S. 5044: Honoring the Victims of Communist China’s Tyranny Act

This bill would direct the Secretary of State to establish a memorial in International Park in northwest Washington, D.C. within two years of enactment. The memorial would honor people who were killed, imprisoned, or otherwise persecuted for genocide, crimes against humanity, or peaceful exercise of human rights in the People’s Republic of China.

What the memorial would recognize

The memorial’s stated purpose is to honor:

• Victims of genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the Chinese Communist Party, with specific attention to abuses during Xi Jinping’s leadership;
• People persecuted in China for their political or religious beliefs, or for other peaceful exercise of basic rights.

What the memorial would say and include

The memorial would be required to express two messages:

• Solidarity and friendship from the people of the United States to the people of China;
• Hope that the Chinese people will one day enjoy liberty.

To the extent practicable, the memorial would also include educational or interpretive features, such as inscriptions or artwork, describing:

• The treatment of Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang;
• Efforts to suppress Tibetan and Southern Mongolian culture, religion, history, and language;
• The imprisonment and persecution of democracy advocates, journalists, religious leaders, and political prisoners in China, including Jimmy Lai;
• Restrictions on religion, speech, association, and press freedom in China;
• Broader lessons about authoritarian repression and crimes against humanity.

How it would be handled

The Secretary of State would administer the memorial and could consult with survivors, family members of victims, human rights organizations, and other relevant people or agencies when designing, building, and maintaining it.

The bill says the memorial cannot require removing, relocating, or materially changing any existing memorial already in International Park.

Funding

The bill would allow the State Department to use already-appropriated funds to carry out the project. Federal spending on design and construction would be capped at $500,000, though donated funds would not count toward that limit. The bill also allows the Secretary to seek and accept private donations for establishment, maintenance, preservation, and improvement of the memorial. It does not authorize any new appropriations.

Relevant Companies

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