(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Senate gave unanimous consent to legislation that would impose sanctions on Chinese officials over human rights abuses against Muslim minorities, an action sure to anger Beijing as anti-China sentiment rises in Congress.

The Senate first passed the bill in September and the House passed a slightly different version in December, but concerns over export controls added to the bill -- and a pending impeachment trial, among other issues -- slowed its progress.

As President Donald Trump’s administration has focused on blaming China for the global coronavirus outbreak, Republicans have returned to efforts to increase pressure on the Chinese government on several fronts.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor accused China’s Communist Party of trying to cover up the initial outbreak and said it is attempting to silence Chinese lawyers, activists and others trying to get at the truth.

Senator John Barrasso, the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, said the U.S. would “not again, not ever” rely on information from international health organizations like the World Health Organization.

“It is the Chinese Communist Party that is at fault,” Barrasso said. “The virus could have been contained had it not been for the Chinese government’s unscrupulous coverup.”

In the House, Republicans last week created a China Task Force to investigate the origins of the coronavirus and how the WHO handled reports of the initial outbreak. Representative Michael McCaul, who is leading the task force, said in an interview that it will not be a “partisan exercise” but a look at Chinese influence through a “Covid-19 lens.”

The version of the bill passed by the Senate doesn’t include export-control language added last year by the House. That chamber will have to vote on the legislation again before it goes to Trump for his signature or veto.

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