Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Wednesday previewed a new initiative to task a number of Chairs to begin working with their Ranking Members on a bipartisan China Competition bill that builds off the work the Senate accomplished last Congress. Standing with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Gary Peters (D-MI), Leader Schumer announced that the Senate will hold hearings and mark-ups to shepherd this vital bipartisan legislation through Committees and onto the Floor.
Leader Schumer is directing the work to focus on five key policy areas:
1. Limiting the flow of advanced technology to the Chinese Government. The U.S. must halt China’s development in technologies that will dominate the century. This could include strengthening export control laws, identifying opportunities for new sanctions, and deterring the Chinese Government’s coercion.
2. Curtailing the flow of investment to the Chinese Government. It is imperative to ensure that the U.S. and our allies are not the financial lifeblood for the Chinese Government’s technological advancement. The United States should authorize the screening of investments in certain key sectors to block U.S. capital from going to Chinese companies.
3. Securing domestic economic investment. The United States’ investment last year through the landmark CHIPS and Science Act was critical but other sectors require significant backing. We need to consider areas like biotech or bio-manufacturing and work to identify other key areas of technology that need funding.
4. Underscoring our commitment to economic allies and maintaining partner alignment. The United States remains the preferred economic partner for the vast majority of the globe. We must ensure that China’s so-called Belt and Road initiative does not go unchallenged and that we continue to support our allies and partners.
5. Safeguarding our allies’ and partners’ security and maintaining our strategic alliances. We cannot allow China to initiate a conflict with Taiwan. The U.S. reaffirmed our commitment to Taiwan through last year’s NDAA, but we must consider additional policy actions to further deter China.
“The United States cannot sit idly by as the Chinese Government continues to lie, cheat, and steal its way to global dominance. Time is not on our side. We need to make investments now that secure our global leadership before it is too late.” said Leader Schumer. “There is broad bipartisan support for this initiative and we have the opportunity to work this Congress on safeguarding our future. President Xi has made clear he will not stop his campaign to rival America on the world stage. We cannot stop either.”
“It’s no secret that our competitors on the world stage, like the Chinese government, are doing everything they can to get ahead and outcompete us. Staying ahead will require us to make the critical investments we need to stay competitive and secure—across government, whether it’s in research and development or our strategic partnerships abroad,” said Senator Murray, Chair of the Appropriations Committee. “The Chinese government isn’t debating whether to pay its debts or wreck its economy, and they do not operate on continuing resolutions. We cannot let partisan hostage-taking by House Republicans win the day—and lose us the 21st century, so I’m focused on passing our funding bills in a timely way to strengthen American competitiveness and security.”
“When American workers are in a fair contest, they can outcompete anyone in the world. This bill is a chance to put points on the board for American workers and employers so the United States can fairly compete with China. The bipartisan Finance Committee trade title going after China’s trade cheating passed by a huge margin last Congress and we want to work to get a new package across the finish line in a bipartisan way,” said Senator Wyden, Chair of the Finance Committee.
“Successfully addressing the multi-dimensional challenges posed by China requires a strategic, whole-of-government effort. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance legislation that boosts U.S. technology, innovation, trade, diplomacy, and more. These are force multipliers for the Department of Defense and help keep our country safe, deter aggression, and protect American interests around the world. This new China Competition 2.0 bill will help build on the progress of the CHIPS and Science Act and further strengthen America’s ability to work with our partners to advance peace and prosperity and promote stability,” said Senator Reed, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“Last Congress, we made historic progress to rebuild our infrastructure, position the United States as a global leader in the fight against climate change, and spur the creation of clean energy manufacturing jobs across our nation,” said Senator Carper, Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee. “Now, we have an opportunity to build on that progress with bipartisan legislation to make our nation more competitive globally and reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries. I believe that bipartisan solutions are lasting solutions and competition against the Chinese government is something that can and should unite us.”
“If the United States is to effectively compete with China on the world stage, we not only need to strengthen support for our diplomats as they work to safeguard our interests and values, but must also bolster our ability to cooperate with international allies and partners to effectively counter China’s investment and economic influence worldwide,” said Senator Menendez, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. “I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues—and hope to do so in a bipartisan fashion—to dramatically expand our economic diplomacy and ensure we are equipped to confront the China challenge head-on.”
“We have a challenge with China. They are not playing by the rules of international engagement. We have to be smarter. Our national security depends on small businesses that work to keep communities safe,” said Senator Cardin, Chair of the Small Business Committee. “When 99 percent of businesses in America are small businesses and 40 percent of our GDP is from small businesses, we must prioritize the tools they need to compete with China, strengthen U.S. manufacturing, and ensure American leadership in emerging technologies. I am eager to work together with our colleagues across the aisle on a Small Business Administration reauthorization that will keep our communities safe by strengthening small businesses.”
“China is making huge investments in the key technologies – like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced energy, and synthetic biology – that will help determine economic and security dominance in the 21st century. If we want to stay competitive with China, we need to keep up. We made a down payment towards that goal with the CHIPS bill, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue advancing these efforts in a bipartisan way,” said Senator Warner, Chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence.
“China does not share our values. With growing political unrest around the world, we continue to open ourselves up to risk and harm by continuing or increasing our reliance on supply chains controlled by foreign adversaries. We must do everything in our power to streamline American manufacturing and eliminate our reliance on countries that do not wish us well. Our adversaries are not hesitating to deploy their energy resources to achieve their goals, and neither should we,” said Senator Manchin, Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
“Our nation continues to face significant threats to our economic and national security, including disruptive cyber-attacks from hackers with ties to the Chinese government and illicit drugs like fentanyl that often originate in China. I’m also concerned that our overreliance on foreign suppliers of critical medications puts our national security at risk,” said Senator Peters, Chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “Our efforts will help combat these threats, strengthen investments in our domestic manufacturing capabilities, and ensure that the United States can outcompete anyone on the global stage – including the Chinese government.”
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