Ted Budd (R-NC)
Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act
A Republican bill with 7 Republican cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Combatting the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act establishes United States policy regarding religious freedom in the People's Republic of China. It aims to hold officials accountable for abuses such as arbitrary detention, forced labor, and forced sterilization against religious minorities. The bill directs the Department of State to support efforts to promote religious freedom and monitor transnational repression. It also suggests designating China as a country of particular concern for religious freedom. Additionally, the bill seeks to strengthen diplomacy and raise the issue of prisoners with Chinese officials.
Yes
- Scored +8
Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion?
The bill establishes a policy to combat the persecution of religious minorities in China through sanctions and diplomatic engagement.
- Scored +6
Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad?
The bill directs the State Department to use diplomacy and international partnerships to address religious freedom abuses in China.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Holding officials accountable: Under Section 2(a), the U.S. may impose sanctions on officials responsible for abuses like torture, forced labor, or restrictions on religious expression, which targets those committing human rights violations.
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Promoting religious freedom: Section 2(b) directs the Department of State to support efforts to promote religious freedom and monitor the repression of religious minority groups in the People's Republic of China.
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Improved treatment of detainees: Section 3(4) calls for the release of prisoners and seeks to ensure that those still detained have access to family, legal counsel, medical care, and the ability to practice their faith.
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Diplomatic support for minorities: Section 3(2) aims to strengthen diplomacy on behalf of Christians and other religious minorities by engaging international partners to combat abuses.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion? — The bill establishes a policy to combat the persecution of religious minorities in China through sanctions and diplomatic engagement.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — The bill directs the State Department to use diplomacy and international partnerships to address religious freedom abuses in China.
- 5/18/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/27/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
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