Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People’s Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Summary
This resolution calls upon the President to prioritize the humanitarian release of five specified individuals (Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai) and others unjustly detained by China during future engagements with China's President Xi Jinping. The resolution also (1) urges the President to seek verifiable proof of life, access to independent legal counsel, family communication, and medical care for these detainees; and (2) reaffirms the U.S. commitment to defending political and religious freedom and advocating for the release of those unjustly detained for exercising such fundamental freedoms.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
President
Introduced May 7, 2026
Last action May 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced in House
→
Engrossed in House
·
3 edits
·
May 13, 2026
MINOR
This is a procedural transition from the introduced version to the engrossed version of HRES 1259. No substantive policy changes were made. The resolution's text, targets, and operative clauses remain identical.
TECHNICAL
Bill status changed from Introduced in House (IH) to Engrossed in House (EH), with the date updated from May 7 to May 13, 2026.
The referral line identifying Mr. Smith of New Jersey as the sponsor and the Committee on Foreign Affairs as the referring committee was removed, which is standard when a resolution moves to engrossment.
Clerk certification (Kevin F. McCumber) was added at the end, standard for engrossed documents.
Floor votes · House May 13, 2026
How they voted
414–0
Passed · 16 other
Total votes 430
May 13, 2026
D
Democratic212
97% Yea
I
Independent1
0% Nay
R
Republican217
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
10
Key actions
1
Committee
1
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 0 (Roll no. 167).
lower
May 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
lower
May 7, 2026
Introduced
Submitted in House
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Christopher H. Smith
RRepublican
Co
John R. Moolenaar
RRepublican
Co
Thomas R. Suozzi
DDemocratic
Co
Young Kim
RRepublican
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