Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act

This bill states the policy of the United States regarding religious freedom in the People's Republic of China. It declares that senior Chinese officials responsible for religious freedom atrocities should be considered for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act and as inadmissible to the U.S. It also states policy for State Department programs to promote religious freedom in China and to continue designating China as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom.

Sec. 3, Statement of policy: The bill states it is U.S. policy to consider any senior Chinese official responsible for atrocities like arbitrary imprisonment, forced sterilization, torture, forced labor, and severe restrictions on religious freedom against minorities (including Christians, Uyghurs, and Falun Gong) as having committed a gross human rights violation for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act and a severe religious freedom violation for immigration inadmissibility. It also states policy for the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to support protecting religious freedom in China, for State Department programs to protect religious minorities and combat transnational repression by China, and to continue designating China as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom as long as it engages in severe violations.

Sec. 4, Sense of Congress regarding promotion of religious freedom in China: Congress expresses that the U.S. should promote religious freedom in China by strengthening diplomacy for Christians and other minorities, raising cases of religious and political prisoners at high levels, encouraging Members of Congress to advocate for prisoners of conscience, calling on China to unconditionally release prisoners and ensure humane treatment, encouraging the global faith community to speak in solidarity, and hosting a ministerial on religious freedom every two years.

Sec. 5, Sense of Congress regarding action by the UN Human Rights Council: Congress expresses that the UN Human Rights Council should formally condemn China for the ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minorities and the persecution of Christians, Falun Gong, and other groups.