,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #bi1 #bjbe,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself and ,mr4 ,sullivan7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to support and promote the human rights of ,southern ,mongolians in the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,southern ,mongolian ,human ,rights ,policy ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,according to the ,china ,statistical ,yearbook for #bjba1 more than #f1jjj1jjj ethnic ,mongolians live in the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 of which some two-thirds live in the ,inner ,mongolia ,autonomous ,region1 and many others in three prefectures and eight counties designated as autonomous for ,mongolians by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 7#b7 ,over the centuries1 successive central ,chinese governments have promoted the migration of ,chinese people into the area currently administered as the ,inner ,mongolia ,autonomous ,region1 and today only about #ah percent of the population of the ,region is counted as ethnically ,mongolian4 7#c7 ,in #bjbj1 officials in the ,inner ,mongolia ,autonomous ,region announced a new policy to effectively replace ,mongolian as the principal language of instruction with ,chinese1 in the subjects of history1 politics1 and literature1 and shut down ,bainu1 the only ,mongolian-language-based social media website based in the country4 ,beginning in ,september #bjbc1 schools across the region largely removed ,mongolian-language instruction from elementary and secondary schools throughout the region4 ,reports indicate that high school and college entrance exams will be conducted in ,chinese exclusively starting in #bjbe and #bjbh1 respectively4 ,the ,people's ,republic of ,china authorities have banned ,mongolian language books from bookstores and removed signs in the unique1 vertically-written ,mongolian script from schools1 buildings1 streets1 and parks4 7#d7 ,the ,people's ,republic of ,china officials launched patriotic education campaigns at schools and universities throughout the ,inner ,mongolia ,autonomous ,region1 designed to suppress manifestations of ,mongolian identity in favor of the common ,chinese national identity0 and encourage all ethnic groups to accept the great mother country1 ,chinese nationality1 ,chinese culture1 and the ,chinese ,communist ,party4 ,in response to the new education policy1 tens of thousands of ,southern ,mongolians in the ,inner ,mongolia ,autonomous ,region launched protests1 in which some #cjj1jjj ,southern ,mongolian students boycotted school and teachers went on strike1 and some individuals reportedly committed suicide in protest4 ,security authorities responded harshly by arresting1 beating1 detaining1 jailing1 and placing under home confinement some estimated #h1jjj to #aj1jjj ,southern ,mongolians4 7#e7 ,chinese authorities now fully control all activities of the ,chinggis ,khan ,mausoleum in the ,inner ,mongolia ,autonomous ,region1 including the schedule1 scale1 and ticketing of ritual ceremonies and approval and monitoring of gatherings1 denying ,southern ,mongolians the ability to carry out traditional rituals and observances free of government interference and profiteering4 ,this has broken an eight-century-long memorial tradition at the site1 which has served as an historical and cultural representation of the ,mongolian identity4 7#f7 ,the ,people's ,republic of ,china policies have undermined the religious heritage of ,southern ,mongolians1 many of whom follow ,tibetan ,buddhism1 including through the destruction of monasteries and temples during the ,cultural ,revolution1 and interference in the ability to choose their own religious leaders4 ,restrictions on travel and freedom of religion or belief inhibit the ability of ,southern ,mongolians to affiliate1 engage1 and communicate with ,mongol communities around the world1 especially those with cultural1 linguistic and religious links to people in the country of ,mongolia and the ,buryatia1 ,kamykia1 and ,tuvan regions of the ,russian ,federation1 resulting in a diminution of their common cultural heritage4 7#g7 ,the ,people's ,republic of ,china policies have effectively ended the traditional ,southern ,mongolian economic livelihood of pastoralism1 a key marker of ,mongol identity1 by forcibly resettling more than #bdf1jjj nomadic households to urban and agricultural areas where ,mandarin language and ,chinese cultural elements dominate4 ,these policies have cut off ,southern ,mongolians from their ancestral lands and increased their economic dependence on the state1 eroding their social cohesion4 ,this has led to severe social and psychological impacts1 including mental illness and economic deprivation4 7#h7 ,the environment of the ,inner ,mongolia ,autonomous ,region has degraded under the ,people's ,republic of ,china policies that have removed nomads1 ending traditional stewardship of grazing lands1 and exploited natural resources through mining and heavy industry without sufficient stakeholder input from local inhabitants1 resulting in air and water pollution and severe health problems among local ,southern ,mongolians4 ,bayan ,obo1 the largest rare earth mine in the world1 is the source of toxic waste1 including radioactive thorium that has been seeping into groundwater4 7#i7 ,southern ,mongolian dissidents1 activists1 