Docket HopperPart I · Bills · 116th H.R. 7440
H.R. 7440 · 116th CongressPublic Law 116-149International Affairs

Hong Kong Autonomy Act became law 13 days after introduction, with cosponsors from both parties

Sponsored by Sherman, Brad D-CA · 11 cosponsors: 4 Democrats, 7 Republicans
IntroducedJul 1, 2020
Reported—
Passed one chamberJul 1, 2020
Passed bothJul 2, 2020
LawJul 14, 2020
What it changes · CRS summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service [2]. 230 words.

Hong Kong Autonomy Act This bill imposes sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that materially contribute to China's failure to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy. Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system with protections for civil rights such as freedom of speech. This arrangement is enshrined in (1) the Joint Declaration, a 1984 treaty pertaining to the United Kingdom's transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China; and (2) the Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document. The Department of State shall report annually to Congress information about (1) foreign individuals and entities that materially contributed to China's failure to comply with the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law; and (2) foreign financial institutions that knowingly conducted a significant transaction with such identified individuals and entities. An individual, entity, or financial institution may be excluded from this report for various reasons, such as to protect an intelligence source. The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on an individual or entity named in a report, and visa-blocking sanctions on a named individual. The President shall impose various sanctions on a financial institution named in a report, such as prohibiting the institution from receiving loans from a U.S. financial institution. The President may waive or terminate the imposition of sanctions under this bill. Congress may override such a waiver or termination by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.

Context
Committees
House Financial Services Committee
House Foreign Affairs Committee
House Judiciary Committee
House Rules Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
Policy area
International Affairs: 94 of 4,008 bills became law, 113th–118th (2.3%)
Sponsor
1 of 102 bills enacted since 2013
Text versions
6, from enrolled bill to public law · 7,025 words
Subjects
AsiaBanking and financial institutions regulationChinaCongressional oversightCorporate finance and managementForeign and international banking +17 more
Latest action
Jul 14, 2020: Became Public Law No: 116-149.
Records
Congress.gov · Bill text
Exhibit 1Passage odds band at each stage, rated when the bill reached it [4]
Related bills · 3

Each bill appears once, under its strongest link. 3 in all.

Related, per CRS or House · 3
  • 116th H.R. 7083 Hong Kong Autonomy Act D · Introduced
  • 116th S. 3798 Hong Kong Autonomy Act R · Passed one chamber
  • 116th S. 4049 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 R · Passed one chamber

See these 43 bills on the network map →

Exhibit 2Articles naming the bill per day, last 90 days, US sources [3]