Bill would sanction people tied to forced organ harvesting in China

The President would list foreign people and organizations tied to forced organ harvesting in China and impose sanctions on those listed. The list would cover foreign people or organizations the President determines knowingly and directly engaged in or helped forced organ harvesting in China. That means taking organs through coercion, abduction, deception, fraud, or abuse of power or vulnerability. Sanctions would not cover U.S. intelligence or law enforcement activities, certain humanitarian aid and related transactions, or imports of goods. The President could waive sanctions case by case for U.S. national security. Entry restrictions have an exception when needed to meet U.S. international obligations. The first list would be due within 180 days after enactment. Updates would follow as new information becomes available, within one year, and each year after that. The authority to impose these sanctions would end five years after enactment.

The Secretary of State would report to Congress on China’s organ transplant policies and practices, working with health and intelligence officials. The report would include estimates of annual transplants and voluntary donors, assessments of organ sources and transplant waiting times, and U.S. grants for related research during the prior 10 years. The report would cover policies affecting prisoners of conscience, other prisoners, and people harmed by forced organ harvesting. If the report finds that China engages or formerly engaged in systemic forced organ harvesting, it would also assess whether the practice counts as an atrocity. The report would be due within one year after enactment.