We Need to Continue Working on S.4009

(Minghui.org) On September 28, 2026, the US Senate unanimously passed S.4009, “Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act.” This bipartisan legislation is a result of legislators’ collective efforts from both parties. It also shows lawmakers’ support on this critical issue since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began to suppress Falun Gong in 1999.

However, until the President signs it, it remains in the legislative process, and we should continue working on it instead of feeling complacent; every step reflects the choices people are making on this matter.

From Legislation to Federal Law

The process for this legislation to become a US federal law typically involves the following key steps:

First, passage of the legislation in the Senate. The Senate passed Bill S.4009 on September 28 by unanimous consent.

Second, reconciliation between the two chambers. The US House of Representatives previously passed similar versions of the legislation twice, that is, H.R.4132 in June 2024 and H.R.1540 in May 2025.

Third, since the Senate just passed the text for S.4009, the House and Senate need to compare, negotiate and confirm the final text. If there are differences between the two texts, it may be necessary to make adjustments through a conference committee. It will then be voted on and passed by both chambers.

The final step is the President’s signature. Once both chambers pass identical final versions, the legislation will be formally sent to the White House. According to the US Constitution, the President has 10 days (excluding Sundays) after receiving the legislation to choose:

a) Signing into law: The legislation officially becomes US federal law.

b) Without veto and enactment: If the President neither signs nor vetoes the legislation during the congressional session, it will automatically take effect after 10 days.

c) Veto: If the President exercises his veto power, the legislation will be returned to Congress; however, if Congress can pass it again by a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, the President’s veto can be overturned and the legislation can be enacted.

Unanimous Consent vs Unanimous Vote

There is a difference between unanimous consent and unanimous vote.

The former means passage without objection. The procedure is as follows: the chairperson asks, “Is there any objection?” If there is silence and no one objects, the motion or legislation is declared passed. It does not necessarily require a formal, one-by-one vote; “no one objects” is sufficient.

A unanimous vote means that all eligible voters actually participated in the vote, and every single vote was cast in favor. This usually requires a formal voting process (such as raising hands, calling out names, or using a voting machine), and the specific number of votes in favor can be clearly counted (e.g., 100 votes in favor, 0 votes against).

According to records published on the U.S. Congress website (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4009/text?s=1&r=1&hl=S.4009), the legislation did not specify the exact number of votes in favor, so it should usually be described as “unanimous consent” rather than “unanimous vote.”

Simply put, “passed without objection” and “passed unanimously” cannot be completely equated.