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HRES-1259House2026-05-07International Affairs

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This bill has advanced since we wrote our summary.

Current stage on Congress.gov: Engrossed in House.

Read the latest text on Congress.gov →

YourVoice.Now Summary

This resolution urges the President to make securing the release of five named detainees a priority at upcoming meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, including the anticipated May 2026 summit. The named detainees are Pastor Jin Mingri (founder of Zion Church), Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas (a retired Uyghur physician detained since 2018), and Jimmy Lai (the Hong Kong publisher serving a 20-year sentence). The resolution also calls for verified proof of life, access to legal counsel, family communication, and medical care for these detainees. Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey sponsored the resolution; it carries no legal force on its own but signals congressional priorities for U.S.-China diplomacy.

Congressional Summary

This resolution calls upon the President to prioritize the humanitarian release of five specified individuals (Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai) and others unjustly detained by China during future engagements with China's President Xi Jinping.The resolution also (1) urges the President to seek verifiable proof of life, access to independent legal counsel, family communication, and medical care for these detainees; and (2) reaffirms the U.S. commitment to defending political and religious freedom and advocating for the release of those unjustly detained for exercising such fundamental freedoms.

Details

Congress
119th
Chamber
House
Status
summarized
Action
Introduced in House
Action Date
2026-05-07
Date Added
2026-05-09
Source
Congress.gov →

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