Ocean County Leader

Reps. Chris Smith and Tom Suozzi have introduced the Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act (UGASA) to address the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs by the Chinese Communist Party. Smith emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “This critical legislation will help address the horrific abuses we have seen directed at Uyghurs and other predominantly-Muslim Central Asian people by Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party—from forced labor to the forced harvesting of Uyghur organs.” Suozzi echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to expand sanctions efforts against Chinese officials perpetrating these crimes and provide technical assistance for documenting human rights abuses.

Smith highlighted the severity of the situation by quoting Xi Jinping's order to "show no mercy," emphasizing the need to hold all perpetrators accountable, from the highest levels to the lowest concentration camp guards. The legislation introduced by Smith and Suozzi aims to strengthen provisions in the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 and expand existing sanctions to ensure Chinese officials are held accountable for their human rights atrocities against Uyghurs and other ethnic minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The UGASA bill, also introduced in the Senate by Sens. Marco Rubio and Jeff Merkley, includes provisions to expand sanction authorities for CCP officials responsible for the genocide, deter forced organ harvesting, prohibit US government agencies from contracting with businesses implicated in forced labor in the XUAR, provide assistance to victims of genocide, counter propaganda, promote cultural preservation, and fund organizations documenting atrocities in the region.