The amendment is attached to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an annual Bill that has been passed every year since 1961.

The NDAA amendment would prevent the US State from spending Federal funds on supporting and facilitating US Government employees at the Games.

Athletes would still receive the financial support required to attend and compete at the Winter Olympics, which Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who is leading the Bill, says is a critical factor.

Romney told Reuters the amendment "will hurt the Chinese Communist Party, rather than punish our American athletes."

Democrats Tim Kaine and Ed Markey and Republican Todd Young have co-sponsored the Bill, and the trio alongside Romney are all members of the United States Committee on Foreign Relations.

The amendment calls for an "end to the Chinese Communist Party's ongoing human rights abuses, including the Uyghur genocide," but would allow Federal funding for US athletes and employees and contractors of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

First lady Jill Biden attended the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this summer and would not be able to travel to Beijing 2022 on the back of Federal funds if this Bill were to be passed.

In June, the US Senate passed a Bill calling for a diplomatic boycott of the Games.

The Bill included a range of measures aimed at tackling Chinese relations, economic influence and foreign policy and confirmed: "the policy of the US to implement a diplomatic boycott of the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games in the People’s Republic of China".

As with Romney's amendment, the Act would prevent any Federal funding for US Government employees attending the Games.

However, the Act has stalled with the US House of Representatives and, with less than 100 days to go until Beijing 2022, Romney has introduced a similarly worded alternative.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also supported a diplomatic boycott, as have several countries throughout the West due to China's human rights record, including the alleged genocide of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.

China has been accused of crimes including using forced Uighur labour, operating a mass surveillance programme, detaining thousands in internment camps, carrying out forced sterilisations and intentionally destroying Uighur heritage.

China has vehemently denied the allegations.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has refused to reference Uighur Muslims by name, even when asked direct questions, and IOC President Thomas Bach previously said the organisation is not a "super world Government".

IOC vice-president John Coates has said it is not in the IOC's remit to challenge China on its human rights record.

"We have to respect the sovereignty of the countries who are hosting the Games," said Coates.

"The IOC's remit is to ensure that there is no human rights abuses in respect of the conduct of the Games within the National Olympic Committees or within the Olympic Movement.

"We have no ability to go into a country and tell them what to do."

Beijing 2022 celebrated 100 days to go until the start of the Winter Olympics yesterday.

The Games are due to commence on February 4 next year, closing on February 20.