Lawmakers Decry ‘Transnational Terrorism’ Against Falun Gong in US

A panel at the U.S. Capitol exposed how Beijing has expanded its persecution of the faith group into the United States.

(L–R) Piero Tozzi, senior policy adviser to Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Robert Destro, former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor, and Smith stand together with people who received certificates for quitting the Chinese Communist Party-affiliated organizations, in Washington, on July 17, 2025. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

WASHINGTON—Lawmakers on a panel at the U.S. Capitol denounced the Chinese Communist Party’s far-reaching campaign of repression in the United States while commending the targeted group, Falun Gong, for its courage.

“It’s transnational terrorism as to what they seek to do, to undermine and to hurt people who are just filled with kindness towards others,” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) told a crowd of around 200 at a forum on July 17 titled “Safeguarding Freedom: Countering CCP Transnational Repression.”

“There’s no boundaries to what this dictatorship will do anywhere and everywhere, and we’ve got to stand boldly against it, and you are doing that. So I really thank you.”

The event took place three days before a key anniversary for Falun Gong, a meditative practice with moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. On July 20, 1999, the Chinese regime marked the practice for elimination. Since then, tens of millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been subjected to arbitrary detention, forced labor, and torture, while the regime uses propaganda to manipulate public opinion against the practice.

The persecution campaign, along with the regime’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners, has resulted in an untold number of deaths.

And the regime doesn’t limit its repression to China.

In late 2022, Chinese leader Xi Jinping instructed top officials to ramp up their efforts to destroy Falun Gong globally by escalating disinformation and instigating lawfare campaigns in the West.

Following Xi’s directive, anti-Falun Gong propaganda has spread in Western media and on social media platforms; paid protesters have shown up on New York City’s streets to promote hatred; and violent threats against the Falun Gong community have escalated.

Since August last year, The New York Times has published a dozen articles attacking Falun Gong.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) speaks at a forum titled "Safeguarding Freedom: Countering CCP Transnational Repression," at the U.S. Capitol on July 17, 2025. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

At the panel on July 17, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) described Falun Gong practitioners as “brave souls.”

“I think it’s appropriate, because I know that as people living in America of Chinese origin, you are targeted by the Communist Party of China right here in America, which is astounding to people like us,” he said.

“The people that come from the Communist Party of China to America to impose their will on us must know that if they do that, if they engage in any of that, they will spend the rest of their lives in prison. That is the remedy to those kinds of things.”

He told The Epoch Times that the United States needs to call the CCP for what it is: a “criminal organization.”

“This is a criminal organization that terrorizes people, that tortures people, and that murders people for the things that they believe. This is unacceptable in America,” he said at the event.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) speaks at a forum titled "Safeguarding Freedom: Countering CCP Transnational Repression," at the U.S. Capitol on July 17, 2025. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

Perry said he hopes his Falun Gong Protection Act, which recently passed the House, will result in perpetrators being imprisoned for participating in forced organ harvesting or for acts of intimidation and threats against individuals for practicing their faith.

Be it Republicans or Democrats, he said, “everyone agrees that these horrors cannot exist and cannot continue.”

Robert Destro, former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor, recalled his experience in helping to rescue a Falun Gong practitioner who survived having parts of his lung and liver removed against his will in China.

“The big picture is, you are all commodities. You’re not just slaves. Remember, this is a chop shop. You’re actually worth more in pieces than you are as a person,” Destro said.

Robert Destro, former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor, speaks at a forum titled "Safeguarding Freedom: Countering CCP Transnational Repression," at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on July 17, 2025. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

Sam Brownback, former ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said the transnational criminal element of the persecution against Falun Gong, which is reaching into the United States, has revealed “the great fear the Chinese Communist Party has of Falun Gong.”

“The Chinese Communist Party just loathes this institution, this group. They hate them, and they treat them worse than anybody,” Brownback said.

“That’s really saying something, because the Chinese Communist Party treats all religions poorly. The greatest threat to the Chinese Communist Party is religion, and the religion that is the most natural to the Chinese people is the Falun Gong.”

Smith and Perry thanked Falun Gong practitioners for standing up against the regime despite the risks it poses and pledged to stand with them.

“We will keep fighting until Falun Gong and people from China are free, and when that day comes, you will be remembered as the heroes that made it happen,” Smith said.