S. 484 – Combating Human Rights Abuses Act of 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:43 AM UTC

The Combating Human Rights Abuses Act of 2023 directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and deliver training for Commerce staff and to issue guidance for U.S. businesses. The focus is on raising awareness of forced‑labor and other abuses linked to the Chinese government’s actions against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. The bill aims to help businesses identify and avoid transactions that could support such abuses.

Key Provisions

Require the Secretary of Commerce to provide training to department employees who counsel businesses on interstate commerce or foreign investment, covering emerging trends in Chinese‑government human‑rights abuses, especially forced labor in Xinjiang.
Mandate that the training be incorporated into existing Commerce training programs and updated as needed.
Require the Secretary to issue advisory guidance for U.S. businesses engaged in interstate commerce or foreign direct investment about risks of dealing with entities linked to jurisdictions with significant human‑rights abuses, notably China.
Guidance must detail risk factors for identifying such entities, ways to avoid them, and the potential reputational, economic, legal, and other risks of transactions, and it is for advisory purposes only.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 22, 2023 • 9:16 AM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 16, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

February 16, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 27, 2023

SenateCommittee

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell without amendment. Without written report.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

December 5, 2023

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 263.

December 5, 2023

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6062)

December 19, 2023

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6062)

December 19, 2023

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 20, 2023

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 22, 2023 • 9:13 AM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 22, 2023 • 9:16 AM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 484 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Jeff MerkleyD-OR · Dec 19, 2023

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 263, S. 484. I ask unanimous consent that the Peters substitute amendment at the desk be…

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued December 19, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 484

AN ACT

To require the Secretary of Commerce to provide training and guidance relating to human rights abuses, including such abuses perpetrated against the Uyghur population by the Government of the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Combating Human Rights Abuses Act of 2023.

2.

Training for employees of the Department of Commerce relating to awareness of human rights abuses

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Commerce shall provide training described in subsection (b) to such employees of the Department of Commerce who provide counseling services to businesses engaged in interstate commerce or foreign direct investment as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(b)

Contents of training

The training required under subsection (a) shall be—

(1)

designed to raise awareness about emerging trends and issues with respect to human rights abuses perpetrated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, including the use of forced labor, against Uyghurs and other ethnic minority populations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; and

(2)

incorporated to the greatest extent possible into existing training provided by the Department of Commerce.

(c)

Timing

The training required under subsection (a) shall be offered and updated at such times as the Secretary considers appropriate.

3.

Guidance for United States businesses relating to awareness of human rights abuses

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Commerce shall—

(1)

offer guidance for United States businesses engaged in interstate commerce or foreign direct investment, including such businesses that are, or are considering, conducting transactions with entities subject to the control or influence of jurisdictions where significant human rights abuses have occurred, such as the People’s Republic of China; and

(2)

incorporate the guidance required under paragraph (1) into any counseling services that the Department of Commerce provides to such businesses as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(b)

Contents of guidance

The guidance required under subsection (a) shall—

(1)

provide information about emerging trends and issues involving human rights abuses perpetrated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, consisting of the use of forced labor against Uyghurs and other ethnic minority populations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, including information about—

(A)

risk factors that may be used to identify entities subject to the influence or control of jurisdictions such as the People’s Republic of China that may be implicated in human rights abuses;

(B)

ways to avoid doing business with entities described in subparagraph (A); and

(C)

potential reputational, economic, legal, and other risks of conducting transactions with an entity described in subparagraph (A); and

(2)

make clear that the guidance is for advisory purposes only.

Passed the Senate December 19, 2023.

Secretary