Legis Daily

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

USA116th CongressHR-7440| House 
| Updated: 7/14/2020
Brad Sherman

Brad Sherman

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (11)
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)John R. Curtis (Republican)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Scott Perry (Republican)Andy Barr (Republican)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Michael Guest (Republican)
Committees (6)
• Ways and Means Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Rules Committee• Trade Subcommittee• Financial Services Committee• Judiciary Committee
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Hong Kong Autonomy Act This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source. The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution. The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
6 versions available

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Timeline
Jun 29, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-3798
Held at the desk.
Jul 1, 2020
Introduced in House
Jul 1, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, 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.
Jul 1, 2020
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Financial Services discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Rules discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Mr. Sherman asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
Jul 1, 2020
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H3039-3044; text: CR H3039-3044)
Jul 1, 2020
On passage Passed without objection.
Jul 1, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Jul 1, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 2, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4180)
Jul 2, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4180)
Jul 2, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jul 2, 2020
Presented to President.
Jul 14, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Jul 14, 2020
Signed by President.
Jul 14, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-149.
  • June 29, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-3798
    Held at the desk.


  • July 1, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • July 1, 2020
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, 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.


  • July 1, 2020
    Received in the Senate, read twice.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on Financial Services discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on the Judiciary discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on Rules discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on Ways and Means discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Mr. Sherman asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.


  • July 1, 2020
    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H3039-3044; text: CR H3039-3044)


  • July 1, 2020
    On passage Passed without objection.


  • July 1, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.


  • July 1, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • July 2, 2020
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4180)


  • July 2, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4180)


  • July 2, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • July 2, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • July 14, 2020
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.


  • July 14, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • July 14, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-149.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 116-7083: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • S 116-4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
  • S 116-3798: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
AsiaBanking and financial institutions regulationChinaCongressional oversightCorporate finance and managementForeign and international bankingForeign loans and debtForeign propertyHong KongHuman rightsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational monetary system and foreign exchangeLegislative rules and procedureNews media and reportingPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsProtest and dissentRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTrade restrictionsU.S. and foreign investmentsVisas and passportsWar and emergency powers

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

USA116th CongressHR-7440| House 
| Updated: 7/14/2020
Hong Kong Autonomy Act This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source. The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution. The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
6 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jun 29, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-3798
Held at the desk.
Jul 1, 2020
Introduced in House
Jul 1, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, 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.
Jul 1, 2020
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Financial Services discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Rules discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Mr. Sherman asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
Jul 1, 2020
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H3039-3044; text: CR H3039-3044)
Jul 1, 2020
On passage Passed without objection.
Jul 1, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Jul 1, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 2, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4180)
Jul 2, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4180)
Jul 2, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jul 2, 2020
Presented to President.
Jul 14, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Jul 14, 2020
Signed by President.
Jul 14, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-149.
  • June 29, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-3798
    Held at the desk.


  • July 1, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • July 1, 2020
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, 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.


  • July 1, 2020
    Received in the Senate, read twice.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on Financial Services discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on the Judiciary discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on Rules discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Committee on Ways and Means discharged.


  • July 1, 2020
    Mr. Sherman asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.


  • July 1, 2020
    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H3039-3044; text: CR H3039-3044)


  • July 1, 2020
    On passage Passed without objection.


  • July 1, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.


  • July 1, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • July 2, 2020
    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4180)


  • July 2, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4180)


  • July 2, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • July 2, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • July 14, 2020
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.


  • July 14, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • July 14, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-149.
Brad Sherman

Brad Sherman

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (11)
Guy Reschenthaler (Republican)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)John R. Curtis (Republican)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Scott Perry (Republican)Andy Barr (Republican)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Michael Guest (Republican)
Committees (6)
• Ways and Means Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Rules Committee• Trade Subcommittee• Financial Services Committee• Judiciary Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 116-7083: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • S 116-4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
  • S 116-3798: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AsiaBanking and financial institutions regulationChinaCongressional oversightCorporate finance and managementForeign and international bankingForeign loans and debtForeign propertyHong KongHuman rightsIntelligence activities, surveillance, classified informationInternational monetary system and foreign exchangeLegislative rules and procedureNews media and reportingPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsProtest and dissentRule of law and government transparencySanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTrade restrictionsU.S. and foreign investmentsVisas and passportsWar and emergency powers