{"bill":{"id":"119-hres-1259","congress":119,"type":"HRES","number":1259,"title":"Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should prioritize securing the release of Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai detained by the People's Republic of China during future engagements with Chinese President Xi Jinping.","originChamber":"House","introducedDate":"2026-05-07","sponsors":[{"bioguideId":"S000522","fullName":"Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]","party":"R","state":"NJ","district":4}],"cosponsorsCount":3,"latestAction":{"actionDate":"2026-05-13","actionTime":"18:47:28","text":"Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection."},"policyArea":"International Affairs","subjects":["Asia","China","Detention of persons","Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad","Human rights","Religion"],"actions":[{"date":"2026-05-13","text":"Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-05-13","text":"On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 0 (Roll no. 167).","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":true},{"date":"2026-05-13","text":"Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 0 (Roll no. 167).","type":"Floor","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":true},{"date":"2026-05-13","text":"Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3437-3438)","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-05-12","text":"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.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-05-12","text":"DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1259.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-05-12","text":"Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3372-3375; text: CR H3372)","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-05-12","text":"Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-05-07","text":"Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-05-07","text":"Submitted in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false}],"summary":"<p>This resolution calls upon the President to&nbsp;prioritize the humanitarian release of five specified individuals (Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai) and others unjustly detained by China during future engagements with China's President&nbsp;Xi Jinping.</p><p>The resolution also (1) urges the President to seek verifiable proof of life, access to independent legal counsel, family communication, and medical care for these detainees; and (2) reaffirms the U.S. commitment to defending political and religious freedom and advocating for the release of those unjustly detained for exercising such fundamental freedoms.</p>","updateDate":"2026-05-15T03:08:24Z"},"markets":[],"stateBills":[],"meta":{"sources":["congress.gov"],"latencyMs":421,"ts":"2026-05-29T23:30:38.802Z"},"nextActions":{"inspect":[],"related":[{"description":"Search related legislation","method":"GET","url":"https://simplefunctions.dev/api/public/query-gov?q=Expressing%20the%20sense%20of%20the%20House%20of%20Representatives%20that%20th"}]}}