# USICA
## last week's memo (DPRK)
* committee
* administration: they want to get ahead the process
* put some real name of the interest group -> ex: some interest group are dislikedl
* catsa? an sanction bill against Iran, North Korea, Russia... Trump did not want to do anything bed against Russia.
## inclass
* Risch introduced in 2021
* cooperation between Risch and including a varity range of things like:
* USAID funding
* Chinese collage students / university money
* US Taiwan relation
* strategic competition
* manager's package put together all the amendments in the committee's mockup
* goal: to get into the manager package
* if your amendement not in the managers' package you can raise an amdt on the floor.
* get voted on the floor - may still have chance to get into the package
* senators will want to put their policy as early as possible: easier
* every big bill have a managers' package*, small bill like a hong kong bill (only 4-5 pages) won't be a managers' package, but for bill like **NDAA** (400+ pages) its more efficient to have a manager package
* To get in the package, only need to deal with only ranking menber (2 ppl) in the committee.
*
* today's memo is advice at the end of the passage
### Rubio
- Proposed the first amendment to the manager's packager.
- South China sea: whther South China sea and Eastern China sea is a part of China
- in the language: use may/ rather than shall, wording is softer
- the bill introduced multiple time, the comittee do no take. he'd rather this is a independent bill but the committee take
- blue slip - revenenue - start from house?
- 藍單問題指的是美國眾議院可能反對參議院提出的法案,因為該法案涉及到財政或預算問題,而這些是眾議院的專屬權限。此外,該修正案還包含了一些超出外交委員會管轄範圍的條款。
- mandendez oppose because worry about the blue split issue. Risch agree with the issue the
- outside the comittee's jurisdiction
- not make it?
### Shaheen(D-NH)
* 2012 comittee - increase US job to Africa
* was called **Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act**
* One is the $500 billion trade goal by 2025 that China has in Latin America, the 25 of 31 countries that host Chinese infrastructure projects, the $120 million value of COVID cumulative aid, and it goes on.
* support from risch, booker
*
### Murphy
* compete w/ chinese development bank
1. includes a sense of the Congress that DFC's equity investments should be treated as loans, which are expected to generate return
2. increase the cap for those investments up to $100 billion.
* its a small step compare to chinese money getting involved
* have tried to push the bill before but was too controversial, remove some language to make it less controversial to put into the manager's package
### Cruz SOS amendment
* [TAIWAN **SYMBOLS OF SOVEREIGNTY** ACT](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3310/text#:~:text=116th%20CONGRESS%202d%20Session%20S,UNITED%20STATES%20February%2013%2C%202020).
- This legislation, officially known as S. 3310, was introduced to the Senate on February 13, 2020
- Taiwan SOS bill, letting Taiwan display their symbols of sovereinty
- Essentially, the bill is directed towards the Department of State and the Department of Defense, instructing them to allow such representations of Taiwanese sovereignty
- Action:
- in Senate: the bill is referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
- in house: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Armed Services
- introduced in senate again in 2022, referred to Foreign relations
### Romeney
* not allow diplomat to go to the olympic
* gov only can funding the diplomats not the atheletes
*
### Merkley
* mit up moniter china's censorship,
* monitor all of this Chinese influence on U.S. freedom of speech, particularly in the corporate sector, and then it requires an extensive report to be delivered back to us within a year to detail the activities and a strategy for how we should be responding.
* it sets up this working group and sunsets it after five years.
* Cruz critize Merkley's not talking about h
* I agreed in my amendment to add his language focusing on social media, education, travel, financial services, manufacturing, technology, telecommunication, internet infrastructure, expanding the scope beyond just Hollywood, and so I added the language that
* *cruz want to cut up the funding to filming industry that align with China's censorship*
### Rubio amendment on AIT Director
* elevate the AIT Director's position as the representation
* menedaz is a NGO employee, the Congress couldn't to that
* this amendment would basically do is it would not fundamentally alter U.S. policy towards Taiwan. What it would basically do is follow the lead of allies such as the British and the Japanese and change the title of our highest official in Taiwan to the title of **"representative" from "director," from "director" of the American Institute in Taiwan to the title "representative."** And it would also give the Senate advice and consent counsel -- advice and consent role with regards to who that individual is.
* against: the director is not technically a United States Government employee, and while the American Institute in Taiwan is our de facto embassy in Taiwan, it is officially a nonprofit, and the director is a private citizen.
