# 119-s-5370: Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in the People’s Republic of China Act

119-s-5370, Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in the People’s Republic of China Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC); status introduced (as of 2026-09-26).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5370
- As of: 2026-09-26
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5370
- Congress: 119
- Title: Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in the People’s Republic of China Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-08-07
- Sponsor: Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-26

## Summary

**This bill would make *holding PRC officials accountable for religious freedom abuses* the central U.S. policy while directing the State Department to promote and monitor international religious freedom.** It links accountability to possible sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act and emphasizes diplomacy and case advocacy for persecuted groups. - Religious and ethnic minority communities in the PRC, including Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Falun Gong practitioners, would receive prioritized U.S. monitoring, documentation, and diplomatic advocacy. - PRC officials tied to abuses such as arbitrary detention, forced sterilization, torture, or forced labor would be evaluated for designation as perpetrators of gross human rights violations and potential sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. - The State Department would be directed to support programming that promotes international religious freedom and tracks transnational repression, and the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom would provide an annual briefing to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

## Cosponsors (5)

- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2026-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN), 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] (R-OK), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL] (R-FL), 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More accountability for China religious abuses: benefit, low. This bill would push the U.S. to hold Chinese officials accountable for severe religious freedom abuses. It would direct the United States to consider Global Magnitsky sanctions for abuses like forced labor, torture, or arbitrary detention. It would direct State Department bureaus to promote religi…

## Related bills

- 119-s-545: Combating Illicit Xylazine Act
- 119-s-1289: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act
- 119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers 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.

## Sources
- [119-s-5370 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5370)

## Related
- [119-s-545: Combating Illicit Xylazine Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-545)
- [119-s-1289: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1289)
- [119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4952)
- [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)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5370 (as of 2026-09-26).