United States 118th Congress Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 31 R · 9 D cosponsors

HRES 90 — Demanding that the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party immediately release Mark Swidan.

Last action — The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

This resolution demands that the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) immediately release Mark Swidan. The resolution also condemns the Chinese government and the CCP for denying Swidan access to U.S. diplomats and independent and competent medical care. Swidan is a U.S. citizen who was convicted of drug-related charges in China and sentenced to death. A U.N. working group on arbitrary detention considers Swidan's detention arbitrary and in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

38 added · 62 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of H. Res. 90 includes additional details about Mark Swidan's treatment and conditions while detained in the People's Republic of China (PRC). It highlights specific actions taken against Swidan, such as attempts to coerce him into signing a confession, denial of contact with his family, lack of medical care, and the general nonconformity of the PRC with international norms. These added details emphasize the context of the resolution and call for Swidan's immediate release, along with compensation and reparations in accordance with international law.

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90 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
90 Engrossed in House (EH)] <DOC> H.
RES.
Res.
90 Demanding that the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China immediately release Mark Swidan.
90 In the House of Representatives, U.
_______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 1, 2023 Mr.
S., April 25, 2023.
Cloud (for himself, Mr.
Whereas Mark Swidan is being unjustly and arbitrarily detained by the Government of the People's Republic of China, according to the United States Government and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention;
McCaul, Mr.
Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr.
Crenshaw, Ms.
Garcia of Texas, Mr.
Sessions, Mr.
Green of Texas, Mr.
Ellzey, Mr.
Hunt, Mr.
Fallon, Ms.
De La Cruz, Mr.
Luttrell, Mr.
Babin, Mr.
Nehls, Mr.
Self, Mr.
Weber of Texas, Mr.
Roy, Mr.
Moran, Mr.
Pfluger, Mr.
Jackson of Texas, Mr.
Burgess, Ms.
Van Duyne, Mr.
Cuellar, Mr.
Arrington, Mr.
Allred, Mr.
Carter of Texas, Mr.
Veasey, Mr.
Gooden of Texas, Ms.
Granger, Mr.
Castro of Texas, and Mr.
Williams of Texas) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Demanding that the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China immediately release Mark Swidan.
Whereas Mark Swidan is being unjustly and arbitrarily detained by the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China (CPC), according to the United States Government and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention;
Whereas, on April 30, 2019, a Chinese court sentenced Swidan to death, which he has appealed;
Whereas, on April 30, 2019, a PRC court sentenced Swidan to death, which he has appealed;
Whereas security officials in the People's Republic of China repeatedly attempted to coerce Swidan into signing a confession, but Swidan refused to sign a confession pleaded not guilty;
Whereas PRC security officials repeatedly attempted to coerce Swidan into signing a confession, but Swidan refused to sign a confession pleaded not guilty;
Whereas officials of the People's Republic of China and the CPC have maliciously and systematically denied Swidan's mother Katherine Swidan, a resident of Texas, and other members of his family the ability to contact him;
Whereas PRC officials have maliciously and systematically denied Swidan's mother Katherine Swidan, a resident of Texas, and other members of his family the ability to contact him;
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Whereas officials of the People's Republic of China and the CPC have denied and continue to deny United States diplomats full consular access to Swidan, in violation of international norms;
Whereas the PRC have denied and continue to deny United States diplomats full consular access to Swidan, in violation of international norms;
Whereas Swidan's health has precipitously deteriorated and security officials in People's Republic of China continue to deny independent or competent medical care and evaluation to Swidan;
Whereas Swidan's health has precipitously deteriorated and PRC security officials continue to deny independent or competent medical care and evaluation to Swidan;
(2) emphasized the nonconformity by the People's Republic of China with international norms, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
(2) emphasized the nonconformity by the PRC with international norms, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
and (3) stressed that ``the appropriate remedy would be to release Mr.
and (3) stressed that ``the appropriate remedy would be to release Swidan immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law'':
Swidan immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law'':
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) demands that the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party immediately release Mark Swidan;
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) demands that the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China immediately release Mark Swidan;
(2) condemns the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party for refusing to provide Swidan with-- (A) regular communication with his family;
(2) condemns the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China for refusing to provide Swidan with-- (A) regular communication with his family;
and (3) calls on the United States Government to deepen and prioritize efforts to secure the release of Swidan, including by-- (A) urging Chinese counterparts at every level of engagement to release Swidan, and (B) using the voice and vote of United States diplomats in international forums to highlight Swidan's case.
and (3) calls on the United States Government to deepen and prioritize efforts to secure the release of Swidan, including by-- (A) urging PRC counterparts at every level of engagement to release Swidan;
<all>
and (B) using the voice and vote of United States diplomats in international forums to highlight Swidan's case.
Attest:
Clerk.
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Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

  4. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  5. Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

  6. Mr. McCaul moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

  7. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1927-1929)

  8. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 90.

  9. 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.

  10. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1931-1932)

  11. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 193). (text: CR H1927)

  12. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 193). (text: CR H1927)

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

  14. The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 39 co-sponsors · 507 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (39)

Not signed on (507)

507 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

What does HRES 90 do?
This resolution demands that the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) immediately release Mark Swidan. The resolution also condemns the Chinese government and the CCP for denying Swidan access to U.S. diplomats and independent and competent medical care. Swidan is a U.S. citizen who was convicted of drug-related charges in China and sentenced to death. A U.N. working group on arbitrary detention considers Swidan's detention arbitrary and in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Who sponsors HRES 90?
HRES 90 is sponsored by McCaul, Michael T. (Republican), Gonzalez, Vicente (Democratic), Crenshaw, Dan (Republican), Garcia, Sylvia R. (Democratic), Sessions, Pete (Republican), Green, Al (Democratic), Ellzey, Jake (Republican), Hunt, Wesley (Republican), Fallon, Pat (Republican), De La Cruz, Monica (Republican), Luttrell, Morgan (Republican), Babin, Brian (Republican), Nehls, Troy E. (Republican), Self, Keith (Republican), Weber, Randy K. Sr. (Republican), Roy, Chip (Republican), Moran, Nathaniel (Republican), Pfluger, August (Republican), Jackson, Ronny (Republican), Burgess, Michael C. (Republican), Van Duyne, Beth (Republican), Cuellar, Henry (Democratic), Arrington, Jodey C. (Republican), Allred, Colin Z. (Democratic), Carter, John R. (Republican), Veasey, Marc A. (Democratic), Gooden, Lance (Republican), Granger, Kay (Republican), Castro, Joaquin (Democratic), Williams, Roger (Republican), Green, Mark E. (Republican), Armstrong, Kelly (Republican), Fletcher, Lizzie (Democratic), Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman (Republican), Kim, Young (Republican), Davidson, Warren (Republican), Smith, Christopher H. (Republican), Hill, J. French (Republican), Sherman, Brad (Democratic), and Cloud, Michael (Republican).
What is the current status of HRES 90?
This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HRES 90?
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