Who it affects
- The U.S. President
- The five named detainees
- Others unjustly detained by China
Passed the HouseForeign affairsHuman rightsReligious freedom
Release of people detained by China
H.Res. 1259 · Resolution · Introduced May 7, 2026
This bill would call on the President to prioritize the release of five named people and others unjustly detained by China during future talks with President Xi Jinping.
What stands out
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At a glance
Where it stands
Passed the House 414 to 0 on May 13.
How South Carolina voted
Lobbying and money
No lobbying reported yet
Lobbyists report every three months, about 20 days after each quarter ends. We have January 2025 through September 2026 reports. Newer reports will be added once filed and published.
What it would do
- The resolution asks the President to prioritize humanitarian releases during future talks with China's President Xi Jinping.
- It names Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu, his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai.
- It urges the President to seek verifiable proof these detainees are alive and access to independent lawyers.
- It also urges the President to seek family contact and medical care for these detainees.
- It reaffirms U.S. commitment to political and religious freedom and advocating release for people unjustly detained for exercising them.
Written with AI from the official summary by Congress's research office.
How South Carolina voted
House vote coverage is incomplete for 2025–2026. Vote and flagged-bill counts reflect imported records only; missing votes don't mean a member didn't vote.
House vote
Vote to pass
Fast-track vote that needs two-thirds
May 13, 2026 · Passed 414 to 0
- Republicans
- 208 yes
- 0 no
- Democrats
- 206 yes
- 0 no
Groups that lobbied on it and gave to SC's members
PAC, lobbyist campaign and qualifying employee money this election, shown separately and never added together. Lobbying reports name the bills a group worked on, not which side it took.
No lobbying reported yet. Lobbyists report every three months, about 20 days after each quarter ends. We have January 2025 through September 2026 reports. Newer reports will be added once filed and published.
Official record
Official title, sponsor and status
- Official title
- 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.
- Sponsor
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. (R-NJ)
- Introduced
- May 7, 2026
- Cosponsors
- 3
- Committees
- House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Latest action
- May 13, 2026 · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Official summary from the Congressional Research Service
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.
Summary on Congress.gov ↗Everyone who lobbied on this bill (0 groups)
No lobbying report we have loaded names this bill. That doesn't mean no lobbying took place.
Lobbyists report every three months, about 20 days after each quarter ends. We have January 2025 through September 2026 reports. Newer reports will be added once filed and published. Reports for October through December 2026 are due January 20, 2027.