# 119-sres-728: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Jimmy Lai, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Ekpar Asat detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jingping.

119-sres-728, A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Jimmy Lai, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Ekpar Asat detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jingping., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL); status passed_senate (as of 2026-09-24).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-728
- As of: 2026-09-24
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-sres-728
- Congress: 119
- Title: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Jimmy Lai, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Ekpar Asat detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jingping.
- Status: passed_senate
- Introduced: 2026-05-13
- Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 14
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-24

## Summary

**Humanitarian release** of specific detainees held by the People's Republic of China is the primary focus this resolution urges the President to pursue in talks with President Xi, including the anticipated May 2026 summit. - For detainees and their families: It names Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Jimmy Lai, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Ekpar Asat and calls for verifiable proof of life, access to independent legal counsel, family communication, and medical care. - For U.S. diplomacy: It directs that these detention cases be prioritized in high level U.S.-China engagements and explicitly includes the May 2026 summit as a forum to raise them. - For U.S. human rights policy: It frames these cases as part of defending political and religious freedoms and points to prior bipartisan actions, such as visa restrictions tied to detention cases.

## Cosponsors (14)

- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE] (R-NE), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (R-IA), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] (R-KY), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 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-sres-728 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/728)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [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-sres-728 (as of 2026-09-24).