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Bills
House Bill 8428
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act of 2020
Active
Active
Passed House on Dec 7, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced
Sep 29, 2020
Latest Action
Dec 8, 2020
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
8428
Congress
116
Policy Area
Immigration
Immigration
Primary focus of measure is administration of immigration and naturalization matters; immigration enforcement procedures; refugees and asylum policies; travel and residence documentation; foreign labor; benefits for immigrants. Measures concerning smuggling and trafficking of persons may fall under Crime and Law Enforcement policy area. Measures concerning refugees may fall under International Affairs policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Tom Malinowski
New Jersey
Democrat
Alan Lowenthal
California
Democrat
Ami Bera
California
Democrat
Barbara Lee
California
Democrat
Brad Sherman
California
Democrat
Katie Porter
California
Democrat
Ro Khanna
California
Democrat
Ted Deutch
Florida
Republican
Ted Yoho
Florida
Republican
Adam Kinzinger
Illinois
Democrat
Bobby L. Rush
Illinois
Republican
Rodney Davis
Illinois
Democrat
Jamie Raskin
Maryland
Democrat
Jim McGovern
Massachusetts
Democrat
Dean Phillips
Minnesota
Democrat
Albio Sires
New Jersey
Democrat
Tom Suozzi
New York
Republican
Brian Fitzpatrick
Pennsylvania
Democrat
David Cicilline
Rhode Island
Republican
Joe Wilson
South Carolina
Democrat
Steve Cohen
Tennessee
Democrat
Joaquin Castro
Texas
Republican
Van Taylor
Texas
Democrat
Gerry Connolly
Virginia
House Votes (1)
Senate Votes (0)
checkPassed on December 7, 2020
Status
Passed
Type
Voice Vote
Voice Vote
A vote in which the presiding officer states the question, then asks those in favor and against to say "Yea" or "Nay," respectively, and announces the result according to his or her judgment. The names or numbers of senators voting on each side are not recorded.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6872-6874)
Summary

Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act of 2020

This bill provides for temporary protected status (TPS) and refugee status for qualifying Hong Kong residents and contains other immigration-related provisions.

Hong Kong shall be treated as a TPS-designated country for 18 months starting from this bill's enactment. (Qualifying nationals of a TPS-designated country may not be removed from the United States and shall have employment authorization while the designation is in effect.)

Furthermore, Hong Kong shall be treated as separate from China for the purposes of various numerical limitations on immigrant visas. (Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.)

The bill also establishes Priority Hong Kong Resident status for qualified individuals. To obtain such status, an individual must meet certain requirements, such as having resided in Hong Kong for at least ten years and not having citizenship in any jurisdiction other than China, Hong Kong, or Macau.

For the purposes of seeking refugee status or asylum, a Priority Hong Kong Resident (and certain family members of such an individual) may establish that the individual has a well-founded fear of persecution if the individual asserts such fear and (1) had a significant role in an organization that supported the 2019 or 2020 protests related to China's encroachment into Hong Kong's autonomy or the Hong Kong National Security Law enacted in 2020; or (2) was arrested, charged, detained, or convicted for participating in the nonviolent exercise of certain rights.

Text (3)
Referred in Senate
December 8, 2020
Engrossed in House
December 7, 2020
Introduced in House
September 29, 2020
Actions (11)
12/08/2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
12/07/2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12/07/2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6872-6874)
12/07/2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6872-6874)
12/07/2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8428.
12/07/2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6872-6877)
12/07/2020
Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
10/01/2020
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
10/01/2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
09/29/2020
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
09/29/2020
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:44:04 PM
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