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HRES 837 117th Congress House International Affairs Asia Assault and harassment offenses Athletes China Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Government studies and investigations Human rights International organizations and cooperation News media and reporting Olympic games Political parties and affiliation Professional sports Sex offenses Violent crime

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Beijing should immediately guarantee the safety and freedom of tennis star Peng Shuai.

Introduced: December 3, 2021 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Agreed to (House)
Dec 8, 2021
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Dec 8, 2021
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 8, 2021
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 428 - 0 (Roll no. 413). (text: CR H7505)
Dec 8, 2021
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7534)
Dec 8, 2021
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 8, 2021
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 837.
Dec 8, 2021
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7504-7507)
Dec 8, 2021
Mr. Meeks moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
Dec 3, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Dec 3, 2021
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Dec 8, 2021 House · vote #413 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended Passed 4280 See who voted →
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the case of Peng Shuai is directly related to broader international concerns around the freedom of speech and safety of athletes participating in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

The resolution also expresses that the role of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in legitimizing China's claims about Peng's safety raises questions about the IOC's ability and willingness to protect the rights of athletes participating in the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic games in Beijing.

Finally, the resolution expresses that China should (1) provide independent and verifiable proof of Peng's whereabouts and that she is safe, (2) allow Peng to engage directly with the Women's Tennis Association and the United Nations to independently verify her safety and explain her absence from public life since making her allegation, (3) open an independent and transparent investigation into Peng's allegations against former senior Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, (4) publicly commit to holding sexual violence abusers accountable, (5) cease all censorship of reporting and discussions of Peng's case, and (6) allow Peng to leave China if she so desires and not retaliate against her family members who remain there.

What's happening now December 8, 2021

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H. Res. 837: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Beijing should immediately guarantee the safety and freedom of tennis star Peng Shuai.. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HRES-837/
MLA
"H. Res. 837: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Beijing should immediately guarantee the safety and freedom of tennis star Peng Shuai.." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HRES-837/.
Bluebook (legal)
H. Res. 837, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HRES-837/.
Markdown link
[H. Res. 837: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Beijing should immediately guarantee the safety and freedom of tennis star Peng Shuai.](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HRES-837/)
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