Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On House Republicans’ Efforts To Derail Bipartisan Tough On China Provisions In The NDAA Conference

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the importance of including critical legislation to outcompete the Chinese government and hold the Chinese government accountable for fentanyl trafficking in the NDAA. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Democrats have committed to working with Republicans to pass the annual defense authorization bill through Congress before the end of the year.

Four months ago, the Senate passed our own version of the NDAA with strong bipartisan support. Our bipartisan NDAA made a critical down payment to rein in the Chinese government on fentanyl trafficking, the purchase of U.S. farmlands, outbound investments, and more. We also passed critical parts of AUKUS, one of the most important tools we have for outcompeting the Chinese government. We must include all of AUKUS in the final agreement.

But right now, a number of House Republicans – who like to talk a big game on China – are actively sabotaging some of the best tough-on-Chinese government accomplishments we’ve passed in the NDAA.

Instead of standing up to the Chinese government, House Republicans seem to be doing their bidding.

For one, House Republican leadership is dangerously close to killing a bipartisan measure to disrupt illicit opioid supply chains –many of which begin in China – and punish those who facilitate fentanyl trafficking.

This measure, the FEND Act, was adopted with strong bipartisan support in the Senate. It’s been championed by the leadership of both the Banking and Armed Services Committees.

Holding the Chinese government accountable for the fentanyl crisis is the definition of a legislative layup, but House Republicans are trying to kill this bill if they don’t get their way on unrelated measures. Instead of making the layup, they’re throwing up an air ball.

Incredibly, there’s more. Early this summer, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a measure limiting the free-flow of U.S. investment into China for sensitive advanced technologies like semiconductors, AI, and more. It would codify elements of an Executive Order that President Biden issued in August on outbound investments.

What is more commonsense than stopping U.S. dollars from helping Chinese companies beat us on chips and AI and quantum computing?

Yet once again, House Republicans – with the apparent blessing of their leadership – are blocking the bipartisan measure.

So, House Republicans will talk a good game on fighting the Chinese government, but oppose measures to hold that government accountable for the fentanyl crisis, which is so afflicting America.

House Republicans will howl that President Biden is not tough enough on China, but refuse to codify restrictions on outbound investments that President Biden already issued.

There are only two words to describe House Republicans record when it comes to China: cynical and hypocritical. We have a chance to pass real, bipartisan reforms to help us outcompete the Chinese government, but House Republicans are going out of their way – out of their way – to kill these wins.

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