House Republicans Forming China Task Force
Fifteen House Republicans, led by Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, will serve on a task force evaluating China's economic threat, its efforts to gain a technology advantage, and the origin of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said May 7.
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McCaul, who's the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement that said: “Our task force will hit the ground running to develop new and enduring policy solutions that, among others, enhance our economic strength and create jobs, protect our national security, rethink our supply chains and grow our competitive edge in technology.”
McCarthy, of California, who spoke at his weekly press conference at the Capitol, said Democrats are welcome to join the task force, even though they abandoned a bipartisan effort earlier in the year. He said the group's legislative recommendations would be due by October.
The top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, praised the nomination of his colleague Rep. Darin LaHood of Illinois. “As co-chair of the bipartisan U.S. China Working Group and a highly respected member on the Ways and Means Committee, Darin LaHood is a perfect choice for this role. Darin is experienced, knowledgeable and always works to put America’s interests first as we tackle the challenges -- and economic opportunities -- that we face when it comes to China,” Brady said in a statement.
When asked if the task force would evaluate bilateral trade, McCarthy said yes, and said people should look “what they’ve done to our supply chain. We do not make any aspirin or penicillin in America.”
He noted that Japan will be subsidizing the repatriation of manufacturing from China, and suggested that could be a move to emulate.
He also noted that China owns one of the three major meatpacking companies in the U.S. (Brazil owns another, but he didn't mention that.) He said that ownership is something that should be investigated.
President Donald Trump was concerned about economic competition from China before he even ran for president, McCarthy said. “I think the rest of the nation is now woken up to it.”