Legis Daily

Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2020

USA116th CongressHR-8428| House 
| Updated: 12/8/2020
Tom Malinowski

Tom Malinowski

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (23)
Barbara Lee (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Van Taylor (Republican)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Joaquin Castro (Democratic)Joe Wilson (Republican)Rodney Davis (Republican)Dean Phillips (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Adam Kinzinger (Republican)Albio Sires (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act of 2020 This bill provides for temporary protected status (TPS) and refugee status for qualifying Hong Kong residents and contains other immigration-related provisions. Hong Kong shall be treated as a TPS-designated country for 18 months starting from this bill's enactment. (Qualifying nationals of a TPS-designated country may not be removed from the United States and shall have employment authorization while the designation is in effect.) Furthermore, Hong Kong shall be treated as separate from China for the purposes of various numerical limitations on immigrant visas. (Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.) The bill also establishes Priority Hong Kong Resident status for qualified individuals. To obtain such status, an individual must meet certain requirements, such as having resided in Hong Kong for at least ten years as of the day of this bill's enactment and not having citizenship in any jurisdiction other than China, Hong Kong, or Macau. For the purposes of seeking refugee status or asylum, a Priority Hong Kong Resident (and certain family members of such an individual) may establish that the individual has a well-founded fear of persecution if the individual asserts such fear and (1) had a significant role in an organization that supported the 2019 or 2020 protests related to China's encroachment into Hong Kong's autonomy or the Hong Kong National Security Law enacted in 2020; or (2) was arrested, charged, detained, or convicted for participating in the nonviolent exercise of certain rights.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Jul 20, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-4229
Introduced in Senate
Sep 29, 2020
Introduced in House
Sep 29, 2020
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
Oct 1, 2020
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Oct 1, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Dec 7, 2020
Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 7, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6872-6877)
Dec 7, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8428.
Dec 7, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6872-6874)
Dec 7, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6872-6874)
Dec 7, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 8, 2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • July 20, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-4229
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 29, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • September 29, 2020
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.


  • October 1, 2020
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • October 1, 2020
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • December 7, 2020
    Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • December 7, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6872-6877)


  • December 7, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8428.


  • December 7, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6872-6874)


  • December 7, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6872-6874)


  • December 7, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 8, 2020
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Immigration

AlliancesArea studies and international educationAsiaAustraliaCanadaChinaCitizenship and naturalizationCongressional oversightCultural exchanges and relationsDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadElections, voting, political campaign regulationEuropeHong KongHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationJapanNews media and reportingOceaniaProtest and dissentRacial and ethnic relationsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionSouth KoreaSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTravel and tourismUnited KingdomUser charges and feesVisas and passports

Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2020

USA116th CongressHR-8428| House 
| Updated: 12/8/2020
Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act of 2020 This bill provides for temporary protected status (TPS) and refugee status for qualifying Hong Kong residents and contains other immigration-related provisions. Hong Kong shall be treated as a TPS-designated country for 18 months starting from this bill's enactment. (Qualifying nationals of a TPS-designated country may not be removed from the United States and shall have employment authorization while the designation is in effect.) Furthermore, Hong Kong shall be treated as separate from China for the purposes of various numerical limitations on immigrant visas. (Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.) The bill also establishes Priority Hong Kong Resident status for qualified individuals. To obtain such status, an individual must meet certain requirements, such as having resided in Hong Kong for at least ten years as of the day of this bill's enactment and not having citizenship in any jurisdiction other than China, Hong Kong, or Macau. For the purposes of seeking refugee status or asylum, a Priority Hong Kong Resident (and certain family members of such an individual) may establish that the individual has a well-founded fear of persecution if the individual asserts such fear and (1) had a significant role in an organization that supported the 2019 or 2020 protests related to China's encroachment into Hong Kong's autonomy or the Hong Kong National Security Law enacted in 2020; or (2) was arrested, charged, detained, or convicted for participating in the nonviolent exercise of certain rights.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Jul 20, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-4229
Introduced in Senate
Sep 29, 2020
Introduced in House
Sep 29, 2020
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
Oct 1, 2020
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Oct 1, 2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Dec 7, 2020
Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 7, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6872-6877)
Dec 7, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8428.
Dec 7, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6872-6874)
Dec 7, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6872-6874)
Dec 7, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 8, 2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • July 20, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-4229
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 29, 2020
    Introduced in House


  • September 29, 2020
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.


  • October 1, 2020
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • October 1, 2020
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • December 7, 2020
    Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • December 7, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6872-6877)


  • December 7, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8428.


  • December 7, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6872-6874)


  • December 7, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6872-6874)


  • December 7, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 8, 2020
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Tom Malinowski

Tom Malinowski

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (23)
Barbara Lee (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Van Taylor (Republican)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Joaquin Castro (Democratic)Joe Wilson (Republican)Rodney Davis (Republican)Dean Phillips (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Adam Kinzinger (Republican)Albio Sires (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Judiciary Committee

Immigration

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AlliancesArea studies and international educationAsiaAustraliaCanadaChinaCitizenship and naturalizationCongressional oversightCultural exchanges and relationsDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadElections, voting, political campaign regulationEuropeHong KongHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationJapanNews media and reportingOceaniaProtest and dissentRacial and ethnic relationsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionSouth KoreaSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTravel and tourismUnited KingdomUser charges and feesVisas and passports