[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5946-S5947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6433. Mr. SASSE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe)
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 1254. SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE XINJIANG UYGHUR
AUTONOMOUS REGION.
(a) Declarations of Policy.--Congress--
(1) calls upon the Government of the People's Republic of
China (referred to in this section as the ``PRC'')--
(A) to permit regular, unsupervised visits by United States
Members of Congress, congressional staff delegations, the
United States Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues
designated pursuant to subsection (c), members and staff of
the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's
Republic of China, journalists, and diplomats to the Xinjiang
Uyghur Autonomous Region (referred to in this section as the
``XUAR'');
(B) to guarantee the rights of Uyghurs and members of other
Muslim minority groups in the XUAR, as stipulated in the PRC
Constitution and international human rights agreements;
(C) to recognize, and seek to ensure, the distinct ethnic,
cultural, religious, and linguistic identity of Uyghurs and
members of other Muslim minority groups in the XUAR;
(D) to cease all government-sponsored crackdowns,
imprisonments, and detentions of people throughout the XUAR
aimed at those involved in the peaceful expression of their
ethnic, cultural, political, or religious identity; and
(E) to release all people who have been unjustly detained
without due process;
(2) commends countries that have provided shelter and
hospitality to Uyghurs in exile, including Turkey, Albania,
and Germany; and
(3) urges countries with sizeable Muslim populations, given
their common religious and cultural identity, to demonstrate
particular concern over the plight of Uyghurs.
(b) Xinjiang Genocide Task Force.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish
the Xinjiang Genocide Task Force (referred to in this
subsection as the ``Task Force'')--
(A) to assess the ongoing genocide and crimes against
humanity in the XUAR;
(B) to recommend United States policy responses to such
crimes; and
(C) to coordinate advocacy efforts with other nations and
within international organizations.
(2) Membership.--
(A) In general.--The Task Force shall be composed of--
(i) the United States Special Coordinator for Uyghur
Issues;
(ii) the Secretary of State, or his or her designee;
(iii) the Secretary of the Treasury, or his or her
designee;
(iv) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or his or her
designee;
(v) the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
or his or her designee;
(vi) the Secretary of Commerce, or his or her designee;
(vii) the Director of National Intelligence, or his or her
designee;
(viii) the Secretary of Defense, or his or her designee;
and
(ix) the United States Permanent Representative to the
United Nations, or his or her designee.
(B) Chair.--The United States Special Coordinator for
Uyghur Issues shall serve as the Chair of the Task Force.
(3) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
(A) assess the situation facing Uyghurs and members of
other Muslim minority groups in the XUAR;
(B) identify policy and legal gaps and make policy
recommendations to the President to ensure that the United
States Government takes a leading role in addressing the
genocide and crimes against humanity currently taking place
in the XUAR; and
(C) coordinate United States policy responses and advocacy
with other nations and within international organizations.
(4) Powers.--
(A) Hearings.--The Task Force may, for the purpose of
carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and act at
times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the
Task Force considers appropriate.
(B) Powers of members and agents.--The Task Force may
authorize any member of the Task Force to take any action
that the Task Force is authorized to take under this
subsection.
(5) Staff.--
(A) Personnel.--The United States Special Coordinator for
Uyghur Issues may appoint staff to inform, support, and
enable Task Force members in the fulfillment of their duties.
(B) Detailees.--The head of any Federal department or
agency may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any of the
personnel of that department or agency to the Task Force to
assist the Task Force in carrying out its duties.
(C) Expert consultants.--The Task Force may commission
intermittent research or other information from experts and
provide stipends for engagement consistent with relevant
statutes and regulations.
(6) Interim report to congress.--Not later than 1 year
after the establishment of the Task Force, the Task Force
shall prepare and submit an interim report to Congress
containing--
(A) an assessment of the situation in the XUAR;
(B) the United States policy responses to such situation;
and
(C) coordination and advocacy efforts with other nations
and within international organizations.
(7) Sunset.--The Task Force shall terminate when the
Secretary of State determines that genocide and crimes
against humanity against Uyghurs and members of other Muslim
minority groups is no longer occurring in the XUAR.
(c) United States Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, after consultation
with the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate and the Chair and Ranking Member of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives shall appoint, within the Department of
State, a United States Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues
(referred to in this subsection as the ``Special
Coordinator'').
(2) Central objective.--The Special Coordinator should seek
to promote the protection and preservation of the distinct
ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identities of the
Uyghurs.
(3) Responsibilities.--The Special Coordinator should--
(A) coordinate United States Government policies, programs,
and projects concerning the Uyghurs;
(B) vigorously promote the policy of seeking to protect the
distinct ethnic, religious, cultural, and linguistic identity
of the Uyghurs and seek improved respect for human rights in
the XUAR;
(C) maintain close contact with religious, cultural, and
political leaders of the Uyghurs, including seeking regular
travel to the XUAR and to Uyghur settlements in Central Asia,
Turkey, Albania, Germany, and other parts of Europe;
(D) lead coordination efforts for the release of political
prisoners in the XUAR who are being detained for exercising
their human rights;
(E) consult with Congress on policies relevant to the XUAR
and the Uyghurs;
(F) coordinate with relevant Federal agencies to administer
aid to Uyghur rights advocates;
(G) make efforts to establish contacts with foreign
ministries of other countries to pursue a policy of promoting
greater respect for human rights and religious freedom for
Uyghurs and other groups; and
(H) coordinate United States outreach and advocacy within
international organizations on behalf of the Uyghurs and
members of other Muslim minority groups in the XUAR.
(4) Support.--The Secretary of State shall ensure the
Special Coordinator has adequate resources, staff, and
administrative support to carry out the objective and
responsibilities described in paragraphs (2) and (3).
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