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H.R. 7181 116th Congress House

Holding China Accountable Act

Official title: To amend the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to require the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to maintain a list of certain foreign issuers, to prohibit cer… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to require the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to maintain a list of certain foreign issuers, to prohibit certain nationals of the People's Republic of China from receiving nonimmigrant visas, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 11, 2020 See on congress.gov
Finance and Financial Sector Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAsiaBanking and financial institutions regulation
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Business recordsChinaComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightCultural exchanges and relationsEducation programs fundingFinancial services and investmentsForeign and international corporationsGovernment information and archivesHigher educationIntellectual propertyInternational exchange and broadcastingIranMiddle EastNorth KoreaPolitical parties and affiliationRussiaScience and engineering educationSecuritiesSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)Trade secrets and economic espionageU.S. and foreign investmentsVisas and passports
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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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 11, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, 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.
Jun 11, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 11, 2020

Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, 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.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Holding China Accountable Act

This bill prohibits certain Chinese nationals from receiving visas, requires higher education institutions to disclose certain foreign gifts, and restricts the use of foreign public accounting firms by foreign issuers of securities.

Specified visas may not be issued to Chinese nationals seeking to enter the United States for the purpose of (1) studying science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a related field; (2) employment in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a related field; or (3) attending a business meeting, conference, or academic or cultural exchange that includes activities related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a related field.

The bill also lowers the disclosure threshold regarding gifts to higher education institutions from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Additionally, the bill requires certain disclosures from foreign issuers of securities that use, for the required audit report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, a foreign public accounting firm that is not subject to inspection by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. If an issuer uses such a foreign public accounting firm, the issuer is generally prohibited from listing its securities on a national securities exchange.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 24
All 24 Republican 10
Burgess, Michael
· Dec 9, 2020
Palazzo, Steven
· Jun 22, 2020
Bishop, Dan
· Jun 11, 2020
Brooks, Mo
· Jun 11, 2020
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jun 11, 2020
Collins, Doug
· Jun 11, 2020
Conaway, K.
· Jun 11, 2020
Cook, Paul
· Jun 11, 2020
 R
Crawford, Eric A. "Rick"
Arkansas · Jun 11, 2020
 R
Diaz-Balart, Mario
Florida · Jun 11, 2020
Gaetz, Matt
· Jun 11, 2020
Garcia, Mike
· Jun 11, 2020
Gibbs, Bob
· Jun 11, 2020
Holding, George
· Jun 11, 2020
 R
Kustoff, David
Tennessee · Jun 11, 2020
 R
Marshall, Roger
Kansas · Jun 11, 2020
 R
McClintock, Tom
California · Jun 11, 2020
 R
Rouzer, David
North Carolina · Jun 11, 2020
Spano, Ross
· Jun 11, 2020
 R
Stefanik, Elise M.
New York · Jun 11, 2020
Stewart, Chris
· Jun 11, 2020
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · Jun 11, 2020
Wenstrup, Brad
· Jun 11, 2020
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Jun 11, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7181: Holding China Accountable Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7181/
MLA
"H.R. 7181: Holding China Accountable Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7181/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7181, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7181/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7181: Holding China Accountable Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7181/)
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