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Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act

USA119th CongressHR-6877| House 
| Updated: 12/18/2025
James P. McGovern

James P. McGovern

Democratic Representative

Massachusetts

Cosponsors (1)
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Foreign Affairs Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The bill, titled the "Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act," establishes a comprehensive United States policy to support and promote the human rights of Southern Mongolians within the People's Republic of China. It highlights extensive findings detailing the suppression of Mongolian language and culture, interference with religious practices, forced resettlement of pastoralists, environmental degradation, and severe repression of activists by Chinese authorities. These actions are described as undermining the autonomy guaranteed to Southern Mongolians under Chinese law and international human rights treaties, with some observers calling it a form of cultural genocide. The legislation outlines a multi-faceted approach, urging the President to condemn human rights abuses and call for the PRC to uphold guaranteed autonomy, particularly in education and language. The Secretary of State is directed to engage with international allies and the United Nations Human Rights Council to advocate for Southern Mongolians, promote their linguistic and religious freedoms, and identify world heritage sites for protection. It also calls for coordination on targeted sanctions and visa restrictions against those responsible for abuses. A significant provision requires the President to submit annual reports identifying foreign persons, including PRC officials, responsible for gross human rights violations against Southern Mongolians, such as torture, arbitrary detention, and forced disappearances. The bill mandates the imposition of sanctions on these individuals under existing authorities like the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act . Additionally, it directs the Voice of America to establish Mongolian language programming to reach speakers in Mongolia, the PRC, and the Russian Federation, with authorized appropriations. To preserve cultural heritage, the bill expresses a Sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should fund activities to protect endangered cultures, including those of Southern Mongolians, Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Hong Kongers. It also suggests the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences establish a grant program to support diaspora communities in the United States in preserving their threatened cultural heritage. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes supporting Southern Mongolian economic autonomy, including traditional pastoralism, and instructs the Treasury to ensure international financial institution projects respect Mongolian culture and avoid negative impacts. Finally, the bill requires a report from the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, on the impact of large rare earth mining operations in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, specifically the Bayan-Obo mine. This report will assess the effects on Southern Mongolian livelihoods, including forced displacement and environmental degradation, and their implications for U.S. national security interests. It also encourages U.S. businesses operating in these areas to adhere to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights .
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-10537
Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act
Jan 29, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-288
Introduced in Senate
Dec 18, 2025
Introduced in House
Dec 18, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, and House Administration, 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 118-10537
    Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act


  • January 29, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-288
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 18, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • December 18, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, and House Administration, 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.

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 119-288: Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act

Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act

USA119th CongressHR-6877| House 
| Updated: 12/18/2025
The bill, titled the "Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act," establishes a comprehensive United States policy to support and promote the human rights of Southern Mongolians within the People's Republic of China. It highlights extensive findings detailing the suppression of Mongolian language and culture, interference with religious practices, forced resettlement of pastoralists, environmental degradation, and severe repression of activists by Chinese authorities. These actions are described as undermining the autonomy guaranteed to Southern Mongolians under Chinese law and international human rights treaties, with some observers calling it a form of cultural genocide. The legislation outlines a multi-faceted approach, urging the President to condemn human rights abuses and call for the PRC to uphold guaranteed autonomy, particularly in education and language. The Secretary of State is directed to engage with international allies and the United Nations Human Rights Council to advocate for Southern Mongolians, promote their linguistic and religious freedoms, and identify world heritage sites for protection. It also calls for coordination on targeted sanctions and visa restrictions against those responsible for abuses. A significant provision requires the President to submit annual reports identifying foreign persons, including PRC officials, responsible for gross human rights violations against Southern Mongolians, such as torture, arbitrary detention, and forced disappearances. The bill mandates the imposition of sanctions on these individuals under existing authorities like the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act . Additionally, it directs the Voice of America to establish Mongolian language programming to reach speakers in Mongolia, the PRC, and the Russian Federation, with authorized appropriations. To preserve cultural heritage, the bill expresses a Sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should fund activities to protect endangered cultures, including those of Southern Mongolians, Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Hong Kongers. It also suggests the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences establish a grant program to support diaspora communities in the United States in preserving their threatened cultural heritage. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes supporting Southern Mongolian economic autonomy, including traditional pastoralism, and instructs the Treasury to ensure international financial institution projects respect Mongolian culture and avoid negative impacts. Finally, the bill requires a report from the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, on the impact of large rare earth mining operations in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, specifically the Bayan-Obo mine. This report will assess the effects on Southern Mongolian livelihoods, including forced displacement and environmental degradation, and their implications for U.S. national security interests. It also encourages U.S. businesses operating in these areas to adhere to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights .
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-10537
Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act
Jan 29, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-288
Introduced in Senate
Dec 18, 2025
Introduced in House
Dec 18, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, and House Administration, 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 118-10537
    Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act


  • January 29, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-288
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 18, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • December 18, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, and House Administration, 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.
James P. McGovern

James P. McGovern

Democratic Representative

Massachusetts

Cosponsors (1)
Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Foreign Affairs Committee, Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • S 119-288: Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted