Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act
Latest action · Sep 25, 2024 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 527.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedFeb 17, 2023
- Passed HouseSep 10, 2024
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act
This bill requires the President to periodically determine whether to allow the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) to continue to operate in the United States. (The HKETOs are the official representative offices for Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous city that was established as a British colony in 1841. The United Kingdom transferred sovereignty over Hong Kong to China in 1997).
Under this bill, the President must periodically (at least once a year) certify to Congress a determination as to whether the HKETOs should be covered by the International Organizations Immunities Act. (The act provides immunities and privileges to certain international organizations, such as immunity from certain lawsuits and exemption from property taxes.)
If the President certifies that the HKETOs no longer merit receiving such privileges and immunities, the HKETOs must terminate operations in the United States no later than 180 days after the certification is delivered to Congress.
If the President certifies that the HKETOs continue to merit such privileges and immunities, the HKETOs may continue operations for another year, unless Congress enacts a joint resolution disapproving of the certification.
The President may also revoke the application of such privileges and immunities to the HKETOs.
A federal government entity may enter into an agreement or partnership with an HKETO only if the HKETOs are still authorized to operate in the United States under this bill.
Recorded votes 1
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House 405 | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended | Passed413–3 | Sep 10, 2024 |
Cosponsors 7
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Feb 17, 2023 to Mar 5, 2024, with 1 there on the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-MA | James P. McGovern | Original | Feb 17, 2023 |
| R-IA | Ashley Hinson | May 17, 2023 | |
| D-VA | Jennifer Wexton | Nov 13, 2023 | |
| R-WI | Mike Gallagher | Nov 13, 2023 | |
| D-OR | Andrea Salinas | Nov 28, 2023 | |
| D-CA | Nancy Pelosi | Nov 29, 2023 | |
| D-CA | Adam B. Schiff | Mar 5, 2024 |
Actions 13
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Sep 25, 2024Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 527.
- Sep 10, 2024Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5119)
- Sep 10, 2024Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Sep 10, 2024On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 3 (Roll no. 405).
- Sep 10, 2024Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 3 (Roll no. 405).
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 490 | Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act | Identical bill | Jul 25, 2023 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: International Affairs.
- Asia
- China
- Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
- Congressional oversight
- Cultural exchanges and relations
- Government liability
- Hong Kong
- International Affairs
- International organizations and cooperation
- Legislative rules and procedure
- Licensing and registrations
- Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
- Travel and tourism
Text 3
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Sep 25, 2024Placed on Calendar Senate
- Sep 10, 2024Engrossed in House
- Feb 17, 2023Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.