# 119-s-3655: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act

119-s-3655, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3655
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3655
- Congress: 119
- Title: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Would create a federal certification that decides whether Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices keep U.S. privileges, exemptions, and immunities.** It would also bar many federal contracts with those offices unless specific certification and congressional review conditions are met and it ties U.S. engagement to clear human rights goals for Hong Kong. - Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO): If the Secretary of State concludes an HKETO no longer merits U.S. privileges the office would have to close within 180 days. If the Secretary finds the office merits continued treatment it may operate for up to one year or until the next required certification. - U.S. government agencies: Federal entities would be prohibited from entering agreements with HKETO to promote Hong Kong tourism, culture, business, or other matters unless a certification is submitted, no congressional disapproval is enacted within 90 days, and the agreement does not promote dismantling Hong Kong autonomy or portray the Hong Kong SAR or the People’s Republic of China as protecting the rule of law or human rights. - Human rights and diplomacy: The bill would embed U.S. policy goals that push for the release of political prisoners, an end to arbitrary detentions, a free press, fair and open elections, and restoration of an independent judiciary in Hong Kong.

## Cosponsors (5)

- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2026-01-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT), 2026-01-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2026-01-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL), 2026-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN] (R-IN), 2026-03-19T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New limits on U.S. ties with HKETO: mixed, low. This bill would require the Secretary of State, within 30 days of enactment and then each year, to decide whether Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETO) should keep special U.S. privileges and to send a written justification. If the Secretary says HKETO should keep privileges, HKETO could ope…

## Related bills

- 119-s-522: Credit Union Board Modernization Act
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.

## Sources
- [119-s-3655 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3655)

## Related
- [119-s-522: Credit Union Board Modernization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-522)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3655 (as of 2026-04-21).