(Minghui.org) On September 28, 2026, the US Senate passed bill S.4009, the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act, through unanimous consent. This marks a historic step forward in legislation specifically targeting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong, especially forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners.

Introduced by Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz in March this year, this legislation received 11 co-sponsors from both the Republican and Democratic parties. It aims to impose sanctions on those involved in forced organ harvesting, including denying them entry into the United States and freezing their assets in the US.

The legislative process of the Falun Gong Protection Act represents the persistent and collective efforts of dozens of members of Congress from both major political parties:

On December 16, 2021, Republican Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania introduced the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R.6319) in the 117th Congress. The bill had 19 co-sponsors, with 18 Republicans and one Democrat.

On June 14, 2023, Representative Scott Perry reintroduced the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R.4132) in the 118th Congress.

On June 25, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R.4132, 118th Congress).

On July 31, 2024, then-Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida introduced the Falun Gong Protection Act (S.4914) in the 118th Congress. The legislation had six Republican co-sponsors.

On February 24, 2025, Representative Scott Perry reintroduced the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R.1540) in the 119th Congress. Subsequently, 12 other representatives joined as co-sponsors, including 10 Republicans and two Democrats.

On May 5, 2025, the US House of Representatives passed the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R.1540, 119th Congress).

On March 5, 2026, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act (S.4009) in the 119th Congress. The legislation was supported by 11 senators as co-sponsors, six of whom were Republicans and five were Democrats.

On September 28, 2026, the Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act (S.4009) was passed by the US Senate through unanimous consent.

After three congressional terms, the bill still needs to go through bicameral negotiations and receive a presidential signature. That is, once both chambers of Congress agree on the same text, the legislation is formally sent to the White House. If the President signs it (or does not veto it within the prescribed time limit), the legislation will become federal law.

It is worth noting that from the bill’s inception to its passage in the Senate, the path was filled with tests of conscience and determination. The sense of justice and tireless efforts of Representative Perry and Senator Cruz, the dozens of members of Congress from both parties who co-sponsored the legislation, and all the Americans who signed petitions in support of the bill all reflect the stance of the American people in supporting human rights and freedom for Falun Gong practitioners.

As Representative Pat Ryan said at a rally with practitioners on September 24 in Washington, DC, “There is and remains bipartisan support for religious freedom, specifically to protect the practices of the Falun Gong. I am the proud co-sponsor of the Falun Gong Protection Act, bipartisan legislation which we have passed through the United States House of Representatives with wide, strong support, signifying that the American people stand with and support the Falun Gong people in every dimension of your faith and your freedom.”