H.R. 4821: To hold accountable senior officials of the Government of the People's Republic of China who are responsible for or have directly carried out, at any time, persecution of Christians or other religious minorities in China, and for other purposes.

H.R. 4821: To hold accountable senior officials of the Government of the People's Republic of China who are responsible for or have directly carried out, at any time, persecution of Christians or other religious minorities in China, and for other purposes.

117th Congress · introduced 2021-07-29 · International Affairs · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-07-29 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

To hold accountable senior officials of the Government of the People's Republic of China who are responsible for or have directly carried out, at any time, persecution of Christians or other religious minorities in China, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

Combating the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should promote religious freedom in China and makes statements of policy related to such freedom. In particular, the bill states that it is U.S. policy to consider senior Chinese government officials who are responsible for the persecution of Christians or other religious minorities in China to have committed (1) a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights for the purpose of imposing certain sanctions, and (2) a particularly severe violation of religious freedom for the purpose of determining whether such an individual is admissible into the United States.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed 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

To hold accountable senior officials of the Government of the People's Republic of China who are responsible for or have directly carried out, at any time, persecution of Christians or other religious minorities in China, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4] · 39 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4821, Combating the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act (2022-03-15)

Cosponsors on this site

Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), William R. Timmons IV (R-SC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Andy Harris (R-MD), W. Gregory Steube (R-FL), Michael Guest (R-MS), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Brian Babin (R-TX), Ann Wagner (R-MO), August Pfluger (R-TX), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Mary E. Miller (R-IL), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Gary J. Palmer (R-AL), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Young Kim (R-CA)

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

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr4821.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4821 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117