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119-s-288119th Congress

Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act

Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

Introduced

Summary

Supports Southern Mongolians' rights and autonomy by using U.S. diplomacy, cultural programs, media, and targeted financial tools to monitor abuses, preserve language and culture, and push for autonomy-respecting development. This bill would set reporting rules, create embassy staffing, fund Mongolian-language media, and enable targeted sanctions tied to human rights abuses.

Show full summary
  • Southern Mongolians and communities: Would create an Inner Mongolian team at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing with Mongolian-language staff and require a staffing report within 180 days to monitor developments and religious freedom.
  • Media and cultural institutions: Would authorize a Voice of America Mongolian-language service with a defined funding line for 2025 and 2026 and would direct Smithsonian and Institute of Museum and Library Services support for cultural preservation and diaspora grants.
  • Accountability and diplomacy: Would identify foreign persons and entities responsible for abuses and authorize sanctions using Global Magnitsky and other statutory tools with a 5-year sunset.
  • International finance and development: Would condition U.S. engagement with international financial institutions on projects that protect Mongolian culture and avoid incentives for non-Mongolian settlement or land transfers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Assess effects on Tibetan Buddhism

If enacted, the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom would help assess how PRC restrictions affect Tibetan Buddhism practitioners. The State Department would include those findings in its annual International Religious Freedom report. The focus includes people inside and outside the PRC and travel and information sharing.

Inner Mongolia embassy monitoring team

If enacted, the State Department would consider creating an Inner Mongolian team at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. The team would monitor political, economic, and social developments and report on human-rights and access in Mongolian autonomous areas. The Department must ensure Mongolian-language proficiency and hire locally employed Mongolian-speaking staff. The Embassy must report staffing plans to Congress within 180 days.

Limit international finance in Mongolian areas

If enacted, the Treasury Secretary would instruct U.S. officials at international finance institutions to support projects in PRC Mongolian areas only if they meet strict tests. Projects must not incentivize migration or settlement of non-Mongolians. Projects must not transfer Southern Mongolian land or resources to non-Mongolians. Projects must be needs-based, foster local self-sufficiency, respect Mongolian culture, and have effective monitoring.

New Mongolian Voice of America service

If enacted, the U.S. Agency for Global Media would set up Mongolian-language Voice of America programming within 180 days. The CEO would report to Congress on implementation and hours within 270 days. The bill authorizes $2,000,000 for Voice of America for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026 for this purpose.

Report and sanctions for abuses

If enacted, the President would have to send an unclassified report within 180 days and every year after. The report would name foreign persons responsible for torture, cruel treatment, prolonged or arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, or other gross human-rights abuses against Southern Mongolians. The President could use listed authorities, including the Global Magnitsky tool and immigration penalties, to impose sanctions. Any sanctions and this section would end five years after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 1/29/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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