### Rand Paul amendments
* against everything, National science founding is a waste
*
## instructions
Ok, so I pared back the reading for next week. In addition to your assignment below, you should read the entire business meeting transcript. (To be clear, for the readings, look at the MODULE, not the syllabus. I’m keeping the syllabus the same, so I can inflict it on the next class!)
好的,所以我缩减了下周的阅读量。除了下面的作业外,您还应该阅读整个商务会议记录。(需要明确的是,对于阅读材料,请查看模块,而不是教学大纲。我保持教学大纲不变,所以我可以在下一堂课上施加它!
We will be focused on “Strategic Competition Act”. This later became the SFRC title of the larger USICA bill, which then became America COMPETES, and ultimately became the Chips and Science Act (once they got rid of all that pesky foreign policy stuff).
我们将重点关注“战略竞争法”。这后来成为更大的USICA法案的SFRC标题,然后成为美国竞争,并最终成为芯片和科学法案(一旦他们摆脱了所有讨厌的外交政策内容)。
You might have to dig around just a little to find the text of amdts. Most, if not all of them, are on the hearing landing page. Every Senator made it known if their amendments were approved in committee. There are press releases out there, and news stories. In addition, some of the amendments have a history. They've been introduced as free standing legislation. There is often a floor statement and press release when that happens, too.
您可能需要稍微挖掘一下才能找到 amdts 的文本。大多数(如果不是全部)都在听证会登陆页面上。每位参议员都公布了他们的修正案是否在委员会中得到批准。那里有新闻稿和新闻报道。此外,一些修正案也有其历史。它们已作为独立立法引入。当这种情况发生时,通常也会有发言和新闻稿。
As for specific assignments…
至于具体的任务......
Laura - Rubio's South China Sea amendments.
劳拉 - 卢比奥的南中国海修正案。
Chris - Shaheen's amendments.
克里斯 - 沙欣的修正案。
Oli - Romney Olympic amendment.
奥利 - 罗姆尼奥运修正案。
Salamata - Murphy amendment on DFC.
萨拉马塔 - DFC 的墨菲修正案。
[Sharon - Cruz SOS amendment.](#Cruz-SOS-amendment)
沙龙 - 克鲁兹 SOS 修正案。
Colin - Merkley amendment on China Censorship and Monitor Action Group.
科林-默克利关于中国审查和监督行动小组的修正案。
Wen-yi - Rubio amendment on AIT Director
Wen-yi - 卢比奥关于AIT主任的修正案
Jasmine - Rand Paul amendments.
茉莉花 - 兰德保罗修正案。
Recount for us the substance of the amdt, any legislative history behind it, the committee debate, and the outcome. We'll then discuss the bill, mark-up more and way forward.
为我们重述 amdt 的实质内容、其背后的任何立法历史、委员会辩论和结果。然后,我们将讨论该法案,进一步加价和前进方向。
I posted short excerpts from the Congressional Record during Senate floor consideration of USICA. We're not going to go through the whole floor debate. I just wanted you to see a real example of filling the amendment tree, in this case using a blocking amdt. You can go back and read that piece by James Wallner from our first class. He explains exactly what happens here.
在参议院审议USICA期间,我发布了《国会记录》的简短摘录。我们不打算讨论整个现场辩论。我只是想让你看到一个填充修正树的真实例子,在这种情况下,使用阻塞 amdt。你可以回去读一读詹姆斯·沃纳(James Wallner)在第一堂课上的那篇文章。他确切地解释了这里发生的事情。
Second half of class, we’re going to do an in-class memo again - this time a little differently.
下半场,我们将再次做一个课堂备忘录——这次有点不同。
1. You will be advising on final passage, IN COMMITTEE, of the Strategic Competition Act.
1. 您将就《战略竞争法》的最终通过提供建议。
2. Choose a Senator who WAS there for this business meeting. Again, easiest to do this in advance.
2. 选择一位参加这次商务会议的参议员。同样,最简单的方法是提前执行此操作。
3. You WILL NOT need to stick strictly to the memo format and prompts. Those prompts show what’s important, all things being equal. But in real life, you don’t always have all of them, and you’re often pressed for time. Dig around and try to find those, but mostly, knowing what you do, use your imagination, analytic ability (like about what foreign governments might think and why your Senator should care) and your persuasive powers.
3. 您不需要严格遵守备忘录格式和提示。这些提示显示了什么是重要的,所有条件都是平等的。但在现实生活中,你并不总是拥有所有这些,而且你经常时间紧迫。四处挖掘并试图找到这些,但大多数情况下,知道你在做什么,利用你的想象力、分析能力(比如外国政府可能的想法以及为什么你的参议员应该关心)和你的说服力。
4. I really think you’ll do best if you familiarize yourself a little with the broader debate on the bill in its various forms before class. Again, in real life – especially as staff assigned to the committee - you would be aware of the issues, not just coming in cold.
