Rubio, Merkley Introduce Bill to Double Down Against Uyghur Forced Labor

Forced labor is used around the world, particularly in the People’s Republic of China where the government continues to brutally repress Uyghurs and other ethnic groups from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The U.S. must remain firm in its unwavering commitment to stand against China’s forced labor and acts of genocide.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the No Funds for Forced Labor Act which would require the U.S. Secretary of Treasury to instruct U.S. executive directors at international financial institutions to oppose projects that use forced labor, particularly in the XUAR.

 

  • “Forced labor is a horrific practice witnessed worldwide. In China, the Chinese Communist Party continues with its grotesque campaign of genocide against Uyghurs and other minorities. We have a moral duty to ensure our nation isn’t tied to any purchases tainted with the forced labor of humans. As the author of the first piece of legislation on Uyghur human rights in the world, I remain committed to ensuring we do more to counter this modern-day slavery practice.” – Senator Rubio

 

  • “Our tax dollars should never inadvertently go toward projects using forced labor. This bipartisan bill builds off our Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to ensure the United States is not complicit in this horrific human rights abuse. We need to send a strong message against slave labor wherever this evil appears.”– Senator Merkley 

 

U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Specifically, this legislation would:

  • Require the Treasury Secretary to instruct the U.S. executive director at each international financial institution to oppose loans to any project that poses a significant risk of using forced labor or is carried out by a state-owned or heavily state-influenced entity, particularly in the XUAR;

 

  • Require these institutions to provide an explanation of how they vet projects for forced labor risks and what actions are taken to mitigate, track, and reverse that risk; and

 

  • Require a Treasury report, within one year and annually for the next five years, that details any project approved by an international financial institution in which forced labor could be used, and the efforts the executive director at each international financial institution has taken to convince other countries to oppose any project that could use forced labor.

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Sep 19, 2024 | Press Releases

 Marco Rubio - Senator for Florida