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H.R. 461: Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act

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H.R. 461: Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-01-25 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-01-25 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. 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

Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act

Plain summary

Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act This bill designates certain Hong Kong residents with priority status for refugee consideration and contains other related provisions. An individual and certain family members shall have such priority status if the individual (1) is a Hong Kong resident who suffered persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution as a result of peaceful political activity; or (2) has been formally charged, detained, or convicted for certain peaceful actions. An individual receiving refugee status under this bill shall not be counted against various numerical limitations. When determining whether an individual shall be admitted as a refugee under this bill, an individual whose citizenship, nationality, or residency was revoked for submitting a nonfrivolous application for a U.S. immigration benefit shall be considered to have suffered persecution on account of political opinion. The general presumption that an alien is seeking immigrant status shall not apply to certain Hong Kong residents seeking asylum into the United States. (Typically, an alien seeking admission as a nonimmigrant must establish that the alien does not intend to immigrate to the United States.) This exception to the presumption shall apply to certain individuals involved in the 2019 and 2020 protests against China's encroachment into Hong Kong's autonomy (Hong Kong is a part of China but has a separate legal and economic system). An individual from Hong Kong may not be denied admission into the United States if the primary reason for the denial is a politically motivated government action against the individual's involvement in protests.

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

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

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

Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] · 27 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Dina Titus (D-NV), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Young Kim (R-CA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Don Bacon (R-NE), John Garamendi (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] reported raising $862,033 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr461 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117