Chairs Introduce the Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair and Co-Chair, respectively, of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), today introduced the Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026, a comprehensive, bipartisan bill to establish a deterrence and accountability framework for Hong Kong political prisoners. Commissioners Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) joined the Chairs in introducing this legislation.
The legislation would require the State Department to determine within 30 days whether abuse, medical neglect, torture, detention conditions, or other actions contributed to a political prisoner’s death and identify those responsible. It would then mandate sanctions within 60 days against responsible or complicit PRC and Hong Kong officials, requiring international coordination, as well as requiring regular reporting to Congress on the health of, and access to, Jimmy Lai and other political prisoners.
Senator Dan Sullivan, Chair of the CECC, stated:
“Jimmy Lai was sentenced to an appalling 20-year prison sentence simply for exercising his God-given rights and standing up for the people of Hong Kong. He should be released immediately. In the meantime, his sentence must not become a death sentence. Beijing and Hong Kong officials need to understand that how political prisoners are treated matters—and that a death caused by abuse, neglect, or inhumane conditions will bring real consequences.”
Representative Chris Smith, Co-Chair of the CECC, said:
“Jimmy Lai’s unjust, politically motivated imprisonment is an affront to free speech and human dignity. This critical legislation makes clear that political prisoners must be released, their families must receive answers, and those responsible for their abuse, torture, or neglect must be held to account. The United States will not allow Hong Kong political prisoners to be forgotten and overlooked, and this bill takes serious action to crack down on the CCP’s repression.”
CECC Commissioners will continue to work across the aisle to press for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai and others unjustly detained and ensure that the United States stands firmly with the people of Hong Kong in defense of their fundamental freedoms.
Highlights of the Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026:
- Require a 30-day determination. After credible information that a political prisoner died while in Hong Kong government custody or because of authorities’ actions while detained by that government, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, must determine whether medical neglect, abuse or torture, detention conditions, or another act or omission caused or contributed to the death and identify those responsible.
- Mandate sanctions. Within 60 days of the determination, the Secretary must impose sanctions on each identified PRC or Hong Kong official, agent, or employee under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, and other applicable authorities.
- Mobilize an international response. The Secretary must seek a UN human rights inquiry, raise the death in appropriate multilateral organizations, and coordinate sanctions with allies.
- Impose visa restrictions. The Secretary must use available authorities to impose visa restrictions on adult family members of a covered foreign person sanctioned under the bill.
- Track health and access. Within 90 days of enactment and annually thereafter, the Secretary must report to Congress on the health of Jimmy Lai and other political prisoners; restrictions on medical, legal, consular, and family access; and additional protective measures.
- Consider broader accountability measures. The Secretary must review whether additional officials meet existing sanctions criteria and consider recommending that the President withdraw, condition, or limit privileges and immunities of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in the United States.
Other related bills led by the Chairs: