S. 2710Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)Enacted

A bill to prohibit the commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 9:09 AM UTC

The bill bans the U.S. commercial export of a list of crowd‑control and restraint devices—such as tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, stun guns and tasers—to both the Hong Kong Police Force and its auxiliary unit. The ban takes effect 30 days after the law is enacted, but the President may grant a license if he notifies the relevant congressional committees at least 30 days in advance and shows the export serves U.S. national interests. The prohibition automatically ends one year after the law’s enactment.

Key Provisions

Defines “covered munitions items” as specific non‑lethal weapons and restraints.
Prohibits the President from issuing export licenses for those items to Hong Kong police agencies, starting 30 days after enactment.
Allows an exception if the President provides a written notice to designated Senate and House committees at least 30 days before issuing a license, certifying the export is important to U.S. national interests and explaining how it supports those interests.
Sets a sunset provision so the export ban expires one year after the law takes effect.

Legislative Activity

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18 earlier actions

Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 116-77.

November 27, 2019

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

October 24, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

October 24, 2019

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

November 19, 2019

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6661)

November 19, 2019

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6661)

November 19, 2019

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

November 20, 2019

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

November 20, 2019 • 12:31 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

November 20, 2019 • 12:38 PM

HouseFloor

Mr. Sherman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

November 20, 2019 • 4:06 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9096-9098)

November 20, 2019 • 4:06 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2710.

November 20, 2019 • 4:06 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

November 20, 2019 • 4:15 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9100-9101)

November 20, 2019 • 5:13 PM

SenateFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 0 (Roll no. 636).(text: CR H9096)

View vote Passed

November 20, 2019 • 5:24 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 - 0 (Roll no. 636). (text: CR H9096)

View vote Passed

November 20, 2019 • 5:24 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

November 20, 2019 • 5:24 PM

President

Presented to President.

November 21, 2019

Became Law

Signed by President.

November 27, 2019

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 116-77.

November 27, 2019

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

November 20, 2019 at 5:22 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

417 - 0

Bill Text

4 versions available

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Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress of the United States of America

1st Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen

S. 2710

AN ACT

To prohibit the commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force.

Definitions

(1)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means—

(A)

the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

(B)

the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Covered munitions items

The term covered munitions items means tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, foam rounds, bean bag rounds, pepper balls, water cannons, handcuffs, shackles, stun guns, and tasers.

(3)

Hong Kong

The term Hong Kong has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 5702).

(4)

Hong Kong police force

The term Hong Kong Police Force means—

(A)

the Hong Kong Police Force; and

(B)

the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force.

Prohibition on commercial export of covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force

(a)

In general

Except as provided in subsection (b), beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall prohibit the issuance of licenses to export covered munitions items to the Hong Kong Police Force.

(b)

Exceptions

The prohibition set forth in subsection (a) shall not apply to the issuance of a license with respect to which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees, not fewer than 30 days before the date of such issuance, a written notice—

(1)

certifying that the exports to be covered by such license are important to the national interests and foreign policy goals of the United States; and

(2)

describing the manner in which such exports will promote such interests and goals.

Sunset

The prohibition under section 2 shall expire one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate