Congresswoman Michelle Steel, R-CA, has slammed China's organ harvesting practices and stressed the importance of preventing any involvement or complicity from the United States. Steel, a member of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, tweeted her views on Sunday.
"The CCP’s organ harvesting is a gross human rights violation, and the American People deserve to know how the Administration plans to prevent those responsible from exploiting U.S. resources in committing these crimes," Steel wrote.
Steel recently partnered with Rep. Neal Dunn, M.D., R-FL, to urge U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to address the issue, according to a press release she issued.
“I have met with several survivors of the CCP’s internment camps that torture and enslave minorities, including Uyghurs, and have heard firsthand about the horrors experienced at the hands of the CCP,” Steel said in the release. “We must do whatever we can to prevent the organ harvesting industry. I look forward to hearing from Secretary Blinken about the steps he is taking to prevent these human rights atrocities from continuing.”
In their letter to Secretary of State Blinken, Steel and Dunn called for an investigation into and denial of visas for people, such as medical practitioners, who engaged in organ harvesting practices, as well as the deportation of those previously involved. An estimated 60,000 to 100,000 forced organ transplants take place annually in China, contributing to an industry valued at around $1 billion, according to Real Clear Politics.
“The first-hand accounts I’ve heard from victims and survivors of the CCP’s inhumane actions are nothing short of horrific,” Dunn said in the release. “Any Chinese healthcare professionals participating in organ harvesting are committing crimes against humanity. The Department of State must take action to ensure these criminals do not have access to immigration status in the United States.”
In March, the House passed the "Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act." The legislation proposed strict measures for people associated with the organ harvesting industry, including denial of entry into the United States. Also, offenders would be subject to severe penalties, including fines up to $1 million and imprisonment for a maximum of 20 years, the Catholic News Agency reported.
