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Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2021

Introduced: March 18, 2021 Introduced by: Lankford, James Republican · Oklahoma See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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
Mar 18, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mar 18, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2021

This bill authorizes and establishes programs to promote internet freedom in Hong Kong and contains other related provisions.

The Department of State may establish an interagency working group to develop a strategy to bolster internet resiliency and access in Hong Kong. The State Department shall also establish within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor a Hong Kong internet freedom program. (The bureau has existing programs to promote internet freedom globally through technology development, digital safety, policy advocacy, and research.)

The Open Technology Fund may establish a Hong Kong internet freedom program. (The fund, an independent nonprofit organization that receives U.S. government funding, was originally a part of Radio Free Asia.)

The bureau and the fund may award grants to qualifying private organizations to promote technology and tools in Hong Kong that promote online information access, enhance digital security, and circumvent internet blocking and other online censorship.

The State Department shall report to Congress a classified strategy to (1) increase the availability of firewall circumvention technology in Hong Kong; and (2) support the preservation of an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet in Hong Kong.

What's happening now March 18, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Dec 16, 2021
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Mar 18, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 860: Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-860/
MLA
"S. 860: Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-860/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 860, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-860/.
Markdown link
[S. 860: Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-860/)
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