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HR 4270 116th Congress House International Affairs Asia China Congressional oversight Crime prevention Foreign aid and international relief Hong Kong Human rights Law enforcement administration and funding Licensing and registrations Military assistance, sales, and agreements Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents Protest and dissent Trade restrictions

PROTECT Hong Kong Act

Introduced: September 11, 2019 Introduced by: McGovern, James P. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 12 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 16, 2019
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Oct 15, 2019
Mr. Sherman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Oct 15, 2019
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8124-8125)
Oct 15, 2019
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8124-8125)
Oct 15, 2019
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4270.
Oct 15, 2019
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8124-8127)
Oct 15, 2019
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Oct 15, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 25, 2019
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 25, 2019
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 10, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Sep 10, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Placing Restrictions on Teargas Exports and Crowd Control Technology to Hong Kong Act or the PROTECT Hong Kong Act

This bill directs the President to prohibit the issuance of licenses to export certain defense items and services to the Hong Kong Police Force or the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force.

Items subject to the prohibition include defense articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List and certain crime-control and detection technology and software.

The prohibition shall not apply to a particular license if the President certifies to Congress that the covered exports are important to U.S. national interests and foreign policy goals. The prohibitions shall terminate when the President certifies to Congress that (1) the covered Hong Kong forces have not engaged in gross human rights violations for the one-year period leading up to the certification, (2) there has been an independent examination of human rights concerns related to the covered forces' crowd-control tactics, and (3) and the Hong Kong government has adequately addressed such concerns.

The Department of State and the Department of Commerce shall report to Congress as to items subject to the prohibition that have been exported to the Hong Kong forces covered in the bill in the last five years.

What's happening now October 16, 2019

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4270: PROTECT Hong Kong Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4270/
MLA
"H.R. 4270: PROTECT Hong Kong Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4270/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4270, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4270/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4270: PROTECT Hong Kong Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4270/)
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