This bill, known as the Falun Gong Protection Act , establishes a United States policy to actively counter forced organ harvesting within the People's Republic of China. It aims to avoid any cooperation with the PRC in organ transplantation while the Chinese Communist Party is in power, and to coerce the CCP to end state-sponsored organ harvesting through appropriate measures, including sanctions. The Act also emphasizes working with allies and multilateral institutions to highlight China's persecution of Falun Gong and coordinate targeted sanctions and visa restrictions. A central provision requires the President to identify and impose sanctions on foreign persons who knowingly and directly engage in or facilitate involuntary organ harvesting in China. These sanctions include blocking all property and interests in property of such persons within U.S. jurisdiction, and rendering them inadmissible to the United States , including visa ineligibility and revocation of existing visas. The President must submit an initial list of these individuals within 180 days and update it annually. The bill includes exceptions for activities related to the UN Headquarters Agreement, national security, and humanitarian assistance, such as the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, and the provision of vital humanitarian aid. The President retains waiver authority for sanctions on a case-by-case basis if deemed in the vital national security interest of the United States, with regular reporting to Congress. The authority to impose these sanctions is set to terminate five years after the Act's enactment. Furthermore, the Act mandates a comprehensive report from the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of NIH, on the PRC's organ transplant policies and practices. This report must assess the number and sources of organs, the timeline for procurement, and determine if the persecution of Falun Gong constitutes an "atrocity." Importantly, the Act specifies that the sanctions authorized do not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
AsiaChinaCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightForeign propertyHuman rightsMedical ethicsOrgan and tissue donation and transplantationPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsReligionSanctionsVisas and passports
Falun Gong Protection Act
USA119th CongressHR-1540| House
| Updated: 5/6/2025
This bill, known as the Falun Gong Protection Act , establishes a United States policy to actively counter forced organ harvesting within the People's Republic of China. It aims to avoid any cooperation with the PRC in organ transplantation while the Chinese Communist Party is in power, and to coerce the CCP to end state-sponsored organ harvesting through appropriate measures, including sanctions. The Act also emphasizes working with allies and multilateral institutions to highlight China's persecution of Falun Gong and coordinate targeted sanctions and visa restrictions. A central provision requires the President to identify and impose sanctions on foreign persons who knowingly and directly engage in or facilitate involuntary organ harvesting in China. These sanctions include blocking all property and interests in property of such persons within U.S. jurisdiction, and rendering them inadmissible to the United States , including visa ineligibility and revocation of existing visas. The President must submit an initial list of these individuals within 180 days and update it annually. The bill includes exceptions for activities related to the UN Headquarters Agreement, national security, and humanitarian assistance, such as the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, and the provision of vital humanitarian aid. The President retains waiver authority for sanctions on a case-by-case basis if deemed in the vital national security interest of the United States, with regular reporting to Congress. The authority to impose these sanctions is set to terminate five years after the Act's enactment. Furthermore, the Act mandates a comprehensive report from the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of NIH, on the PRC's organ transplant policies and practices. This report must assess the number and sources of organs, the timeline for procurement, and determine if the persecution of Falun Gong constitutes an "atrocity." Importantly, the Act specifies that the sanctions authorized do not include the authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation of goods.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
AsiaChinaCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightForeign propertyHuman rightsMedical ethicsOrgan and tissue donation and transplantationPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsReligionSanctionsVisas and passports