U.S. House of Representatives Passes Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act

(Minghui.org) The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1503 on May 7 with an overwhelmingly majority of 406 to 1. Known as the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025, this legislation was introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) to end forced organ harvesting and trafficking.

Representative Chris Smith at a press conference on May 7 before the vote for the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act

Taking Concrete Action

Representative Smith spoke during the press conference on May 7.

During a press conference hosted by Representative Smith before the vote on May 7, representatives from several human rights organizations including the Falun Dafa Information Center spoke about the significance of the bill.

“These crimes against humanity are unimaginably cruel and painful. Between 2 to 6 internal organs per victim are extracted. It is murder masquerading as medicine,” explained Representative Smith.

“To combat these heinous, inhumane, ever-expanding practices, the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025, amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require the imposition of serious sanctions on any person the President determines funds, sponsors or otherwise facilitates forced organ harvesting or trafficking for purposes of the removal of organs,” he continued. “We must act—and we must act decisively.”

In particular, this legislation:a) requires comprehensive reports on forced organ harvesting and trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs in foreign countries, including and especially in China.b) requires civil penalties up to $250,000 and criminal penalties including a fine of up to $1 million and imprisonment for not more than 20 years or both.c) imposes sanctions, including blocking and prohibiting all transactions in property and interests in property and making such persons inadmissible to the United States and ineligible to receive a visa.

Solid Evidence

Mark Yang from the Falun Dafa Information Center spoke at the press conference.

“Since 1999, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been brutally persecuted—detained, imprisoned, and tortured—simply for upholding the spiritual values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance,” said Mark Yang from the Falun Dafa Information Center at the press conference. “Simultaneously, China’s transplant industry has exploded in size, growing at a pace that defied any ethical explanation.

“So far, there are 5,000 well documented deaths due to torture and abuse. Moreover, an unknowable number, likely hundreds of thousands as estimated by the China Tribunal, have been slaughtered for their organs,” he added.

It took some time for people to understand the extent of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) brutality. In 2006, it was learned that the CCP operates a state-sanctioned practice of live, forced organ harvesting. Numerous testimonies from Chinese medical staff and other whistle blowers revealed that Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners of conscience are being systematically killed for their organs. Almost 20 years have passed and the evidence is now overwhelming.

“Thanks to Rep. Chris Smith – who has stood with us from the very beginning – we now see the fruits of his unwavering leadership. His Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act has gained wide bipartisan support,” he concluded.

Perseverance for Over 20 Years

After the CCP began to suppress Falun Gong in July 1999, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res.218 on November 18, 1999, urging to end the persecution. Introduced by Representative Smith, it was the first piece of legislation by the U.S. Congress that calls to stop the atrocities.

Over 20 years have passed and these efforts continue. “Thank you for your perseverance, especially in light of severe repression by the Chinese Communist Party,” Representative Smith told Falun Gong practitioners during an interview on May 7. “We stand in solidarity with your right to practice how you see fit, and I applaud you for your tolerance and for your goodness.”