4. 我真的认为,如果你在课前熟悉一下关于该法案的各种形式的更广泛辩论,你会做得最好。同样,在现实生活中——尤其是作为被分配到委员会的工作人员——你会意识到这些问题,而不仅仅是冷淡。
## Background of Strategic Competition Act of 2021 and United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA)
The Strategic Competition Act of 2021 and the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) are two significant pieces of legislation in the United States, both aimed at addressing the challenges posed by the expanding global influence of China.
### Strategic Competition Act of 2021
1. **Introduction and Purpose**: Introduced on April 8, 2021, by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Robert Menendez and Committee ranking member Jim Risch, the nearly 300-page bill aims to counter China's expanding global influence. It formalizes the policy objective of the United States to sustain its global leadership role and declares that the Chinese government is leveraging its power across various domains to compete with the United States on a global stage【12†source】.
2. **Key Provisions**:
- **Expansion of CFIUS Authority**: The bill broadens the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) by redefining what constitutes a "covered transaction." This includes gifts or contracts over $1,000,000 to U.S. higher education institutions from foreign entities, particularly if they relate to critical technologies or provide foreign persons with access to material nonpublic technical information【13†source】【14†source】.
- **Involvement of the Secretary of Education**: The bill adds the Secretary of Education as a voting member of CFIUS, reflecting a focus on higher education and research, and ensuring the protection of academic freedom【15†source】.
- **Sanctions related to Human Rights**: It amends the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, authorizing additional sanctions related to serious human rights abuses, such as forced labor and coercive reproductive policies in Xinjiang【16†source】.
- **Intellectual Property Violators List**: The bill proposes publishing a list identifying Chinese-owned firms benefiting from intellectual property theft or coerced technology transfer from U.S. companies【17†source】.
- **China Subsidies List**: It also proposes creating a list detailing Chinese government subsidies to enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and other entities that benefit Chinese enterprises over foreign market participants【18†source】.
- **Bipartisan Support**: The Act received near-unanimous bipartisan support in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was expected to pass the Senate with a significant majority, signaling bipartisan agreement on measures to counter China's influence【19†source】.
### United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA)
1. **Introduction and Purpose**: Sponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Todd Young (R-IN), the USICA, formerly known as the Endless Frontier Act, was introduced to authorize $110 billion for basic and advanced technology research over a five-year period. The act focuses on areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, and advanced energy. It also includes over $10 billion for creating ten regional technology hubs and a supply chain crisis-response program. This act is directly aimed at competing with China and addressing U.S. concerns about an "AI Cold War"【27†source】.
2. **Enactment**: A modified version of this bill became law on August 9, 2022, as the CHIPS and Science Act.
### Relationship Between the Two Acts
Both the Strategic Competition Act and the USICA share a common goal: to address the challenges and competition posed by China's growing global influence. While the Strategic Competition Act focuses more on policy objectives, broadening authority to oversee foreign investments, and sanctioning human rights violations, the USICA is geared towards boosting U.S. innovation and competitiveness in key technological areas. Together, these acts represent a comprehensive approach by the U.S. government to maintain its global leadership in the face of strategic competition from China. They are part of a broader legislative trend reflecting the United States' increasing focus on countering China's influence in various sectors, including technology, economics, and human rights.
## Strategic Competition Act of 2021
A copy of the Strategic Competition Act of 2021 can be found [HERE](https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/DAV21598%20-%20Strategic%20Competition%20Act%20of%202021.pdf). Key elements of the legislation include:
2021 年《战略竞争法》的副本可以在这里找到。该立法的主要内容包括:
Bolsters the United States diplomatic strategy in addressing challenges posed by the Chinese government and reaffirms America’s commitment to its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world, and calls for the United States to reassert its leadership within international organizations and other multilateral fora. Renews America’s commitment to allies and partners by prioritizing security assistance for the Indo-Pacific region, and strengthens U.S. diplomatic efforts to address challenges posed by China in the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Arctic, and Oceania.
加强美国应对中国政府挑战的外交战略,重申美国对印太地区和世界各地的盟友和伙伴的承诺,并呼吁美国在国际组织和其他多边论坛中重申其领导地位。重申美国对盟国和伙伴的承诺,优先向印太地区提供安全援助,并加强美国外交努力,以应对中国在西半球、欧洲、亚洲、非洲、中东、北极和大洋洲构成的挑战。
Invests in universal values, authorizing a broad range of human rights and civil society measures including supporting democracy in Hong Kong and imposing sanctions with respect to forced labor, forced sterilization, and other abuses in Xinjiang.
