The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) is an independent agency of the U.S. government which monitors human rights and rule of law developments in the People's Republic of China. The commission was given the mandate by the U.S. Congress to monitor and report on human rights issues with a particular focus on compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its reporting covers developments in freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, religious freedom, freedom of movement, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention or torture, and the right to a fair trial, among others.H.R. 4444, TITLE III--CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA The commission publishes an annual report to the President of the United States and Congress, typically in the fall of each year. It also maintains a database of prisoners of conscience, holds regular roundtables and hearings, and issues letters to other institutions concerning human rights matters.

Creation The creation of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (along with the United States-China Economic and Security Review Committee) emerged as part of negotiations for permanent normal trade relations with China upon its accession to the World Trade Organization.

The commission was created in October 2000 under Title III of H.R. 4444, which authorizes normal trade relations with China and establishes a framework for relations between the two countries.

Work Annual report The CECC publishes an annual report on human rights and rule of law developments in China, usually in the fall of each year, and covers issues such as freedom of expression, worker rights, religious freedom, ethnic minority rights, population planning, the status of women, climate change and the environment, treatment of North Korean refugees, civil society, access to justice, and democratic governance.Congressional Executive-Commission on China, 2010 Annual Report, 15 October 2010. The reports draw on a variety of sources, including information from human rights groups, media reports, government, and Chinese Communist Party documents.

Prisoner database

As part of its mandate from Congress, the CECC maintains a partial database of religious and political prisoners believed to be detained in China. As of June 30, 2022, the database contained 10,645 names, of which 2,506 were believed to be detained at that time, while the remainder were released, deceased, or escaped.Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 2022 Annual Report, 2022, p. 44. The database was created with the assistance of the Dui Hua Foundation and Tibet Information Network.Congressional-Executive Commission on China, CECC political prisoner database , accessed 11-13-11.

Staff The commission consists of a staff of researchers and analysts and is overseen by as many as nine members each from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as one representative each from State, Commerce, and Labor, and two other executive branch employees nominated by the President. The chair of the commission rotates between the majority parties from the House and Senate. The commission is currently chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).

On December 23, 2022, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that Todd Stein, CECC deputy staff director, would be one of two individuals sanctioned by China with effect from the same day. The order specified that this was in retaliation to the United States having sanctioned two Chinese officials earlier that month over human rights issues in Tibet. In an emailed comment to The Associated Press, Stein said the sanction order against him did not matter in light of the "thousands of prisoners of conscience jailed by Chinese authorities."

Commissioners MajorityMinoritySenate membersDan Sullivan, Alaska, Chair Tom Cotton, ArkansasJeff Merkley, Oregon, Vice Ranking Member Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Andy Kim, New Jersey Lisa Blunt Rochester, DelawareHouse membersChris Smith, New Jersey, Co-Chair Elise Stefanik, New York Zach Nunn, Iowa Jen Kiggans, Virginia Dale Strong, AlabamaJim McGovern, Massachusetts, Ranking Member Tom Suozzi, New York Suhas Subramanyam, Virginia James Walkinshaw, VirginiaExecutive branch1 vacant, Department of Commerce 1 vacant, Department of Labor 3 vacant, Department of State

Commissioners, 118th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersJeff Merkley, Oregon, Co-Chair Angus King, Maine Tammy Duckworth, IllinoisMarco Rubio, Florida, Ranking Member Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, Montana Dan Sullivan, AlaskaHouse membersBrian Mast, Florida Michelle Steel, California Ryan Zinke, Montana Zach Nunn, IowaJim McGovern, Massachusetts, Vice Ranking Member Jennifer Wexton, Virginia Susan Wild, Pennsylvania Andrea Salinas, OregonExecutive branchUzra Zeya, Department of State Marisa Lago, Department of Commerce Thea Lee, Department of Labor Daniel Kritenbrink, Department of State Erin Barclay, Department of State

Commissioners, 117th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersJeff Merkley, Oregon, Chair Dianne Feinstein, California Angus King, Maine Jon Ossoff, GeorgiaMarco Rubio, Florida, Vice Ranking Member James Lankford, Oklahoma Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, MontanaHouse membersJim McGovern, Massachusetts, Co-Chair Tom Suozzi, New York Tom Malinowski, New Jersey Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Jennifer Wexton, VirginiaBrian Mast, Florida Vicky Hartzler, Missouri Michelle Steel, CaliforniaExecutive branchUzra Zeya, Department of State Marisa Lago, Department of Commerce Thea Lee, Department of Labor Daniel Kritenbrink, Department of State Lisa Peterson, Department of State

Commissioners, 116th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersMarco Rubio, Florida, Co-Chair James Lankford, Oklahoma Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, South Dakota Todd Young, IndianaDianne Feinstein, California, Ranking Member Jeff Merkley, Oregon Gary Peters, Michigan Angus King, MaineHouse membersJim McGovern, Massachusetts, Chair Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Tom Suozzi, New York Tom Malinowski, New Jersey Ben McAdams, UtahBrian Mast, Florida Vicky Hartzler, Missouri 1 vacantExecutive Branch1 vacant, Department of Commerce 1 vacant, Department of Labor 3 vacant, Department of State

Commissioners, 115th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersMarco Rubio, Florida, Chair James Lankford, Oklahoma Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, South Dakota Todd Young, IndianaDianne Feinstein, California, Vice Ranking Member Jeff Merkley, Oregon Gary Peters, Michigan Angus King, MaineHouse membersChris Smith, New Jersey, Co-Chair Robert Pittenger, North Carolina Randy Hultgren, Illinois 2 vacantMarcy Kaptur, Ohio, Ranking Member Tim Walz, Minnesota Ted Lieu, California 1 vacantExecutive Branch1 vacant, Department of Commerce 1 vacant, Department of Labor 3 vacant, Department of State

Commissioners, 114th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersMarco Rubio, Florida, Co-Chair James Lankford, Oklahoma Tom Cotton, Arkansas Steve Daines, South Dakota Ben Sasse, NebraskaDianne Feinstein, California, Ranking Member Jeff Merkley, Oregon Gary Peters, Michigan 1 vacantHouse membersChris Smith, New Jersey, Chair Robert Pittenger, North Carolina Trent Franks, Arizona Randy Hultgren, Illinois Diane Black, TennesseeTim Walz, Minnesota, Vice Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California Ted Lieu, CaliforniaExecutive BranchChris Lu, Department of Labor Sarah Sewall, Department of State Stefan Selig, Department of Commerce Daniel Russel, Department of State Tom Malinowski, Department of State

Commissioners, 113th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersSherrod Brown, Ohio, Chair Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan Jeff Merkley, Oregon Kay Hagan, North CarolinaSusan Collins, Maine, Vice Ranking Member Jim Risch, Idaho 2 vacantHouse membersChris Smith, New Jersey, Co-Chair Frank Wolf, Virginia Mark Meadows, North Carolina Robert Pittenger, North Carolina 1 vacantTim Walz, Minnesota, Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California 1 vacantExecutive BranchChris Lu, Department of Labor Sarah Sewall, Department of State Stefan Selig, Department of Commerce Daniel Russel, Department of State Tom Malinowski, Department of State

Commissioners, 112th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersSherrod Brown, Ohio, Co-Chair Max Baucus, Montana Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan Jeff Merkley, OregonSusan Collins, Maine, Ranking Member Jim Risch, Idaho 2 vacantHouse membersChris Smith, New Jersey, Chair Don Manzullo, Illinois Ed Royce, California Frank Wolf, Virginia 1 vacantTim Walz, Minnesota, Vice Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California 1 vacantExecutive BranchKurt Campbell, Department of State Seth Harris, Department of Labor Maria Otero, Department of State Francisco Sánchez, Department of Commerce Nisha Biswal, Department of State

Commissioners, 111th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersByron Dorgan, North Dakota, Chair Max Baucus, Montana Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan Sherrod Brown, OhioSam Brownback, Kansas, Vice Ranking Member John Barrasso, Wyoming Bob Corker, Tennessee George LeMieux, FloridaHouse membersSandy Levin, Michigan, Co-Chair Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California Tim Walz, Minnesota David Wu, OregonChris Smith, New Jersey, Ranking Member Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Don Manzullo, Illinois Ed Royce, CaliforniaExecutive BranchKurt Campbell, Department of State Seth Harris, Department of Labor Maria Otero, Department of State Francisco Sánchez, Department of Commerce 1 vacant, Department of State

Commissioners, 110th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersByron Dorgan, North Dakota, Co-Chair Max Baucus, Montana Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, Michigan Sherrod Brown, OhioChuck Hagel, Nebraska, Ranking Member Sam Brownback, Kansas Gordon Smith, Oregon Mel Martínez, FloridaHouse membersSandy Levin, Michigan, Chair Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Mike Honda, California Tom Udall, New Mexico Tim Walz, MinnesotaChris Smith, New Jersey, Vice Ranking Member Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Don Manzullo, Illinois Ed Royce, CaliforniaExecutive BranchPaula Dobriansky, Department of State Christopher Hill, Department of State Howard Radzely, Department of Labor David Kramer, Department of State Christopher Padilla, Department of Commerce

Commissioners, 109th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersChuck Hagel, Nebraska, Chair Sam Brownback, Kansas Gordon Smith, Oregon Jim DeMint, South Carolina Mel Martínez, FloridaMax Baucus, Montana, Vice Ranking Member Byron Dorgan, North Dakota Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, MichiganHouse membersJim Leach, Iowa, Co-Chair David Dreier, California Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Don Manzullo, Illinois Frank Wolf, Virginia Bob Aderholt, AlabamaMarcy Kaptur, Ohio, Ranking Member Sandy Levin, Michigan Sherrod Brown, Ohio Mike Honda, CaliforniaExecutive BranchPaula Dobriansky, Department of State Steven Law, Department of Labor Christopher Hill, Department of State Frank Lavin, Department of Commerce Barry Lowenkron, Department of State

Commissioners, 108th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersChuck Hagel, Nebraska, Co-Chair Sam Brownback, Kansas Pat Roberts, Kansas Gordon Smith, Oregon Craig Thomas, WyomingMax Baucus, Montana, Ranking Member Byron Dorgan, North Dakota Dianne Feinstein, California Carl Levin, MichiganHouse membersJim Leach, Iowa, Chair Doug Bereuter, Nebraska David Dreier, California Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania Frank Wolf, Virginia Bob Aderholt, AlabamaMarcy Kaptur, Ohio, Vice Ranking Member Sandy Levin, Michigan Sherrod Brown, Ohio David Wu, OregonExecutive BranchGrant Aldonas, Department of Commerce Lorne Craner, Department of State Paula Dobriansky, Department of State James Kelly, Department of State Steven Law, Department of Labor

Commissioners, 107th Congress MajorityMinoritySenate membersMax Baucus, Montana, Chair Evan Bayh, Indiana Byron Dorgan, North Dakota