Press Release

Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, issued the following statement after the Chinese parliament approved its new national security legislation:

"Over the past year, I have been deeply alarmed by Beijing's continued assault on Hong Kong's democracy. That's why I joined an international statement from hundreds of legislators around the world in condemning Beijing's new national security legislation, its latest attack on Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms. This legislation deprives millions of people of their democratic rights, and I fear that the nature of the relationship between Hong Kong and the United States has been fundamentally changed for the worse.

What will not change is the U.S. commitment to the people of Hong Kong. The Trump Administration should demonstrate its support for those in Hong Kong who may now want to depart by granting visas to enter the United States and welcoming them. The people of Hong Kong deserve freedom and democracy. We would be lucky to have them here."