US Congress passes historic bill targeting forced organ harvesting, sanctions Chinese officials, and calls for global action against human rights abuses by Chinese Communist Party.
Washington, D.C.: In a significant step forward for human rights, the United States Congress has passed HR 1503—the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025—a landmark bill that confronts the chilling reality of forced organ harvesting, predominantly carried out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This bill brings long-overdue legislative muscle to a crisis that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, fueling an illicit organ trade industry estimated to be worth over $9 billion USD annually.
The practice, as grim as it is lucrative, has its roots in the brutal persecution of the Qigong movement which included main groups. Zhong Gong (中功), at its peak, had millions of adherents. It was founded by Zhang Hongbao. Zhong Gong, like Falun Dafa, was also banned in 1999. Zhang fled to America via Guam but tragically died in a car accident in California in 2004.
After the banning of Falun Dafa in 1999 tens of millions of peaceful followers of a meditation practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance have been relentlessly targeted by the Chinese Communist Party. Detained arbitrarily, tortured, and dehumanized, thousands have been killed on demand for their organs. Over time, the CCP expanded this horrific policy to include Uyghur Muslims, political dissidents, Tibetans, and other marginalized groups.
This practice, which flouts every tenet of human decency and international law, has been condemned by rights organizations and investigative bodies around the world. Yet, until now, meaningful legislative consequences have been scarce. Congressman Chris Smith, a long-time champion for human rights, introduced the first iteration of this bill in 2023. Despite its bipartisan support, it died on the Senate floor, a sobering reminder of the uphill battle in holding totalitarian regimes accountable.
But persistence has paid off. On May 7, 2025, at 2:45 PM, a pivotal press conference was held on Capitol Hill, hosted by the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC).
Piero Tozzi, Chief of Staff for the Commission, opened the event by introducing Congressman Chris Smith who took the podium and minced no words in his condemnation. In a chilling yet necessary comparison, Smith declared that this “criminal enterprise is Joseph Mengele-like and can only be compared to the atrocities performed by the Nazi regime.”
He was followed by numerous leaders of the Chinese diaspora community including Rushan Abbas, Campaign for Uyghurs, Mark Yang, Falun Dafa Information Center and Louisa Greve, with the Australian nonprofit International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse. Abbas has a new book Unbroken, One Uyghurs Fight for Freedom which chronicles the CCP’s genocide against the Uyghur Muslims from East Turkestan published by Optimum (full disclosure) and her journey to expose the truth.
All of the speakers highlighted the egregious nature of the regime’s alleged criminal enterprise. I reached out to the Embassy in Washington about the Bill but at time of publishing I have not had a response. Perhaps they are a little busy assessing the damage the President’s tariffs and sanctions that are wreaking on their economy. This Bill simply adds more to their plate.
The bipartisan strength of this bill cannot be overstated. The bill is co-sponsored by Democratic Representative Bill Keating. Congressman Smith, underscoring a unified front in confronting this atrocity. Together, their leadership transcends party lines, reinforcing that human rights must remain above politics.
The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act lays out a clear policy framework:
* It criminalizes international organ trafficking and empowers authorities to deny or revoke passports for those convicted of these crimes.
* It mandates comprehensive reporting on forced organ harvesting globally, ensuring this atrocity remains at the forefront of international human rights monitoring.
* It imposes targeted sanctions on individuals and entities complicit in these crimes, including asset freezes and visa bans—measures crucial for cutting off lifelines to this illegal trade.
This legislation is not just a win for the United States; it sets a global precedent. Forced organ harvesting is not a “China-only” issue; it’s a global human rights crisis that demands a coordinated international response. The CCP’s actions violate multiple international human rights conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which China is a signatory. It is imperative that countries around the world rise to meet this moment.
India, with its growing leadership role on the world stage, has a unique opportunity here. By adopting similar legislation, India can not only protect its own citizens from unknowingly taking part in organ tourism but also send a decisive message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated. With its commitment to human rights and international law, India’s endorsement and action would galvanize further global momentum.
When speaking with Piero Tozzi and Scott Flipse (Director of Policy & Media Relations, CECC), they expressed optimism that the bill has a real shot of being passed by the Senate and becoming law, marking a historic victory for human dignity and justice.
This issue should transcend political divides and over the past few years if anything unifies Democrats and Republicans it is addressing what the CCP has done to upend and reshape the new world order. For decades western democracies actually enabled the regime to commit atrocities against ethnic minorities. This bill is a matter of human dignity and justice. As Congressman Smith and his colleagues have made clear, the fight against forced organ harvesting must be relentless and united. The bill’s passage is a testament to the power of perseverance and bipartisan resolve—but it must be only the beginning.
As global citizens, we must ask: how many more lives will be stolen before the world acts decisively? The answer lies in the choices of policymakers, diplomats, and ordinary people alike. For Congressman Chris Smith who along with Hal Rogers are the longest serving members in the House of Representatives (since 1981) his work continues.
Originally a Democrat he switched to the Republican party in 1978. Over that period, he has championed the rights of America’s workers, his constituents and the many who have no voice and are silenced by authoritarian regimes like the Chinese Communist Party.
Protecting human rights and the dignity of all citizens has been his life’s mission and seeing this bill pass the Senate would be a great milestone for a person who wears his beliefs and commitment on his sleeve. Truly a remarkable person, who has transcended the trappings of Washington and chosen a righteous path and championed human rights.
The U.S. has once taken a bold and commendable first step. It’s now time for the Senate to pass this bill and then for the international community, especially pivotal nations like India, Canada, Britain and Australia—to follow suit. This is a global issue as the lives of countless innocent people hang in the balance and history will judge us by the urgency and resolve with which we respond.