FREEDOM for Gao Zhisheng and All Political Prisoners Act

Summary

Requires the State Department to make political-prisoner advocacy a core part of U.S. diplomacy, expand an existing China prisoner registry into a Global Political Prisoner Registry, and report to Congress on strategy and resource needs. Declares U.S. policy to press for the release of named detainees (including Gao Zhisheng and other specified prisoners), to use sanctions and multilateral tools against officials responsible for arbitrary detention, and to coordinate advocacy with allies and the U.N.; it also directs the CECC to provide issue briefs and authorizes funding for those briefs for FY2026–2029.

• Requires the State Department to embed political-prisoner advocacy into core diplomatic operations and brief Congress within 120 days on its strategy.
• Expands an existing China-only prisoner registry into a Global Political Prisoner Registry covering prisoners held worldwide for exercising internationally recognized human rights.
• Declares U.S. policy to press for release of named detainees (including Gao Zhisheng and others), to oppose exit bans, and to use sanctions and multilateral pressure against responsible officials.
• Directs use of existing sanctions authorities (e.g., Global Magnitsky and various Hong Kong/Uyghur-related laws) as accountability tools where appropriate.
• Requires the CECC to provide issue briefs to Members of Congress on request and authorizes funding for those briefs for FY2026–2029.
• Mandates that registry data be made available, when practicable and safe, to U.S. diplomats and Members of Congress for advocacy.
• Calls for public diplomacy to highlight human stories, seek proof of life and access to counsel, and coordinate with allies and the U.N.
• Defines the appropriate congressional committees as the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.