U.S. House passes bill targeting forced organ harvesting with overwhelming bipartisan support, as one Republican stands alone against what he considers foreign interference.
Key Takeaways
- The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act passed the House with near-unanimous support (406-1), establishing restrictions on organ traffickers.
- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) cast the lone dissenting vote, citing concerns about U.S. overreach into foreign sovereignty.
- The legislation authorizes the Secretary of State to deny U.S. passports and visas to individuals involved in organ trafficking.
- The bill specifically targets China’s alleged harvesting of organs from persecuted groups including Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghur Muslims.
- This marks the second attempt to pass the legislation after a similar bill passed the House in 2023 but stalled in the Senate.
House Takes Strong Stand Against Forced Organ Harvesting
The U.S. House of Representatives demonstrated rare bipartisan unity by passing the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act with an overwhelming vote of 406-1. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), establishes strict measures against those involved in forced organ harvesting, particularly targeting allegations against the Chinese Communist Party. The bill authorizes the Secretary of State to deny U.S. passports and visas to individuals involved in organ trafficking and proposes sanctions on entities and individuals participating in these practices.
This legislative action follows persistent accusations from U.S. lawmakers that China has been harvesting organs from ideological opponents, including Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghur Muslims. The measure aims to create significant consequences for those participating in what supporters describe as horrific human rights violations. This is the second attempt to pass such legislation after a similar bill cleared the House in 2023 with a 413-2 vote but was not taken up by the Senate.
The @UyghurProject attended a press conference w/ 🇺🇸 Rep. Chris Smith on H.R.1503 (Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act), which passed the House yesterday.
The bill directs the U.S. to combat int'l organ trafficking + impose sanctions on perpetrators.@Uyghur_American @CUyghurs pic.twitter.com/B8svaU5I0L
— Uyghur Human Rights Project (@UyghurProject) May 8, 2025
Lone Dissenter Cites Sovereignty Concerns
Despite the near-unanimous support, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) stood as the only lawmaker to vote against the bill. Massie, known for his libertarian principles and consistent stance against what he views as U.S. overreach in foreign affairs, defended his position on what he considers a matter of respecting national sovereignty. His objection centered on the bill’s approach to international relations rather than the substantive issue of organ harvesting itself. “It’s just another example of us trying to stick our nose in another country’s business and write their laws, And at the end of the day, they’re gonna do what they’re gonna do, and it’s just sort of a virtue signal over here,” remarked Massie.
Massie has established a reputation for bucking party consensus on foreign policy matters. He has been a critic of both House Speaker Mike Johnson and, at times, President Donald Trump when their positions don’t align with his strict constitutional interpretation. His vote on this bill aligns with his broader philosophy of limiting U.S. legislative reach into international affairs, even when the underlying issue has garnered substantial bipartisan condemnation.
Bill Sponsor Emphasizes Human Rights Urgency
Rep. Chris Smith, who introduced the legislation, has been outspoken about the need for decisive action against what he describes as systematic human rights abuses by the Chinese government. His advocacy stems from testimonies about crimes allegedly committed against Uyghurs, Falun Gong practitioners, and other minority groups. Smith’s legislation aims to create concrete penalties for those involved in organ trafficking operations.
Smith further emphasized the economic aspect of the issue, noting, “State-sponsored forced organ harvesting is big business for Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party and shows absolutely no signs of abating, which is why we and the rest of the world need to step up, particularly the democracies of this world. We must act – and we must act decisively.” The legislation now moves to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain given the previous bill’s failure to advance beyond the House in 2023.
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Lone Republican becomes only lawmaker to vote against crackdown on human organ trafficking
Smith anti-organ harvesting bill passes House once again
