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S 5370

Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in the People’s Republic of China Act

119th Congress Introduced by Ted Budd and 1 co-sponsor

The bill authorizes sanctions on PRC officials for severe religious freedom abuses and directs strengthened U.S. diplomacy and monitoring to promote and document religious rights i

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5370

Overview

  • Bill: S.5370 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)
  • Title: Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in the People’s Republic of China Act
  • Introduced: August 7, 2026 by Sen. Ted Budd (with Sen. Tim Kaine as co-sponsor)
  • Purpose: State the U.S. policy on international religious freedom in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and authorize related actions to promote, monitor, and publicize abuses against religious groups.

Main purpose and intent

  • To designate a clear U.S. policy that officials determined to be responsible for serious abuses of international religious freedom by the PRC may be targeted for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky framework.
  • To strengthen U.S. government programming and diplomacy aimed at promoting international religious freedom in China and monitoring transnational repression of ethnic and religious minority groups.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 3: Statement of Policy

    • Authorizes the United States to determine whether PRC officials who engage in abuses (e.g., arbitrary detention, forced sterilization, torture, forced labor, and severe religious restrictions) have committed gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, making them potentially subject to Global Magnitsky sanctions.
    • Directs the Department of State to promote international religious freedom in China and monitor repression of ethnic and religious minority groups (both within China and globally as it relates to PRC actions).

  • Section 4: Sense of Congress Regarding Promotion of International Religious Freedom in China

    • Calls for:
    • Strengthened diplomacy to advocate for ethnic and religious minority rights, including broad international coalition-building.
    • Strengthened multilateral efforts to address persecution of minority groups in China.
    • Raising the cases of political prisoners deprived of religious freedom with top PRC officials.
    • Publicly urging the PRC to cease harassment and persecution of religious groups, including underground house churches; unconditional release of unjustly detained religious-practice-related prisoners; humane treatment and access to counsel, family, medical care, and international monitoring for detainees.
    • Encouraging global faith community solidarity with oppressed groups in China.
    • Enhanced programs to document/monitor abuses and support human rights defenders and at-risk communities.

  • Section 5: Annual Briefing

    • Requires the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to provide an annual briefing to key congressional committees on:
    • Sanctions imposed on PRC officials responsible for gross human rights violations related to religious freedom.
    • Efforts to strengthen diplomacy on international religious freedom.
    • Plans to raise the cases of political prisoners with PRC officials at high levels.

  • Definitions and scope

    • Applies to officials of the PRC responsible for or directly carrying out abuses of international religious freedom.
    • Addresses abuses against ethnic and religious minority groups including Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, Uyghur Muslims, and Falun Gong practitioners.
    • Ties potential actions to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Who/what would be affected

  • PRC government officials determined to be responsible for severe abuses of religious freedom could be targeted for Magnitsky-type sanctions.
  • U.S. Department of State and related diplomatic offices would implement and coordinate programming to promote religious freedom in China and monitor abuses.
  • Congress would receive annual briefings from the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.
  • Ethnic and religious minority communities facing persecution in China (and their advocates) would be impacted by heightened U.S. diplomacy, documentation, and advocacy efforts.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative status: Introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (as of the bill’s introduction date in August 2026).
  • No explicit deadlines or implementation dates are specified in the text provided; the annual briefing requirement suggests ongoing, year-to-year reporting and diplomacy.
  • The bill uses existing authorities (e.g., Global Magnitsky Act) to sanction implicated officials and to shape U.S. policy and programming.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Administrative: Could expand sanctions to PRC officials implicated in religious freedom abuses, potentially affecting diplomacy and travel/business dealings.
  • Diplomatic: Encourages broader international coalition-building and higher-priority engagement on religious freedom issues with China.
  • Human rights advocacy: Strengthens U.S. posture and transparency around detentions and abuses, with explicit commitments to humane treatment and access for detainees.
  • Limitations: The bill’s effectiveness would depend on subsequent statutory processes, implementing regulations, and international cooperation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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