HR-9555 : Still Just a Bill

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo Accountability Act, also known as H.R. 9555, was introduced in the House of Representatives on September 12, 2024.

• Purpose: The bill aims to impose sanctions on senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
• Sanctions Authorization: The President is authorized to impose sanctions on any foreign person determined to be a senior CCP official, including members of the CCP Politburo, who have:
  • Engaged in malign disinformation campaigns or political warfare against the United States.
  • Participated in the theft of intellectual property from a United States person.
  • Undermined the sovereignty of Taiwan.
  • Been involved in the forced closure or destruction of religious sites or the suppression of religious practices in China.
• Sanctions Include:
  • Asset Blocking: Blocking and prohibiting transactions in property and interests in property of the foreign person within the United States or under the control of a United States person.
  • Inadmissibility: The foreign person is inadmissible to the United States, ineligible for visas, and ineligible for parole. Current visas will be revoked immediately.
• Waivers: The President may waive the application of sanctions for one year if it is vital to the national security interests of the United States, with notification to Congress.
• Termination of Sanctions: The President may terminate sanctions if the foreign person is no longer involved in the activities that led to the sanctions, with notification to Congress.
• Implementation: The President is required to issue regulations for implementing the sanctions within 90 days of the bill's enactment.
• Sunset Provision: The sanctions will terminate on January 1, 2026, but this does not affect sanctions imposed before that date.
• Determination and Mandatory Application:
  • The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, must determine and report to Congress within 180 days whether any CCP Politburo member meets the criteria for sanctions under this Act or other existing executive orders and acts.
  • The President must impose sanctions on individuals, including He Lifeng, Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi.