WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 1503 · 119th Congress

Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025

Passed HouseInternational Affairs
IntroducedFeb 21, 2025
Passed HouseMay 7, 2025
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed House. Latest step, May 8, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The House passed it 406–1. All 4 of Iowa's representatives voted yes in the House. It would change 1 section of existing law and would add 4 new provisions of its own.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 1503 would change 1 section of existing law, and would create 4 new provisions of its own. Read from the bill text as sent to the Senate (May 8, 2025).

22 U.S.C. 2151 Congressional findings and declaration of policy

New provisions of the bill's own

  • Sec. 2 Statement of policy
  • Sec. 3 Definitions
  • Sec. 4 Authority to deny or revoke passports
  • Sec. 6 Imposition of sanctions with respect to forced organ harvesting or trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs
What the words would change: every change, in place (3)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 22 U.S.C. 2151added (h)by H.R. 1503 Sec. 5(1)

    (h) Forced organ harvesting and trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs.—(1) In general.— The report required by subsection (d) shall include an assessment of forced organ harvesting and trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs in each foreign country.(2) Definitions.— In this subsection:(A) Forced organ harvesting.— The term forced organ harvesting means the removal of one or more organs from a person by means of coercion, abduction, deception, fraud, or abuse of power or a position of vulnerability.(B) Organ.— The term organ has the meaning given the term human organ in section 301(c)(1) of the National Organ Transplant Act (42 U.S.C. 274e(c)(1)).(C) Trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs.— The term trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of a person for the purpose of removing one or more of such person’s organs, by means of—(i) coercion;(ii) abduction;(iii) deception;(iv) fraud;(v) abuse of power or a position of vulnerability; or(vi) transfer of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over a person described in the matter preceding clause (i).

    The bill says: in section 116 (22 U.S.C. 2151n), by adding at the end the following:

  2. 22 U.S.C. 2151renumberedby H.R. 1503 Sec. 5(2)

    The bill says: by redesignating the second subsection (i) (relating to child marriage status) as subsection (j); and

  3. 22 U.S.C. 2151added (k)by H.R. 1503 Sec. 5(2)

    (k) Forced organ harvesting and trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs.—(1) In general.— The report required by subsection (b) shall include an assessment of forced organ harvesting and trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs in each foreign country.(2) Definitions.— In this subsection, the terms forced organ harvesting, organ, and trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs have the meanings given those terms in section 116(h)(2).

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025

This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on persons (individuals and entities) involved in forced organ trafficking and authorizes the Department of State to deny or revoke the passports of individuals convicted of certain crimes related to organ trafficking.

Specifically, the President must report to Congress a list of persons that facilitate (1) forced organ harvesting, or (2) trafficking in persons for organ harvesting. For each person on the list, the President must impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions.

Furthermore, the State Department may deny or revoke the passport of an individual who has been convicted of a federal crime of knowingly transferring any human organ for valuable consideration for use in human transplantation, if the individual (1) is subject to imprisonment or supervised release resulting from that conviction, and (2) used a passport or crossed an international border when committing that crime.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Feb 21, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. May 8, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.Senate
  2. May 7, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
  3. May 7, 2025On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 1 (Roll no. 119). (text: 5/5/2025 CR H1819-1820) Roll call recordHouse floor actions
  4. May 7, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 406 - 1 (Roll no. 119). (text: 5/5/2025 CR H1819-1820) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  5. May 7, 2025Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1894-1895)House floor actions
  6. May 5, 2025At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.House floor actions
  7. May 5, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1503.House floor actions
  8. May 5, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1819)House floor actions
  9. May 5, 2025Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.House floor actions
  10. Feb 21, 2025Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary.House floor actions
  11. Feb 21, 2025Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary.House floor actions
  12. Feb 21, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
  13. Feb 21, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

Recorded votes

Sourced
  1. May 7, 2025 · HousePassed 406–1
    On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · needed two-thirds
    R 203 yes, 1 noD 203 yes, 0 noEach member · Record

Cosponsors

  • William R. Keating D-MA-9