Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act

Key Points

• This bill aims to protect the rights and culture of the more than 6 million ethnic Mongolians living in China. It responds to reports that the Chinese government is replacing the Mongolian language in schools with Chinese and forcing traditional nomadic herders to move into cities, which many say destroys their way of life.
• If passed, the law would require the President to identify and punish any foreign officials responsible for human rights crimes against Southern Mongolians, such as torture or illegal imprisonment. These punishments could include freezing their bank accounts or banning them from entering the United States.
• The policy would create a new Mongolian-language news service through the Voice of America, funded with $2 million per year. It also encourages the U.S. Embassy in Beijing to hire staff who speak Mongolian to better monitor how people are being treated in the region.
• To help keep the culture alive, the bill asks the Smithsonian Institution and U.S. libraries to work with Mongolian communities to preserve their history and traditions. It also tells U.S. representatives at international banks to only support projects in the region that respect the local people's land and heritage.

Impact Analysis

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