Legis Daily

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

USA116th CongressS-3798| Senate 
| Updated: 6/29/2020
Patrick Toomey

Patrick Toomey

Republican Senator

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (11)
Thomas Tillis (Republican)Tom Cotton (Republican)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Martha McSally (Republican)Doug Jones (Democratic)Ted Cruz (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Ben Sasse (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 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
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
May 21, 2020
Introduced in Senate
May 21, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Jun 4, 2020
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-320.
Jun 25, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3285-3289)
Jun 25, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3285-3289)
Jun 25, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3285-3289)
Jun 25, 2020
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jun 29, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 29, 2020
Received in the House.
Jun 29, 2020
Held at the desk.
Jul 14, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-7440
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
  • May 21, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 21, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


  • June 4, 2020
    Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-320.


  • June 25, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3285-3289)


  • June 25, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3285-3289)


  • June 25, 2020
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3285-3289)


  • June 25, 2020
    Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • June 29, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • June 29, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • June 29, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • July 14, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-7440
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 116-7083: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • HR 116-7440: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • S 116-4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
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 CongressS-3798| Senate 
| Updated: 6/29/2020
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
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
May 21, 2020
Introduced in Senate
May 21, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Jun 4, 2020
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-320.
Jun 25, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3285-3289)
Jun 25, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3285-3289)
Jun 25, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3285-3289)
Jun 25, 2020
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jun 29, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 29, 2020
Received in the House.
Jun 29, 2020
Held at the desk.
Jul 14, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-7440
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
  • May 21, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 21, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


  • June 4, 2020
    Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-320.


  • June 25, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3285-3289)


  • June 25, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S3285-3289)


  • June 25, 2020
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3285-3289)


  • June 25, 2020
    Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • June 29, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • June 29, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • June 29, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • July 14, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-7440
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Patrick Toomey

Patrick Toomey

Republican Senator

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (11)
Thomas Tillis (Republican)Tom Cotton (Republican)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Martha McSally (Republican)Doug Jones (Democratic)Ted Cruz (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Ben Sasse (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 116-7083: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • HR 116-7440: Hong Kong Autonomy Act
  • S 116-4049: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
  • 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