H.Res. 1259 · Where this bill is now
Adopted
House: Adopted May 13, 2026, 414–0 (roll call 167)
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryUrges prioritizing release of detained individuals
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' position that the President should make it a priority to secure the release of five specific people detained by China, including pastors, a doctor, and a journalist. It also urges the President to ask for proof that these detainees are alive, to ensure they have legal help, can contact their families, and receive medical care.
How it affects you
This resolution doesn't directly change laws or programs that affect everyday Americans. It's a statement of what the House believes the President should do in diplomatic conversations with China regarding these detained individuals.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, May 7, 2026)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionH.Res. 1259
RESOLUTION
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. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ-4) · Introduced May 7, 2026 · International Affairs · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 13, 2026: “Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree · May 13, 2026
Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree Passed 414–0
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 206 | 0 | 6 |
| Independents | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republicans | 208 | 0 | 9 |
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.