Uyghur Policy Act of 2026

This bill aims to support the human rights of Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) by countering the People's Republic of China's (PRC) repression of their distinct identity. Congress finds that the PRC engages in arbitrary detentions, "political reeducation" centers, and transnational repression, with credible evidence indicating genocide and crimes against humanity. It is the Sense of Congress that the PRC should immediately open the XUAR to international visits, cease all government-sponsored crackdowns, and unconditionally release political prisoners, while urging other countries to condemn these actions and facilitate humanitarian access. The Secretary of State is mandated to prioritize policies and programs supporting Uyghurs, promote human rights, and coordinate efforts for the release of political prisoners. This includes maintaining close contact with Uyghur leaders, engaging foreign ministries, working with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, supporting independent media, and addressing transnational repression against Uyghurs in exile, with an annual report to Congress. The bill allocates $250,000 annually for three fiscal years to support human rights advocates for public diplomacy, particularly in Muslim-majority countries. It also requires a strategy to pressure the PRC to close all detention and "political reeducation" camps and allow unhindered access for independent assessment, alongside ensuring Uyghur language training for Foreign Service officers and assigning Uyghur-speaking officers to U.S. posts in China. Additionally, the President should direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to oppose efforts preventing consideration of human rights violations in the XUAR and support a special rapporteur.