PRIA Logo™
119-hr-5838119th Congress

Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act

Sponsored By: Representative Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]

Introduced

Summary

Religious freedom in the PRC is the central aim of this bill, which would push U.S. policy toward monitoring abuses, promoting faith rights, and enabling accountability for officials tied to persecution. It would direct diplomatic effort and programming to track and respond to transnational repression of religious minorities.

Show full summary
  • Religious minorities: The bill would identify abuses such as arbitrary detention, forced sterilization, torture, forced labor, and severe limits on belief or movement against Protestant Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners as grounds for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
  • U.S. diplomacy and programming: It would direct the State Department, including the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to implement programs that promote religious freedom in the PRC and to monitor transnational repression of religious groups.
  • International pressure and prisoner advocacy: The bill would urge designating the PRC as a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act, press for high-level diplomatic raises of individual prisoner cases, call for unconditional release of unjustly detained religious and political prisoners, and encourage global faith communities and international partners to speak in solidarity.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Designate China a country of concern for religion

If enacted, Congress urges the U.S. to designate China as a country of particular concern for religious freedom. This would continue as long as China commits particularly severe violations under U.S. law.

Sanctions on Chinese officials over religious abuse

If enacted, U.S. policy would treat Chinese officials behind religious persecution as eligible for Global Magnitsky sanctions. Covered abuses would include arbitrary detention, forced sterilization, torture, forced labor, and severe limits on religion, speech, and movement. Named groups include Protestant and Catholic Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners.

Stronger U.S. push on religious freedom in China

If enacted, the State Department would run programs to promote religious freedom in China. It would monitor transnational repression of religious minorities by the Chinese government. The U.S. would work with other countries and faith groups and raise prisoner cases with Chinese officials. The U.S. would urge China to free unjustly detained religious and political prisoners. It would also press for humane treatment: family access, chosen lawyers, independent medical care, international monitors, and the ability to practice faith.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]

MO • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

    MI • R

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

  • Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 11/12/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation