South OC Times

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has advanced the Uyghur Policy Act (H.R. 2635), spearheaded by Representative Young Kim (CA-40), along with Representative Ami Bera (CA-06) and Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-05). The legislation aims to support the Uyghur community and other ethnic minorities reportedly facing abuses by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

This bipartisan initiative seeks to establish a comprehensive strategy to address the persecution of Uyghurs, both domestically and globally. The bill outlines measures for the State Department to respond to human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and to challenge CCP efforts to suppress Uyghur voices.

Key components of the bill include coordinating U.S. efforts through the Secretary of State, empowering human rights advocates, promoting accountability for human rights organizations, and supporting the Uyghur diaspora. The act has previously passed the House in Congresses 117th and 118th with strong bipartisan support.

Representative Young Kim noted, "Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang are victims of the CCP’s genocidal campaign and subject to silencing, detention, torture, and brainwashing simply because of their identity. By staying silent, we become complicit."

Representative Ami Bera added, "The PRC’s ongoing repression of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang is a moral outrage that demands a clear and coordinated international response. The Uyghur Policy Act sends a strong, bipartisan message that the United States stands against genocide, forced labor, and transnational repression."

Ranking Member Meeks emphasized, "America must be vocal about human rights everywhere. This bill will help hold Beijing accountable for its genocide in Xinjiang and ensure that the United States is supporting Uyghurs and other minorities who face PRC atrocities at home and repression abroad."

Several advocacy leaders have endorsed the bill. Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs, remarked on the significance of the legislation, which highlights the unjust imprisonment of her sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas. Omer Kanat of the Uyghur Human Rights Project and Julie Millsap of No Business With Genocide also expressed support for the legislation.

Emily Upson from the Wild Pigeon Collective and Anila Ali from the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council stressed the importance of U.S. leadership in addressing human rights issues related to the Uyghur community and urged swift passage of the bill.