投资于普世价值,授权采取广泛的人权和公民社会措施,包括支持香港的民主,以及对新疆的强迫劳动、强迫绝育和其他侵权行为实施制裁。
Focuses on countering and confronting China’s predatory international economic behavior, and includes measures to track intellectual property violators, Chinese government subsidies, monitor Chinese use of Hong Kong to circumvent U.S. export controls, and track the presence of Chinese companies in U.S. capital markets. Directs the United States to provide technical assistance to countries working to counter foreign corrupt practices, and debt relief to the poorest countries who have requested forbearance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
重点是打击和对抗中国的掠夺性国际经济行为,包括追踪知识产权侵犯者、中国政府补贴、监控中国利用香港规避美国出口管制以及追踪中国公司在美国资本市场的存在等措施。指示美国向致力于打击外国腐败行径的国家提供技术援助,并向因COVID-19大流行而要求宽容的最贫穷国家提供债务减免。
Strengthens American competitiveness with investments in science and technology, global infrastructure development, digital connectivity and cybersecurity partnerships, and reinforces U.S. efforts to counter Chinese Communist Party influence and malign operations.
通过在科学技术、全球基础设施发展、数字连接和网络安全伙伴关系方面的投资来加强美国的竞争力,并加强美国对抗中国共产党影响力和恶意行动的努力。
Calls for enhanced coordination and cooperation with allies on arms control in the face of China’s military modernization and expansion, and requires reporting on Chinese ballistic, hypersonic glide, and cruise missiles, conventional forces, nuclear, space, cyberspace and other strategic domains.
呼吁在面对中国军事现代化和扩张时,加强与盟国在军控方面的协调与合作,并要求报告中国弹道导弹、高超音速滑翔导弹和巡航导弹、常规力量、核、太空、网络空间和其他战略领域。
## [Business meeting - April 21, 2021](chrome-extension://bpoadfkcbjbfhfodiogcnhhhpibjhbnh/pdf/index.html?file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foreign.senate.gov%2Fimo%2Fmedia%2Fdoc%2F04%252021%25202021%2520Business%2520Meeting.pdf)
#### Rubio's South China Sea amendments.
##### in class
the bill also
##### in reading
- September 2015: Xi pledged that they would not militarize the South China Sea
- by December of the following year, we had imagery showing that Xi had deployed military assets, including large anti-aircraft guns, at each of the outposts Beijing controls in the Spratly Islands. They have built runways on these islands, dozens of hangers for fighter aircraft, anti-ship cruise missiles, anti-aircraft batteries, missile defenses, and it is using these islands for its pressure campaign against Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and the Spratlys and Paracels, and has even pressed into the Natuna Sea to challenge Indonesia.
- They now have over 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands and seven in the Spratly Islands. It uses a constant Coast Guard presence to control the Scarborough Shoal, which it illegally seized from the Philippines in 2012. Since 2013, they have engaged in dredging and artificial island building, creating 3,200 acres -- 3,200 acres -- of new land, and it has also substantially augmented their presence in the Paracel Islands. I could go on and on, but in recent weeks, wehave seen them continue to use intimidation to change the facts on the ground. It is creating a new flashpoint in the South China Sea, Beijing is. They are amassing about 220 fishing and militia vessels in a reef inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, and it is a traditional Filipino fishing ground.
- And so what this amendment would do is it would impose -- it would do a number of things, but I think the key is that it would impose sanctions on. Chinese persons and entities that contribute to development projects in parts of the South China Sea contested by a member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or engage in actions or policies that threaten the peace or stability in disputed South China Sea areas, or in an East China Sea areaadministered by Japan or South Korea. It would prohibit U.S. entities frominvesting in or ensuring projects involving sanctioned entities in either sea.
- It would impose prohibitions and restrictions correspondent and payable through accounts related to sanctioned entities if the Office of the Director of National Intelligence determines that China has taken certain actions, such as declaring an air defense identification zone over the South China Sea. It goes on and on/
- And this bill, I filed it as a bill 4 years ago. It was referred to this committee. So if it was referred to this committee, it is the only place that thiscould be worked. I would love for it to be voted on as a standalone bill. We have tried to do that. It has not happened.