writers1 bloggers1 lawyers1 and their family members who have attempted to exercise their freedom of expression and defend their legal rights have been detained1 arrested1 imprisoned1 and placed under home confinement by the ,people's ,republic of ,china authorities4 ,activist ,yanjindulam remains under home confinement after being released from prison1 artist ,ashidaa is still under home confinement1 lawyer ,huhbulag has been detained multiple times1 and dissident ,almaz has been frequently harassed and detained by the authorities4 7#aj7 ,authorities detained rights activist ,hada1 who promoted self-determination and democracy for ,southern ,mongolians1 in #aiie and sentenced him to #ae years in #aiif4 ,he was held without legal basis for an additional four years following the expiration of his sentence4 ,hada was subsequently placed under home confinement until his disappearance in ,september #bjbj4 ,in #bjaa1 ,hada's wife ,xinna1 an outspoken critic of human rights violations in ,southern ,mongolia1 was arrested before being sentenced to three years in prison1 suspended for five years4 ,their son ,uiles was sentenced at the age of #ag to two years in prison on the basis of multiple fabricated charges4 ,the family's welfare and whereabouts have been unknown since ,september #bjbj4 7#aa7 ,chinese authorities have subjected ,southern ,mongolians to transnational repression4 ,since #bjji1 at least five ,southern ,mongolian dissidents in exile have been forcibly returned to ,china1 including from ,mongolia4 ,on ,may #c1 #bjbc1 ,chinese police officers detained ,lhamjab ,borjigin1 a long-time dissident writer and historian1 in ,ulaanbaatar1 ,mongolia1 and forcibly returned him to ,china on the same day4 ,lhamjab ,borjigin had escaped from home confinement on ,march #f1 #bjbc1 after he was sentenced to one year in prison1 suspended for two years1 for writing a book entitled ,china's ,cultural ,revolution4 7#ab7 ,the ,congressional-,executive ,commission on ,china reported that during the ,commission's #bjbc reporting year1 ,chinese ,communist ,party and government authorities implemented policies that limited the freedom of ethnic minority groups to express their cultural and religious identities in contravention of the ,,prc ,regional ,ethnic ,autonomy ,law and international human rights treaties1 including the ,international ,covenant on ,civil and ,political ,rights4 7#ac7 ,the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china's policies have undermined the ability of ,southern ,mongolians to exercise their rights under international law to safeguard and develop their own language1 culture1 religion or belief1 and economic livelihoods1 as part of a deliberate effort to erase their distinct ,mongolian culture and ,sinicize the ,southern ,mongolian people4 #c4 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 to support and promote human rights of ,southern ,mongolians in the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 including the fundamental freedoms of expression1 peaceful assembly1 and religion or belief1 and rights related to arbitrary detention1 discrimination1 and other abuses2 7#b7 to support the aspirations of the ,southern ,mongolian people to safeguard their cultural and linguistic heritage1 including the ability to use and promote their own spoken and written language1 and protect their traditional pastoralist way of life that they have maintained for thousands of years2 and 7#c7 to press the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china to allow the ,southern ,mongolian people the ability to enjoy autonomy promised them4 #d4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the ,united ,states supports the liberty and legitimate aspirations of the ,southern ,mongolian people to safeguard their cultural and linguistic heritage and practice their traditional way of life without threat of forced assimilation policies of the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china and the ,chinese ,communist ,party2 7#b7 the ,president should-- 7,a7 condemn human rights abuses against ,southern ,mongolians by authorities of the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 and 7,b7 call on such authorities to allow ,southern ,mongolians the ability to exercise the autonomy guaranteed by the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 including to conduct their affairs and receive education in their own spoken and written language2 7#c7 the ,secretary of ,state should-- 7,a7 work with ,united ,states allies and partners and through multilateral institutions to advocate for the human rights of ,southern ,mongolians2 7,b7 urge the ,united ,nations ,human ,rights ,council to prioritize assessment of the human rights of ,southern ,mongolians in its reviews of the ,people's ,republic of ,china compliance with international human rights law1 including through the ,universal ,periodic ,review process1 and to request travel by ,united ,nations officials to assess conditions of ,southern ,mongolians in the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 7,c7 promote the right of ,southern ,mongolians to protect their spoken and written language2 7,d7 promote the freedom of religion or belief of ,southern ,mongolians2 7,e7 work with the ,united ,nations ,educational1 ,scientific and ,cultural ,organization 7,,unesco7 to identify and protect world heritage sites in areas