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HRES 1259 119th Congress House International Affairs Asia China Detention of persons Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Human rights Religion

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and…

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Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People’s Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Introduced: May 11, 2026 Introduced by: Smith, Christopher H. Republican · New Jersey See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Agreed to (House)
May 13, 2026 · 6:47 PM EDT
On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 0 (Roll no. 167).
May 13, 2026 · 6:47 PM EDT
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 13, 2026 · 6:41 PM EDT
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3437-3438)
May 12, 2026 · 5:30 PM EDT
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.
May 12, 2026 · 5:04 PM EDT
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1259.
May 12, 2026 · 5:04 PM EDT
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3372-3375; text: CR H3372)
May 12, 2026 · 5:04 PM EDT
Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
May 7, 2026
Submitted in House
May 7, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
May 13, 2026 House · vote #167 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree Passed 4140 See who voted →
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This resolution calls upon the President to prioritize the humanitarian release of five specified individuals (Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai) and others unjustly detained by China during future engagements with China's President Xi Jinping.

The resolution also (1) urges the President to seek verifiable proof of life, access to independent legal counsel, family communication, and medical care for these detainees; and (2) reaffirms the U.S. commitment to defending political and religious freedom and advocating for the release of those unjustly detained for exercising such fundamental freedoms.

What's happening now May 13, 2026

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

 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. 1259: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People’s Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HRES-1259/
MLA
"H. Res. 1259: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People’s Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HRES-1259/.
Bluebook (legal)
H. Res. 1259, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HRES-1259/.
Markdown link
[H. Res. 1259: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People’s Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HRES-1259/)
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