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H.Res. 199: Calling on the Government of the People's Republic of China immediately and unconditionally to release Dr. Yang Jianli, calling on the President of the United States to continue working on behalf of Dr. Yang Jianli for his release, and for other purposes.

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H.Res. 199: Calling on the Government of the People's Republic of China immediately and unconditionally to release Dr. Yang Jianli, calling on the President of the United States to continue working on behalf of Dr. Yang Jianli for his release, and for other purposes.

108th Congress · introduced 2003-04-11 · International Affairs · Latest: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2003-04-11 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 316 (2003): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended, HRES199 (2003-06-25), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Calling on the Government of the People's Republic of China immediately and unconditionally to release Dr. Yang Jianli, calling on the President of the United States to continue working on behalf of Dr. Yang Jianli for his release, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

Condemns and deplores the incommunicado detention of Dr. Yang Jianli by the People's Republic of China, and the lack of due process afforded him. Calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should: (1) make the immediate release of Dr. Yang Jianli by the Government of the People's Republic of China a top priority of U.S. foreign policy; (2) continue to make every effort to assist Dr. Yang Jianli and his family while discussions of his release are ongoing; (3) make it clear to the Government of the People's Republic of China that the detention of U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens, and the infliction of human rights violations on these groups, is not in the interests of the Government of the People's Republic of China; and (4) send a special, high-ranking representative of the U.S. Government immediately to China to reiterate the deep U.S. concern regarding the continued imprisonment of Dr. Yang Jianli and other U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens, and discuss their legal status and immediate humanitarian needs.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

A Yea supports adopting this resolution.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Calling on the Government of the People's Republic of China immediately and unconditionally to release Dr. Yang Jianli, calling on the President of the United States to continue working on behalf of Dr. Yang Jianli for his release, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4] · 52 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Rick Larsen (D-WA)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Resolution
A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote
A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hres199 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108