This Act establishes U.S. policy to combat international forced organ harvesting and trafficking by imposing sanctions, denying passports to convicted perpetrators, and requiring regular reporting on these abuses in foreign countries.
Christopher "Chris" Smith
Representative
NJ-4
The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 establishes a comprehensive U.S. policy to combat international forced organ harvesting and trafficking, prioritizing the promotion of safe, voluntary donation systems globally. The bill mandates regular reporting on these abuses in foreign countries and authorizes the Secretary of State to deny or revoke passports for individuals convicted of related crimes involving international travel. Furthermore, it requires the President to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on any person found to be funding or supporting forced organ harvesting operations.
| Party | Total Votes | Yes | No | Did Not Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | 219 | 203 | 1 | 15 |
Democrat | 213 | 203 | 0 | 10 |
New Bill Targets Organ Traffickers with Global Sanctions and Passport Revocations
The “Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025” is straightforward: it sets up a clear U.S. policy to fight international organ trafficking and forced organ removal, explicitly calling out the Chinese Communist Party as a key target. The bill’s main goal is to use U.S. diplomatic power, reporting requirements, and economic sanctions to shut down this brutal black market, promoting voluntary and ethical donation systems worldwide.
The Passport-and-Travel Crackdown
Section 4 of this Act introduces a very specific consequence for people convicted of organ transplant crimes under the National Organ Transplant Act: losing their passport. But here’s the fine print: the Secretary of State can only deny or revoke a passport if the person is currently serving time or under supervision for that conviction and if they used a passport or crossed an international border while committing the crime. This isn't a blanket rule; it targets those who rely on international travel to facilitate their illegal activities. For the average person, this provision is a clear signal that the U.S. is closing the door on criminals who globalize their exploitation.
Mandating the Global Fact-Check
If you’ve ever wondered how the U.S. tracks human rights abuses overseas, Section 5 changes the playbook. It amends the Foreign Assistance Act to require the State Department to include a detailed assessment of forced organ harvesting and trafficking for organ removal in all its annual country reports. This means that every year, the U.S. government will be forced to shine a spotlight on who is doing what, where, and how. This enhanced reporting requirement is a crucial step for citizens and activists globally, turning a previously murky issue into a documented diplomatic priority. It defines “forced organ harvesting” clearly: taking organs using force, trickery, or exploiting a vulnerable person.
The Sanctions Hammer: Freezing Assets and Travel Bans
Section 6 is where the real teeth are. Within 180 days of the Act becoming law, the President must identify and sanction anyone found to be funding, supporting, or making forced organ harvesting easier. These sanctions are serious, using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to mandate two major actions: first, freezing all assets these actors hold in the U.S. or through U.S. persons; and second, imposing immediate travel bans, revoking visas, and denying entry into the country. For the entities involved, this means immediate financial isolation from the U.S. market and banking system.
There are important checks and balances built into the sanctions, though. The asset freeze doesn't apply to the import of physical goods (but technical data is fair game). More importantly, the President cannot block transactions related to food, medicine, or essential humanitarian aid. Plus, the President can waive the sanctions for 180 days at a time if national security demands it, provided Congress gets 15 days’ notice. This shows the government is trying to hit the bad actors without accidentally blocking vital aid or compromising national defense.