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.
Support and work to pass legislation to impose sanctions on Hong Kong judiciary officials responsible for human rights violations and support persecuted Hong Kongers.
Occurrences
With this bill, the Senators aim to hold Hong Kong accountable for its role in enabling criminal activities that benefit adversarial nations, including Russia, Iran, and the Chinese Communist Party. ... “Our bipartisan effort cracks down on China and Russia’s attempts to weaponize Hong Kong’s status and facilitate illicit money laundering through the city.” ... To address money laundering and export control and sanction violations in Hong Kong, the Stop CCP Money Laundering Act would: Require the Secretary of the Treasury to determine if Hong Kong is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern, using detailed justification. Require a report from the State Department, in coordination with the Treasury and Commerce Departments, to assess whether financial institutions operating in Hong Kong are able to detect and prevent transactions that facilitate illegal transfers of products, technology, and funds to Russia, Iran, and other sanctioned entities or that violate U.S. export controls and sanctions.
Evidence
On April 8, 2025, Senators John Curtis and Jeff Merkley introduced the Stop Corrupt Communist Party (CCP) Money Laundering Act, bipartisan legislation to scrutinize Hong Kong's role in facilitating illicit financial activity and evasions of U.S. export controls and sanctions. The bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to determine if Hong Kong is a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern and mandates a report assessing financial institutions' ability to detect and prevent transactions that violate U.S. export controls and sanctions.
On November 3, 2023, Senators Dan Sullivan and Jeff Merkley introduced the Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act, aiming to hold Hong Kong judiciary officials accountable for human rights violations. The act requires the President to determine whether certain Hong Kong officials violated human rights and whether sanctions should be imposed under existing U.S. laws.
On January 15, 2026, Senators Jeff Merkley, Dan Sullivan, John Curtis, and Tim Kaine introduced bipartisan legislation to scrutinize Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) in the U.S. The HKETO Certification Act requires the State Department to determine whether HKETOs should continue to receive diplomatic privileges, given Beijing's dismantling of Hong Kong's autonomy and its campaign of repression against Hong Kongers.
On February 26, 2026, Senator Jeff Merkley condemned the sentencing of Kwok Yin-sang, the father of U.S.-based activist Anna Kwok, by a Hong Kong court. Merkley highlighted this as an example of China's transnational repression and called for the passage of his bipartisan Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act to hold China accountable for its actions.
AP reported that Hong Kong proposed new legislation letting the city's leader designate certain criminal acts as national security offenses, extending the city's security crackdown.
AP reported that Merkley condemned the sentencing of Kwok Yin-sang, calling it cruel and politically motivated after the father of activist Anna Kwok was jailed under Hong Kong's security law.
Merkley's office said he joined Senators Sullivan, Curtis, and Kaine to push legislation targeting Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the United States.
Merkley and Curtis introduced a bill aimed at money laundering and sanctions violations in Hong Kong.
Sullivan and Merkley's offices said they were pressing for sanctions on Hong Kong judiciary officials tied to human rights violations.
Assessments
Merkley materially advanced the promise by introducing and promoting multiple Hong Kong-related bills, including the 2023 Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act specifically aimed at sanctions for judiciary officials tied to human rights abuses, and later legislation supporting persecuted Hong Kongers and pressure on Hong Kong institutions. But the evidence provided shows advocacy and bill introduction, not enactment of the promised legislation or implementation of the specific sanctions outcome. Under the rule for serious legislative effort that fails to deliver the promised result, this counts as never, with an effort badge.
Senator Merkley made repeated and substantive legislative efforts to fulfill the promise by introducing and supporting multiple bills designed to sanction Hong Kong judiciary officials involved in human rights abuses and to support persecuted Hong Kongers. However, there is no evidence that these bills were passed into law or that the targeted sanctions were implemented, so the outcome remains partial.