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HR 7440 116th Congress House International Affairs Asia Banking and financial institutions regulation China Congressional oversight Corporate finance and management Foreign and international banking Foreign loans and debt Foreign property Hong Kong Human rights Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information International monetary system and foreign exchange Legislative rules and procedure News media and reporting Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents Protest and dissent Rule of law and government transparency Sanctions Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

Introduced: July 1, 2020 Introduced by: Sherman, Brad Democratic · California See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 20 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 14, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-149.
Jul 14, 2020
Signed by President.
Jul 14, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Jul 2, 2020
Presented to President.
Jul 2, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jul 2, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4180)
Jul 2, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S4180)
Jul 1, 2020
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Jul 1, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 1, 2020
On passage Passed without objection.
Jul 1, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.
Jul 1, 2020
Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H3039-3044; text: CR H3039-3044)
Jul 1, 2020
Mr. Sherman asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Rules discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Financial Services discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.
Jul 1, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Ways and Means, and Rules, 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.
Jul 1, 2020
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Hong Kong Autonomy Act

This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy.

Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document.

The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source.

The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution.

The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

What's happening now July 14, 2020

Became Public Law No: 116-149.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6