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To designate the area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia as "Jimmy Lai Way", and for other purposes.

USA119th CongressHR-2522| House 
| Updated: 3/31/2025
Christopher H. Smith

Christopher H. Smith

Republican Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (3)
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)John R. Moolenaar (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill proposes to designate a specific area in Washington D.C. as "Jimmy Lai Way" to honor the Hong Kong democracy advocate. The section of 18th Street Northwest between Church Street Northwest and P Street Northwest would bear this name, and the address 1520 18th Street Northwest would be redesignated as 1 Jimmy Lai Way Northwest. This symbolic gesture aims to draw attention to his situation and the broader human rights issues in Hong Kong, with provisions for constructing new street signs. The legislation includes extensive findings detailing the arbitrary detention and mistreatment of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and media entrepreneur, in Hong Kong. It highlights his imprisonment since 2020 on fabricated charges, his solitary confinement, and the forced closure of his newspaper, Apple Daily, under the National Security Law . A Sense of Congress strongly condemns Lai's unjust imprisonment and calls for his immediate, unconditional release, urging Hong Kong authorities to cease prosecuting him and others. The bill reaffirms the importance of freedom of speech and the press, urging the Secretary of State to advocate for Lai's release and consider employing financial sanctions against complicit Hong Kong officials. It also calls on the United Nations and other governments to demand an end to his trial and his immediate release. Finally, the bill includes a provision for the Postmaster General to recognize mail addressed to "1 Jimmy Lai Way" at Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the U.S. for delivery to their actual locations.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8125
To designate the area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia as "Jimmy Lai Way", and for other purposes.
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 31, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8125
    To designate the area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia as "Jimmy Lai Way", and for other purposes.


  • March 31, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 31, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.

Government Operations and Politics

To designate the area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia as "Jimmy Lai Way", and for other purposes.

USA119th CongressHR-2522| House 
| Updated: 3/31/2025
This bill proposes to designate a specific area in Washington D.C. as "Jimmy Lai Way" to honor the Hong Kong democracy advocate. The section of 18th Street Northwest between Church Street Northwest and P Street Northwest would bear this name, and the address 1520 18th Street Northwest would be redesignated as 1 Jimmy Lai Way Northwest. This symbolic gesture aims to draw attention to his situation and the broader human rights issues in Hong Kong, with provisions for constructing new street signs. The legislation includes extensive findings detailing the arbitrary detention and mistreatment of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and media entrepreneur, in Hong Kong. It highlights his imprisonment since 2020 on fabricated charges, his solitary confinement, and the forced closure of his newspaper, Apple Daily, under the National Security Law . A Sense of Congress strongly condemns Lai's unjust imprisonment and calls for his immediate, unconditional release, urging Hong Kong authorities to cease prosecuting him and others. The bill reaffirms the importance of freedom of speech and the press, urging the Secretary of State to advocate for Lai's release and consider employing financial sanctions against complicit Hong Kong officials. It also calls on the United Nations and other governments to demand an end to his trial and his immediate release. Finally, the bill includes a provision for the Postmaster General to recognize mail addressed to "1 Jimmy Lai Way" at Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the U.S. for delivery to their actual locations.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8125
To designate the area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia as "Jimmy Lai Way", and for other purposes.
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced in House
Mar 31, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8125
    To designate the area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia as "Jimmy Lai Way", and for other purposes.


  • March 31, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • March 31, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
Christopher H. Smith

Christopher H. Smith

Republican Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (3)
Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)John R. Moolenaar (Republican)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Government Operations and Politics

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted