United States · Law · S
S. 1838 (116th)
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019
Introduced
13 June 2019
Last action
27 November 2019 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 116-76.
Sponsors
Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL], Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ], Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Romney, Mitt [R-UT], Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE], Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA], Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Subjects
Rule of law
Source updated
10 January 2026
Summary
Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 This bill directs various departments to assess whether political developments in Hong Kong justify changing Hong Kong's unique treatment under U.S. law. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from China to justify its unique treatment. The report shall assess whether China has eroded Hong Kong's civil liberties and rule of law as protected by Hong Kong's Basic Law. The Department of Commerce shall report annually to Congress on China's efforts to use Hong Kong to evade U.S. export controls and sanctions. The President shall provide Congress an assessment as to whether to withdraw from the U.S.-Hong Kong extradition treaty, and what actions are needed to protect U.S. citizens and national security interests, if Hong Kong (1) amends its laws to allow the rendition of individuals to countries that lack defendants' rights protections, or (2) passes a national security law. The State Department shall allow otherwise qualified Hong Kong residents to obtain visas to work or study in the United States, even if the applicant had been arrested for participating in certain nonviolent protests supporting human rights or the rule of law. The President shall report to Congress a list of individuals responsible for abducting and torturing people for exercising internationally recognized human rights in Hong Kong. The bill bars such individuals from entering the United States and imposes sanctions on them.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
13 June 2019
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Source: IntroReferral
13 June 2019
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
25 September 2019
Reported
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Source: Committee
26 September 2019
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 238.
Source: Calendars
26 September 2019
Reported
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
26 September 2019
Reported
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Source: Committee
19 November 2019
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6657-6660)
Source: Floor
19 November 2019
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6654-6660)
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 1 (Roll no. 635). (text: CR H9089-9092)
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 1 (Roll no. 635).(text: CR H9089-9092)
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9089-9096)
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Vote
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.
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1838.
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Floor
Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
20 November 2019
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
21 November 2019
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
21 November 2019
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
27 November 2019
Became law
Became Public Law No: 116-76.
Source: President
27 November 2019
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
27 November 2019
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
20 November 2019 · passed · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Passed · Official source
Yes 417 · No 1 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 13
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]Yea
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]Not Voting
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]Yea
- Rep. Finkenauer, Abby [D-IA-1]Yea
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
- Public Law · 28 November 2019 · Download file
- Engrossed in Senate · 19 November 2019 · Download file
- Reported to Senate · 26 September 2019 · Download file
- Introduced in Senate · 13 June 2019 · Download file
Documents
14 official files
Enrolled Bill (text)
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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 28 November 2019
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 28 November 2019
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Public Law
summary · EN · 27 November 2019
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Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 19 November 2019
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Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 19 November 2019
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Passed Senate
summary · EN · 19 November 2019
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Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 26 September 2019
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Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 26 September 2019
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Reported to Senate
summary · EN · 26 September 2019
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 13 June 2019
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 13 June 2019
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 13 June 2019
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Sponsors
- Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] · I · Sponsor
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Toomey, Patrick [R-PA] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Romney, Mitt [R-UT] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Sasse, Ben [R-NE] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] · D · Cosponsor
Showing 48 of 58 sponsors and actors.
Related records
- related to ← Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019
- amends ← In the nature of a substitute.
Related across the Repo ecosystem
Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.
Direct relationships
- Legal framework · Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 · S. 1838 (116th) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 116-s-1838 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1838
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/116/s/1838
- us · 116-s-1838 · source updated 10 January 2026