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S. 178 116th Congress Senate

UIGHUR Act of 2019

Official title: A bill to condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to condemn gross human rights violations of ethnic Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, and calling for an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment of these communities inside and outside China.

Introduced: January 17, 2019 See on congress.gov
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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 34 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 21, 2020
Second cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 207. (CR S6343)
Oct 20, 2020
Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S6318)
Oct 19, 2020
Second cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) presented in Senate. (CR S6050)
Oct 19, 2020
Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S6050-6052)
Sep 30, 2020
Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S5923-5924)
Sep 30, 2020
Motion to proceed to consideration of the House message to accompany S. 178 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 48 - 46. Record Vote Number: 198. (CR S5923)
Sep 10, 2020
Cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 168. (CR S5532-5533)
Sep 8, 2020
Cloture motion on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) presented in Senate.
Sep 8, 2020
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) made in Senate. (CR S5433)
Sep 8, 2020
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2499) withdrawn.
Sep 8, 2020
Considered by Senate (Message from the House considered). (consideration: CR S5433)
Jul 30, 2020
Motion by Senator McConnell to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2499) made in Senate. (CR S4618)
Jul 30, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S4618-4622)
Jul 30, 2020
Motion to proceed to consideration of the House message to accompany S. 178 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 42. Record Vote Number: 153. (CR S4617)
Dec 4, 2019
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Dec 3, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 3, 2019
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 - 1 (Roll no. 644). (text: CR H9201-9203)
Dec 3, 2019
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9209)
Dec 3, 2019
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Dec 3, 2019
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 178.
Dec 3, 2019
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9201-9208)
Dec 3, 2019
Mr. Sires moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Oct 30, 2019
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Oct 30, 2019
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 12, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and the Judiciary, 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.
Sep 12, 2019
Received in the House.
Sep 12, 2019
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 11, 2019
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5450-5452; text: CR S5450-5452)
Sep 11, 2019
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5450-5452; text: CR S5450-5452)
Jun 3, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 99.
Jun 3, 2019
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
May 22, 2019
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jan 17, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jan 17, 2019
Introduced in Senate
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Dec 3, 2019 House · vote #644 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 407–1 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 147

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 failed 144 with no recorded outcome 2 withdrawn or other

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 2,680 McConnell, Mitch To improve the small business programs. Failed Oct 20, 2020
SAMDT 2,652 McConnell, Mitch To provide for a complete substitute. No recorded outcome Oct 20, 2020
SAMDT 2,673 Tillis, Thomas To amend the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to prohibit pre-existing condition exclusion… Withdrawn Oct 19, 2020
SAMDT 2,499 McConnell, Mitch In the nature of a substitute. Withdrawn Sep 8, 2020
SAMDT 2,654 Cassidy, Bill – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,653 Collins, Susan M. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,651 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,650 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,649 Blackburn, Marsha – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,648 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,646 Cornyn, John – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,645 Blackburn, Marsha – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,644 Blackburn, Marsha – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,643 Blackburn, Marsha – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,641 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,640 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,639 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,635 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,634 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,633 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,632 Cramer, Kevin – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,631 Collins, Susan M. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,630 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,629 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,628 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,627 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,626 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,625 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,624 Moran, Jerry – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,623 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,622 Grassley, Chuck – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,621 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,620 Lankford, James – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,619 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,618 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,617 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,616 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,615 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,614 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,613 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,612 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,611 Wicker, Roger F. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,610 Sullivan, Dan – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,609 Gillibrand, Kirsten E. – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,608 Young, Todd – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,607 Ernst, Joni – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,606 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,605 – – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,604 Cornyn, John – No recorded outcome –
SAMDT 2,603 Lee, Mike – No recorded outcome –

Showing the 50 most recent of 147 amendments.

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 Latest action October 21, 2020

Second cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to S. 178 with an amendment (SA 2652) not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 44. Record Vote Number: 207. (CR S6343)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act of 2019 or the UIGHUR Act of 2019

This bill directs the President to impose sanctions and export restrictions related to China's treatment of the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group.

The President shall report to Congress a list of senior Chinese government officials who are engaged in or responsible for serious human rights abuses, including mass incarceration and political indoctrination, against Turkic Muslims in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The President shall impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on such individuals. The President may waive the imposition of such sanctions on U.S. national interest grounds.

The President shall identify items that provide China with a critical capability to suppress basic human rights, including items that provide capability to (1) conduct surveillance, (2) monitor and restrict an individual's movement, (3) monitor and restrict access to the internet, and (4) identify individuals through facial or voice recognition. The President shall (1) place such items on the Commerce Control List (a list of items subject to export controls); and (2) require authorization for the export, reexport, or transfer of such items to or within China.

The bill terminates certain prohibitions, such as a prohibition against obligating funds for U.S. Trade and Development Agency activities in China, upon a report by the President to Congress that China has taken specified actions, including ending the mass internment of Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang.

The Department of State shall report to Congress on human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including an assessment of the number of individuals detained in forced labor camps.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 39
McSally, Martha
· Mar 10, 2020
R
Young, Todd
Indiana · Mar 4, 2020
R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Feb 27, 2020
D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Feb 27, 2020
D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Dec 17, 2019
R
Scott, Rick
Florida · Dec 11, 2019
R
Hawley, Josh
Missouri · Jul 29, 2019
R
Tillis, Thomas
North Carolina · Jul 24, 2019
D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Jul 18, 2019
D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Jul 16, 2019
D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Jun 20, 2019
D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Jun 18, 2019
R
Lankford, James
Oklahoma · Jun 18, 2019
R
Rounds, Mike
South Dakota · Jun 10, 2019
R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · May 23, 2019
Isakson, Johnny
· May 21, 2019
D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · May 15, 2019
D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · May 8, 2019
D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Apr 30, 2019
I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Apr 1, 2019
R
Collins, Susan M.
Maine · Mar 25, 2019
D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Feb 27, 2019
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jan 28, 2019
Toomey, Patrick
· Jan 22, 2019
D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Jan 17, 2019
D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Jan 17, 2019
R
Cornyn, John
Texas · Jan 17, 2019
R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Jan 17, 2019
R
Daines, Steve
Montana · Jan 17, 2019
D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Jan 17, 2019
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Jan 17, 2019
D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Jan 17, 2019
I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Jan 17, 2019
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Jan 17, 2019
D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Jan 17, 2019
R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · Jan 17, 2019
D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Jan 17, 2019
D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Jan 17, 2019
D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Jan 17, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 178: UIGHUR Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-178/
MLA
"S. 178: UIGHUR Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-178/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 178, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-178/.
Markdown link
[S. 178: UIGHUR Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-178/)
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