S 484 United States Senate · 118th Congress

Combating Human Rights Abuses Act of 2023

This bill requires the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide training for its employees who counsel businesses on interstate commerce or foreign investment, focusing on global human rights abuse trends - specifically citing forced labor against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. It also mandates that the Department issue non-binding guidance to U.S. businesses about identifying and avoiding transactions with entities linked to human rights abuses, including risks like reputational harm or legal exposure. The guidance explicitly states it is advisory only, with no certification of accuracy by the Department. The bill directly affects Commerce Department staff and businesses engaged in domestic or international trade. It does not impose new legal restrictions but aims to increase awareness through existing counseling channels.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2023

Committee Review

Dec 2023

Senate Passage

Dec 2023

House Passage

President

Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Dec 22, 2023

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in Senate → Engrossed in Senate · 3 edits · Dec 19, 2023

MINOR

The bill was narrowed from addressing human rights abuses worldwide (with China as one example) to focusing exclusively on human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese government, specifically forced labor against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. Additionally, a liability disclaimer stating that the Department of Commerce is not responsible for certifying the accuracy or completeness of guidance information was removed.

SCOPE

Both the training and guidance provisions were narrowed from covering human rights abuses occurring worldwide (with China cited as an example) to covering only human rights abuses perpetrated by the Government of the People's Republic of China, specifically forced labor against Uyghurs and other ethnic minority populations in Xinjiang.

ENFORCEMENT

The guidance provision no longer requires the Department of Commerce to make clear that it is not responsible for certifying the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. The advisory-purpose disclaimer was shortened to simply state the guidance is for advisory purposes only.

TECHNICAL

The guidance content was restructured from four sub-items (A through D) under a general 'human rights abuses' heading to three sub-items (A through C) under a more specific heading that names China and forced labor against Uyghurs directly in the lead-in language.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 19, 2023

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6062)

upper

Dec 19, 2023

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6062)

upper

Dec 5, 2023

Upper · Passed

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell without amendment. Without written report.

upper

Jul 27, 2023

Upper · Passed

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

upper

Feb 16, 2023

Committee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

upper

Feb 16, 2023

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor