Congressman urges Senate action on organ harvesting after Xi, Putin discuss organ transplants

A Republican congressman is calling for the Senate to approve his bill opposing forced organ harvesting in light of a conversation about organ transplants that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly had Sept. 3.

In a press release, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., highlighted Xi and Putin’s discussion, which was captured by a hot mic as the two walked with several other foreign leaders to view a military parade in Beijing for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

According to Reuters, Putin said, through a translator, “Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality.”

Xi reportedly responded, “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.”

Smith has raised concerns about forced organ harvesting around the world, especially in China, for decades. In the release, he decried Putin and Xi’s conversation.

“The casual, almost anecdotal nature of Xi and Putin’s conversation about organ transplants underscores the need for the United States to act staunchly and swiftly to investigate and end the barbaric practice of forced organ harvesting once and for all,” Smith stated.

Smith authored the “Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act” in 2023, which cleared the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The act was reiterated in 2025, and once again was overwhelmingly supported by the House, passing 406 to 1. The legislation is currently awaiting the Senate’s approval.

The act would enforce heavy sanctions against individuals who fund, sponsor, or facilitate organ harvesting. It requires reports on organ harvesting and trafficking in foreign countries, especially in China, and imposes civil penalties up to $250,000 and criminal penalties including a fine of up to $1 million and imprisonment for up to 20 years.

Smith is the co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.