U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
SB5562: Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act
Status: In committee, September 24, 2026
A bill to develop and deploy firewall circumvention tools for the people of Hong Kong after the People's Republic of China violated its agreement under the Joint Declaration, and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To develop and deploy firewall circumvention tools for the people of Hong Kong after the People's Republic of China violated its agreement under the Joint Declaration, and for other purposes.
From the introduced text, September 24, 2026:
A BILL To develop and deploy firewall circumvention tools for the people of Hong Kong after the People's Republic of China violated its agreement under the Joint Declaration, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act . SECTION 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) The People's Republic of China has repeatedly violated its obligations under the Joint Declaration by suppressing the basic rights and freedoms of Hong Kongers. (2) On June 30, 2020, the National People's Congress passed a law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (referred to in this Act as the National Security Law ), which further erodes Hong Kong's autonomy and enables authorities to suppress dissent. (3) The Government of the People's Republic of China continues to utilize the National Security Law to undermine the fundamental rights of Hong Kongers by suppressing freedoms of speech, assembly, religion, and the press. (4) Article 9 of the National Security Law authorizes unprecedented regulation and supervision of internet activity in Hong Kong, including expanded police powers to force internet service providers to censor content, hand over user information, and block access to platforms. (5) On January 13, 2021, the Hong Kong Broadband Network blocked public access to HKChronicles, which is a …
Sponsors
- Lankford, James (R, SD-OK) · primary sponsor
- Kaine, Timothy (D)
Latest actions
- : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- : Introduced in Senate
Subjects: International Affairs
Common questions
- What is SB5562?
- SB5562 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act.
- What does SB5562 do?
- In its own words: To develop and deploy firewall circumvention tools for the people of Hong Kong after the People's Republic of China violated its agreement under the Joint Declaration, and for other purposes.
- What is the status of SB5562?
- In committee as of September 24, 2026. Latest action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (September 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5562?
- Lankford, James (R, SD-OK), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB5562?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5562
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.