U.S. Senate Passes Falun Gong Protection Act (S.4009) Unanimously
On September 28, 2026, the U.S. Senate passed the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act (S.4009), a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Jeff Merkley, by unanimous consent. The bill requires the U.S. President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals who knowingly participate in, assist, or support China's forced organ harvesting, including freezing their U.S. assets, prohibiting transactions, and revoking or denying visas; it directs the Secretary of State to assess whether the Chinese government is systematically engaged in forced organ harvesting and to submit a special report to Congress; and it extends protections to Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, and other prisoners of conscience. The bill was subsequently sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.