; Whereas the Communist Party of China has increasingly constrained Hong Kong’s freedoms in violation of the one country, two systems framework by supporting, among other actions, the banishment of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, the restriction of entry for individuals critical of the Communist Party of China, the refusal of a United States extradition request in May 2018, and the indiscriminate disqualification of candidates for office due to their alleged support for Hong Kong self-determination; Whereas, on April 3, 2019, the Government of Hong Kong introduced a bill to amend the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance laws (commonly known as the extradition bill) concerning extradition to expand the extradition arrangement to include mainland China, which would allow for the handover of any persons in the territory of Hong Kong, residents and nonresidents, as well as materials in their possession; Whereas the Department of State issued a statement on June 9, 2019, warning that the lack of procedural protections in the bill could negatively impact Hong Kong’s longstanding protections of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and democratic values; Whereas, on June 9, 2019, approximately 1,000,000 people peacefully rallied against the bill, and on June 12, 2019, in Admiralty, tens of thousands staged a protest outside the city’s government headquarters to stop the legislators from moving forward with the bill; Whereas, on June 12, the Government of Hong Kong took advantage of the acts of a small minority of protesters and classified the largely peaceful protest as an unlawful assembly and a riot , a charge that can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years for those who were arrested