Two senators have introduced a bipartisan bill in a bid to curb the state-sanctioned crime of forced organ harvesting in China and protect vulnerable groups from harm. Titled “Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act,” the bill aims to enable sanctions against the abuse, directing the president to compile a list of foreign individuals deemed complicit in the act. The list would be updated annually or as new information becomes available. The sanctions, sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), would block the perpetrators from entering the United States or conducting U.S.-based transactions. The individuals would also lose any current U.S. visa and any immigration benefits they might have. ... Under the bill, the secretary of State, in consultation with the secretary of Health and Human Services and the director of the National Institutes of Health, would need to submit a report to Congress detailing the official and unofficial transplant policies in communist China. This would cover how the policies apply to prisoners of conscience, including practitioners of Falun Gong and other prisoners or victims. The report would also cover the known or estimated annual transplant volume, voluntary donor number, assessment on organ sources, the time needed to procure an organ for transplant, as well as the plausibility of such a timetable. It would list the U.S. grants dated in the previous 10 years before the act’s enactment supporting China-based transplant research or China-U.S. collaboration in this field. The officials would then outline their determination, in the report, on whether forced organ harvesting in China constitutes an 'atrocity' as defined in the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018.
Support and advance legislation to impose sanctions on foreign individuals complicit in forced organ harvesting in China, including visa bans, blocking U.S.-based transactions, and revoking immigration benefits, as well as require reporting to Congress on China's transplant policies, transplant volumes, and U.S. funding for transplant-related research in China.
Occurrences
This bipartisan bill builds on my Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act by expanding sanctions and delivering new tools to hold the Chinese government accountable for its horrifying surveillance regime, mass imprisonment, torture, and so-called ‘re-education camps’ inflicted on Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities. We must swiftly pass this legislation to stand up to China’s ongoing campaign of repression. The Uyghur Genocide and Sanctions Accountability Act would: Broaden existing sanctions under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act to cover crimes such as forced organ harvesting, coercive abortions, and the forced separation of children from their families. Mandate visa bans for foreign nationals involved in forced sterilizations and population control campaigns.
Evidence
Senator Jeff Merkley co-introduced the Uyghur Genocide and Sanctions Accountability Act of 2025, which expands existing sanctions authorities, imposes mandatory visa bans, and restricts U.S. government contracts linked to forced labor. The legislation also mandates reporting on China's transplant policies and volumes.
Senator Jeff Merkley co-chaired a hearing examining forced organ harvesting in China, discussing the need for transparency and policy responses to address the issue.
Senator Jeff Merkley co-sponsored the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023, which establishes measures to combat forced organ harvesting, including sanctions and reporting requirements.
Senator Jeff Merkley co-introduced the Uyghur Genocide and Sanctions Accountability Act of 2025, which expands existing sanctions authorities, imposes mandatory visa bans, and requires reporting on China's transplant policies and volumes.
Senator Jeff Merkley co-chaired a hearing on forced organ harvesting in China, highlighting the need for policy responses.
Senator Jeff Merkley co-sponsored the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023, which aims to combat forced organ harvesting through sanctions and reporting requirements.
The 2024 Annual Report by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, co-chaired by Senator Jeff Merkley, documents systematic abuses in China's organ transplant system and recommends legislative actions.
Senator Jeff Merkley condemned the sentencing of a pro-democracy advocate's father in Hong Kong, highlighting China's transnational repression and advocating for legislative responses.
Senators Rick Scott and Jeff Merkley introduced the No Funds for Forced Labor Act to prevent U.S. tax dollars from supporting projects using forced labor, particularly in China's Xinjiang region.
Senators John Curtis and Jeff Merkley introduced the Stop Corrupt Communist Party (CCP) Money Laundering Act to scrutinize Hong Kong's role in facilitating illicit financial activities and sanctions evasion.
Senators Curtis, Sullivan, and Merkley introduced the Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act to hold Hong Kong judiciary officials accountable for human rights violations and support persecuted Hong Kongers.
Mr. Cruz (for himself and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The bill's full title is 'To provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to forced organ harvesting within the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes.'
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and Jeff Merkley introduced the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act. The bill imposes sanctions on those responsible for organ harvesting in China and directs the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the CCP’s organ harvesting policies and transplant system.
Assessments
Merkley materially advanced the promised policy in his current Senate term by co-sponsoring S.761 in 2023 and co-introducing or backing later 2025-2026 bills addressing forced organ harvesting in China, including sanctions, visa/property blocking, and congressional reporting. He also used his CECC role to hold hearings and issue reporting on China's transplant system. However, the relevant Senate bills remained introduced or referred to committee, and related House-passed measures had not become law, so the sanctions-and-reporting regime was not fully delivered.
Senator Jeff Merkley made multiple legislative and executive attempts to address forced organ harvesting in China, including co-sponsoring and co-introducing relevant bills, holding hearings, and releasing reports recommending sanctions and required reporting. However, none of the legislation cited appears to have become law to fully deliver the promised outcome—namely, to impose sanctions on complicit foreign individuals, include visa bans, block U.S.-based transactions, revoke immigration benefits, and require comprehensive reporting as detailed in the original pledge. Efforts were significant, spanning co-sponsorship, authorship, committee leadership, and public advocacy, but the promise remains only partially delivered since the ultimate policy outcomes have not been fully enacted.
Senator Merkley consistently supported and advanced legislation addressing sanctions on individuals complicit in forced organ harvesting in China, including co-sponsorship of relevant bills and participation in related hearings. These legislative efforts included visa bans, blocking transactions, and congressional reporting requirements. However, the evidence does not confirm that the full set of promised measures were enacted into law or fully implemented, so the promise was only partially fulfilled within the same term. His efforts were significant and direct, warranting the effort badge.