Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Chair of the House Republican Study Committee, (RSC), promises to fight the Democrats’ ‘Anti-China’ COMPETES Act.
Politico reports that House Democrats will have a “tunnel vision” while they try to pass their bill to increase American competitiveness with China, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing. The Senate approved the U.S. version of the bill. In 2021, the Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) was passed by the Senate.
Gina Raimondo, Commerce Secretary, has indicated that the bill is a top priority. Democrats want to win before Biden’s March 1 State of the Union speech. To pass the bill within that timeframe, Congress must quickly pass it through its lower chamber. This is difficult with Republican opposition.
The COMPETES Act contains numerous climate change policies, woke provisions and immigration carveouts. This means that very few Republicans will support it. Politico reported that the bill will be opposed by all House Republicans.
If the bill passes the House, the congressional Democrats will need to create a conference committee to discuss the differences between the bill and the Senate version, USICA.
The outlet reported that Democrat legislators are annoyed that the Democratic leadership obstructs the committee process in order to draft the bills. This could potentially lead to internal division.
RSC Chairman Banks jokes that the COMPETES Bill should be called the “CONCEDES Act” because its provisions are both beneficial to China and harmful to U.S. interests.
In a memo to RSC, Banks highlights the failures of the bill.
1. Invites more CCP members to enter the country. Creates a new visa cap program that is even less secure than existing visa programs, which are already plagued with fraud. Surprisingly, unlimited numbers of members of China’s Communist Party can take advantage of the visa program to conduct their evil activities here in the States (page 1689).
2. We are bound by this bill: This bill calls on the United States to adhere to the shortsighted and dangerous Paris Climate Agreement, which would severely impact our economic output and do almost nothing to prevent China’s even more severe pollution (page 1323).
3. China has more chances to steal intellectual property. The bill directs the United States and People’s Republic of China (pg. 1340).
4. Distracts our military’s attention from China: The bill would direct U.S. Armed Forces (pg. 1396).
5. Let China go free for their part in the pandemic. The only mention of an investigation into COVID origins (page 995) is a meaningless requirement that Biden submit a report to Congress. No independent investigation, no sanctions, no punishment.
6. China’s financial resources are being padded: China is now eligible for financial assistance from the World Banks Group or Asian Development Banks, if it contributes to “fighting global warming” (page 1480).
7. Spends taxpayer money on matters that are not related to China: $8 billion for UN Green Climate Fund (page 1392); $2 million per year in aid to countries to combat global warming (page 1375); $22 million to investigate residential building collapses (page 191); Establishes a federal program to study plumbing (page 227); $6 million to NOAA to establish a National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Fellowship (page 1653). It’s so focused that coral reefs are mentioned more than “China”: * $8 billion for the UN Green Climate Fund (page 1392) * $2 million a year in foreign aid to countries to combat climate change (page 1375) * $22 million to investigate a residential building collapse (page 191) * Establishes a Coral Reef Task Force (page 1645) and gives $6 million to the NOAA to create a National Coral Reef Management Fellowship.
8. Includes policies based on divisive and anti-American Critical Race Theory. Provides $5 million for the creation of a Chief Diversity Officer at National Science Foundation (page 323) and to direct the NSF’s efforts to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in the technology sector. (page 318).
9. Inflation fires: The bill will cost $250 billion. There’s no plan to pay it. So much of it will go to our national debt.
10. Turns a blindeye to Confucius Institutes. The bill does not ban federal funding for colleges or universities that host Confucius Institutes. This is a tool of China’s Communist Party to seize intellectual property and censor campuses (page 1967).
11. China has a global platform to spread propaganda: The bill doesn’t call for the International Olympic Games to be moved outside of China. Instead, it opts for a weak slap on their wrist (page 1249).
Banks’ memo to RSC members concluded that “We went from being the toughest president in our lifetime on the China threat, to a president & party who seems [sic] more concerned in China’s success” “This bill is a legislative present to the Chinese Communist Party. If it passes, it’ll make Chairman Xi laugh all the way to bank. The Republican Study Committee, which is composed of conservative House members, will work to stop Democrats from aiding China at every turn.