/2019
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 This bill addresses Hong Kong's status under U.S. law and imposes sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong. (Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.) The Department of State shall certify annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong warrants its unique treatment under various treaties, agreements, and U.S. law. The analysis shall evaluate whether Hong Kong is upholding the rule of law and protecting rights enumerated in various documents, including (1) the agreement between the United Kingdom and China regarding Hong Kong's return to China, and (2) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The bill extends existing annual reporting requirements on matters of U.S. interest in Hong Kong through 2027 and expands such reports to include assessments of (1) limits to Hong Kong's autonomy, either self-imposed or due to China's actions; and (2) whether rescission of Hong Kong's special treatment would further erode Hong Kong's autonomy. The President shall annually report to Congress on Hong Kong's enforcement of U.S. export controls, including whether items of U.S. origin have been used for mass surveillance in China and whether Hong Kong has been used to evade sanctions on North Korea or Iran. The State Department shall notify Congress if any proposed or enacted law in Hong Kong negatively impacts U.S. interests, including by putting U.S. citizens at risk of rendition to China. The President shall impose property and visa-blocking sanctions on foreign persons responsible for gross human rights violations in Hong Kong.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial 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.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mr. Sherman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8119-8124)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3289.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8119-8122)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8119-8122)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 243.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Financial 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.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mr. Sherman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8119-8124)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3289.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8119-8122)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8119-8122)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 243.
Arms control and nonproliferationAsiaChinaCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadDrug trafficking and controlled substancesElections, voting, political campaign regulationForeign propertyFreedom of informationGovernment information and archivesHong KongHuman rightsInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationIranMiddle EastNews media and reportingNorth KoreaNuclear weaponsProtest and dissentReligionRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTerrorismTrade restrictionsTravel and tourismVisas and passportsWar and emergency powers