Uyghur SOS Act (H.R.3306)

The Uyghur SOS Act (H.R. 3306) was introduced by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) on May 18, 2021 to address state-sanctioned violence against women in the People’s Republic of China, particularly in the Uyghur region.

Sec. 3. Statement of Policy

It is the policy of the United States to regard the prevention of genocide and other atrocity crimes as a national interest, particularly those targetting Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz and other predominately Muslim ethnic groups; to condemn the genocide and take actions to end the atrocity crimes perpetuated in the Uyghur Region; to raise the issue of state-sanctioned violence against women, including rape, torture, and coercively enforced population control policies in China, in all multilateral organizations, including at the UN Security Council; to use all existing United States authorities, including visa and financial sanctions, to hold accountable individuals and entities responsible for genocide and other atrocity crimes.

Sec. 4 Sense of Congress Concerning Atrocity Crimes in the Uyghur Region 

Condemning the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity being committed against Uyghurs and members of other religious and ethnic minority groups by the People’s Republic of China. 

Sec. 5 Strategy to Address Genocide in the Uyghur Region

Sixty days after the bill’s passage, the President will deliver a report to Congress on the steps taken to address the Uyghur genocide and the strategy for ending the genocide. 

Sec. 6 Protection of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Ethnic Minorities in the Uyghur Region 

The Secretary of State shall provide all appropriate assistance to women who belong to the Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, or other ethnic minority and who experienced sexual violence, torture, forced sterilizations and forced abortions in the People’s Republic of China in order for them to receive needed medical care and psychological support. All existing authorities shall be used to allow such women to at least temporarily enter the United States.

Sec. 7 Sanctions with Respect to Individuals Committing, Responsible for, or Complicit in, Forced Sterilizations, Forced Abortions, or other Sexual Violence 

Adds authority to deny entry to cabinet officials of foreign states if the Secretary of State makes a public determination that population control policies of a foreign state meet the definition of genocide.

Forced sterilization and forced abortion are both defined as a “gross violation of internationally recognized human rights,” as applied under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.