Buck, Gooden, Banks, Torres Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Counter Genocide in Xinjiang

WASHINGTON-Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Ken Buck (CO-04), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Jim Banks (IN-03), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) introduced the bipartisan Countering Atrocities through Currency Accountability Act. This bill severs the United States' currency markets from foreign adversaries that are committing genocide and crimes against humanity, the most prominent of which is the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) genocide in Xinjiang.

"America remains the defender and beacon of hope for persecuted groups of people across the world. In recent years, the world has sounded the alarm over the Chinese government's atrocities against ethnic and religious minorities. The rise of such cold-blooded cruelty has created a desperate need for American leadership and moral clarity. This legislation will ensure the United States uses our greatest soft power asset-the U.S. dollar-to penalize genocidal regimes and save innocent lives," said Congressman Buck.

"The world has turned a blind eye to the genocide and human rights atrocities occurring in China for far too long. The communist Chinese government must face the consequences for their treatment of the Uyghur people, and I'm proud to join Rep. Buck's efforts to hold them accountable," said Congressman Gooden.

The US has a responsibility to hold China accountable for their crimes against humanity. This bipartisan bill is an important measure to utilize the US dollar to ensure the United States does not support human rights violations in Xinjiang, China," said Congressman Torres

"Congress must do everything in our power to prevent US assets from aiding and abetting the Chinese Communist Party's ongoing genocide. Rep. Buck's legislation would take the bold step of ensuring that the U.S. dollar does not flow throughout regions allowing Uyghur slave labor," said Congressman Banks.

Outside Group Support:

"Whether through our businesses or our financial system, the United States must in no way enable the Chinese Communist Party as it continues to commit genocide and horrific atrocities against the Uyghur people. Stand for America strongly supports Rep. Ken Buck's legislation to ensure that the U.S. government is using every tool at its disposal to prevent the United States from bankrolling these crimes against humanity," said Tim Chapman, Executive Director of Stand for America.

"It is not enough to simply condemn the Chinese Communist Party's genocide and crimes against humanity. The U.S. must impose meaningful costs on Beijing and deter commercial actors from enabling atrocities in Xinjiang. This bill's novel policy approach would support these steps while sending a strong signal to other malign actors," said Maseh Zarif, Director of Congressional Relations, FDD Action.

Cosigners of the bill include Reps. Yvette Herrell (NM-02), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Greg Steube (FL-17), Billy Long (MO-07), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Tim Burchett (TN-02), and Madison Cawthron (NC-11).

"China is one of the worst state-sponsors of genocide and human rights violations on the planet, but the world seems content to look the other way because of their economic strength. While America certainly is not the world's police force, we do have an inherent human responsibility to contest the atrocities committed by the CCP and other dangerous regimes. I'm proud to join Congressman Buck on a bill to use our soft power assets to punish human rights abusers in China and around the globe," said Congressman Hern.

"Communist China is a genocidal regime with little regard for its own citizens while trying to challenge America's role in the world. As the biggest threat to our national security, this is an important step in stopping the Chinese Communist Party's human rights violations and securing our country. I stand ready to confront China and return America to economic and military dominance," said Congresswoman Herrell.

Specifically, the bill:

• Authorizes special measures to restrict certain accounts and types of transactions within a jurisdiction (such as Xinjiang) where genocide and/or crimes against humanity are being committed.
• Requires the Secretary of Treasury to determine whether Xinjiang meets the criteria for one or more of the special measures authorized within the bill.
• Requires the Secretary of State to provide a report to Congress on the United States' reliance on polysilicates produced in Xinjiang, which are core to the production and manufacture of solar panels.

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