of traditional ,mongolian culture in the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 and 7,f7 coordinate closely with the international community on targeted sanctions and visa restrictions2 7#d7 the ,united ,states companies and individuals operating in areas designated as autonomous for ,mongolians in the ,people's ,republic of ,china should take steps to ensure that their commercial activities do not contribute to human rights violations1 undermine the autonomous rights of ,southern ,mongolians1 or contribute to the environmental degradation or resettlement of nomads in those areas2 and 7#e7 the ,united ,states ,ambassador to the ,people's ,republic of ,china should expeditiously seek to meet with ,hada and his family members1 as well as other ,southern ,mongolian dissidents1 activists1 writers1 and lawyers who are either in prison or under detention or home confinement4 #e4 ,diplomatic and consular matters 7a7 ,inner ,mongolia section in ,united ,states embassy in ,beijing1 ,china 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state should consider establishing an ,inner ,mongolian team within the ,united ,states ,embassy in ,beijing1 ,china1 to follow political1 economic1 and social developments in the ,inner ,mongolia ,autonomous ,region and other areas designated by the ,people's ,republic of ,china as autonomous for ,mongolians1 with due consideration given to hiring ,southern ,mongolians as ,locally ,employed ,staff4 7#b7 ,responsibilities ,responsibilities of a team devoted to ,inner ,mongolia should include reporting on human rights issues and access to areas designated as autonomous for ,mongolians by ,united ,states ,government officials1 journalists1 nongovernmental organizations1 and the ,southern ,mongolian diaspora4 7#c7 ,language requirements ,the ,secretary of ,state should ensure that the ,department of ,state has sufficient proficiency in ,mongolian language in order to carry out paragraph 7#a71 and that the ,united ,states ,embassy in ,beijing1 ,china1 has sufficient resources to hire ,local ,employed ,staff proficient in the ,mongolian language1 as appropriate4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the staffing described in subsection 7a74 #f4 ,religious freedom 7a7 ,human ,rights ,reports ,the ,ambassador at ,large for ,international ,religious ,freedom shall1 consistent with the duties under sections #aja7;c7 and #ajb7;a7 of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdaa7;c71 #fdab7;a771 assist the ,secretary of ,state to assess the impact of the restrictions on ,tibetan ,buddhism by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china on the religious freedom of-- 7#a7 practitioners of ,tibetan ,buddhism in the ,people's ,republic of ,china who are not ,tibetan2 and 7#b7 practitioners of ,tibetan ,buddhism outside the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 including their ability to travel to and share information with practitioners inside the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 7b7 ,annual ,report on ,international ,religious ,freedom ,the ,secretary of ,state1 with the assistance of the ,ambassador at ,large for ,international ,religious ,freedom1 shall ensure that the report required under sections #aja7;c7 and #ajb7;b7 of the ,international ,religious ,freedom ,act of #aiih 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fdaa7;c71 #fdab7;b77 assesses1 as appropriate1 the impact of the restrictions on ,tibetan ,buddhism by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china on the religious freedom of -- 7#a7 practitioners of ,tibetan ,buddhism in the ,people's ,republic of ,china who are not ,tibetan2 and 7#b7 practitioners of ,tibetan ,buddhism outside the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 including their ability to travel to and share information with practitioners inside the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 #g4 ,identification of persons responsible for human rights abuses against ,southern ,mongolians in the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 imposition of sanctions 7a7 ,report required 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that identifies each foreign person1 including any official of the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 that the ,president determines is responsible for any of the following with respect to ,southern ,mongolians in the ,people's ,republic of ,china3 7,a7 ,torture4 7,b7 ,cruel1 inhuman1 or degrading treatment or punishment4 7,c7 ,prolonged or arbitrary detention without charges and trial4 7,d7 ,causing the disappearance of persons by the abduction and clandestine detention of those persons4 7,e7 ,other flagrant denial of the right to life1 liberty1 or the security of persons4 7,f7 ,other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against ,southern ,mongolians4 7#b7 ,form ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may include a classified annex4 7b7 ,imposition of sanctions ,the ,president should impose sanctions pursuant to one or more of the following authorities with respect to each foreign person identified in the report required by subsection 7a73 7#a7 ,the ,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights ,accountability ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajaja et seq474 7#b7 ,section #gjca7;c77#a77;,a7 of the ,department of ,state1 ,foreign ,operations1 and ,related ,programs ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbd 7division ,f of ,public ,law #aah-dg2 #h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb note74 7#c7 ,section #bab7;a77#b77;,g7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77#b77;,g774 7c7 ,sunset ,this section1 and any sanctions imposed under this section1 shall terminate on the date that is #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs and the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,foreign person ,the term foreign person means an individual or entity that is not a ,united ,states person4 7#c7 ,united states person ,the term ,united ,states person means-- 7,a7 a ,united ,states citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the ,united ,states2 7,b7 an entity organized under the laws of the ,united ,states or of any jurisdiction within the ,united ,states1 including a foreign branch of such an entity2 or 7,c7 any person in the ,united ,states4 #h4 ,voice of ,america ,broadcasts in the ,mongolian ,language 7a7 ,establishment of service ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media shall establish1 through the ,voice of ,america1 a service to provide ,voice of ,america ,mongolian language programming to ,mongolian language speakers in ,mongolia1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 and the ,russian ,federation4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #bgj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media shall submit to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report detailing the implementation of this section1 including a description of programming and broadcast hours4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,voice of ,america for purposes of carrying out this section #b1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe and #bjbf4 #i4 ,support for ,southern ,mongolian ,culture 7a7 ,repressed cultures preservation 7#a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,smithsonian ,institution should fund activities to help preserve cultures endangered by the repressive policies of the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 including those of ,southern ,mongolians1 ,tibetans1 ,uyghurs1 and ,hong ,kongers1 through the ,world ,cultures ,center and other programs designed to promote preservation efforts1 as well as research1 exhibitions1 and education programming4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,smithsonian ,institution shall submit to the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,house ,administration of the ,house of ,representatives a report on its plans to help preserve cultures endangered by the policies of the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 including those of ,southern ,mongolians1 ,tibetans1 ,uyghurs1 and ,hong ,kongers4 7b7 ,assistance for cultural organizations1 museums1 and libraries 7#a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,director of the ,institute for ,museum and ,library ,sciences should establish a grant program1 or make available grants through an existing program1 to support efforts by diaspora communities in the ,united ,states to preserve their cultural heritage that is threatened by the repressive policies of the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 including the efforts of ,southern ,mongolians1 ,tibetans1 ,uyghurs1 and ,hong ,kongers4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,institute for ,museum and ,library ,sciences shall submit to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the feasibility of establishing a grant program1 or to otherwise make available grants through an existing program1 to support efforts by diaspora communities in the ,united ,states to preserve their cultural heritage that is threatened by the repressive policies of the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 including those of ,southern ,mongolians1 ,tibetans1 ,uyghurs1 and ,hong ,kongers1 including efforts to engage with such diaspora communities4 #aj4 ,sustainable ,livelihoods in ,southern ,mongolia 7a7 ,declaration of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to support the right of ,southern ,mongolians to make decisions in accordance with principles of autonomy regarding their economic development1 including the ability to maintain traditional livelihoods1 such as pastoralism1 as well as cultural preservation1 environmental sustainability1 and resource extraction1 in areas designated as autonomous for ,southern ,mongolians in the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 7b7 ,international financial institutions ,the ,secretary of the ,treasury should instruct the ,united ,states executive director of each international financial institution to use the voice and vote of the ,united ,states to support financing of projects in areas designated as autonomous for ,southern ,mongolians in the ,people's ,republic of ,china if such projects do not provide incentives for the migration and settlement of non-,mongolians into ,southern ,mongolian areas or facilitate the transfer of ownership of ,southern ,mongolian land and natural resources to non-,mongolians1 are based on a thorough needs-assessment1 foster self-sufficiency of the ,southern ,mongolian people1 respect ,mongolian culture1 traditions1 and traditional livelihoods1 and are subject to effective monitoring4