Panhandle Times

Washington, D.C – The House of Representatives has passed Congressman Nathaniel Moran's legislation, H.R. 4039, the No Dollars to Uyghur Forced Labor Act. The bill prohibits funds to the Department of State or the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to finance international projects in partnership with entities that import products mined, produced, or manufactured in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

The passage of this act is seen as an important step in showing the U.S. government's commitment to addressing the abuses committed by the Chinese Communist Party. The bill aims to confront the genocide and forced labor of the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang region.

Prominent human rights activists have expressed their appreciation for Congressman Moran's leadership on this issue. Dr. Rev. Bob Fu, Founder and President of ChinaAid, stated, "After years of evidence and brave survivors speaking out, the world can no longer ignore the Uyghur genocide. It is imperative for our consciences to remove all U.S. funding from the Uyghur region." Omer Kanat, Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project, added, "Uyghurs worldwide are thankful to Representative Moran and the U.S. Congress for passing a bill which ensures that our tax dollars do not fund ongoing atrocity crimes and modern-day slavery."

The Chinese Communist Party has been accused of committing genocide against the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The party has been repressing ethnic minorities for practicing their faith and detaining them in "reeducation centers" where they are forced into labor. The region is crucial to China's global supply chain, with many basic goods being produced using forced labor.

While the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act already prohibits goods made in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from entering U.S. supply chains, H.R. 4039 goes a step further by ensuring that the United States does not develop international contracts with partners that source goods or raw materials from the Xinjiang region.

Congressman Moran explained the importance of this legislation in his remarks on the House floor, stating, "Slavery in any form is repugnant and morally wrong. And, America—the home of the brave and the land of the free—should not be complicit in the Chinese Communist Party's genocide, oppression, and enslavement of Uyghur Muslims."

He highlighted the extent of the forced labor happening in Xinjiang, with over 100,000 Uyghur Muslims being used as slave labor by the Chinese Communist Party. The No Dollars to Uyghur Forced Labor Act aims to ensure that the U.S. plays no part in this atrocity by prohibiting the development of international contracts with companies that import or source any raw materials or goods from the Xinjiang region.

The Xinjiang region is essential to China's economy and is considered the "core hub" for China's Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to exert economic influence globally. Many everyday goods are produced using forced labor in Xinjiang, including yarn, bricks, cotton, and polysilicon.

In addition to addressing the forced labor issue, the bill also requires a report to Congress identifying all violations in the previous year, along with a plan to improve enforcement and compliance.

Congressman Moran concluded his remarks by emphasizing the need for the United States to take a strong stance against such human rights abuses. He stated, "If we do, then what is happening to the Uyghurs in China will surely follow wherever China builds its empire. We simply cannot let this happen."

The passage of H.R. 4039 is a significant step in holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its actions and ensuring that the United States does not contribute to the ongoing atrocities in the Xinjiang region.