#### Shaheen's amendments.
- This third amendment, which is Shaheen Amendment Number 2, is really based on legislation that was passed out of this committee in 2012 and 2013 by unanimous consent, that was sponsored initially -- I was a co-sponsor, but Senator Durbin and Senator Boozman, and the original bill was called Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act. What we have done is to take that legislation and to add Latin America. And the reason I did that is because I was at an Armed Services Committee hearing with Admiral Fowler, who is the head of Southern Command, which includes all of Latin America, except Mexico, and he presented this map to us to show us the spreading of Chinese influence that is going on in Latin America.
- And you can see -- you probably cannot see from where you are sitting, but there are several things that are really concerning about this. One is the $500 billion trade goal by 2025 that China has in Latin America, the 25 of 31 countriesthat host Chinese infrastructure projects, the $120 million value of COVID cumulative aid, and it goes on. We will leave this in the corner for anybody whowould like to see it, but the red countries are One Belt One Road members withChina. And when we asked the question, so what does the map for the UnitedStates' influence look like, we do not have an answer yet.
- And so what this legislation is designed to do is to look particularly at exports in Latin America and Africa, and to try and encourage additional exports which will not only improve our influence in both of those countries, but it will also contribute to jobs in America. And it does this by adding coordinator roles to develop a target-driven strategy to ensure training for U.S. diplomats and increasing trade missions to both regions.
#### ==Romney Olympic amendment==.
- Senator Romney: I support this amendment also. This is as good a place as any to make a comment about the overall legislation, which I support and applaud.
- At the same time, ==I would note that I do not believe anyone would think that this legislation is going to change China's march towards global hegemony of autocracy and repression==. We do not have, as a nation, a comprehensive, effective strategy to change China's course and to assure America's leadership in the world going forward over the long haul. And while I very much support this legislation as a positive step,
- I would suggest that we have a lot more work to do. And the Administration, in particular, given the fact that foreign policy is typically carried out at the executive branch level, has a responsibility to actually help develop a highly-effective strategy, which the world will look at and recognize the reality that we have developed an approach to change the trajectory that China is on and that we are on. Thank you, Mr. Chairman
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) in introducing the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Act, legislation which will direct the Treasury Department to mint and issue four types of coins in commemoration of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
华盛顿——美国参议员米特·罗姆尼(R-UT)与参议员亚历克斯·帕迪拉(D-CA)和黛安·范斯坦(D-CA)一起介绍了《LA28奥运会和残奥会纪念币法案》,该法案将指示财政部铸造和发行四种类型的硬币,以纪念在加利福尼亚州洛杉矶举行的2028年奥运会和残奥会。
“The Olympics showcase the greatness of the human spirit, and it was one of the greatest honors of my life to organize the 2002 Salt Lake Games,” said Senator Romney. ==“I’m pleased to cosponsor this legislation, which will direct the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games—without costing the federal government a dollar.”==
“While the eyes of the world will be on the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, the work preparing our region for this grand stage is already starting,”
“奥运会展示了人类精神的伟大,组织2002年盐湖城奥运会是我一生中最大的荣誉之一,”参议员罗姆尼说。“我很高兴成为这项立法的共同发起人,它将指示财政部铸造硬币以纪念即将到来的2028年洛杉矶奥运会和残奥会,而不会花费联邦政府一美元。 said Senator Padilla. “The transportation plans made in the coming years will not only make the Olympics and Paralympics run smoothly, but will also be an investment that will benefit commuters and the region for decades to come. This will be a major event in both Los Angeles and American history, that’s why I’m also introducing legislation to make a commemorative coin that will honor the 2028 Games and its legacy youth sports programs.”
“虽然全世界的目光都将集中在2028年洛杉矶奥运会和残奥会上,但我们地区为这一盛大舞台做准备的工作已经开始,”帕迪拉参议员说。“未来几年制定的交通计划不仅将使奥运会和残奥会顺利进行,而且还将是一项投资,将在未来几十年使通勤者和该地区受益。这将是洛杉矶和美国历史上的重大事件,这就是为什么我还要提出立法,制作一枚纪念币,以纪念2028年奥运会及其传统的青年体育项目。The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coin Act:
LA28奥运会和残奥会纪念币法:
==Directs the Treasury Department to mint commemorative $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, half dollar clad coins, and proof silver $1 coins.==
指示财政部铸造 5 美元纪念金币、1 美元银币、半美元包层硬币和 1 美元精制银币。
==These coins are minted at no cost to the federal government since no funds are disbursed to the benefiting organization until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins is recovered by the Treasury Department.==
这些硬币的铸造对联邦政府来说是免费的,因为在财政部收回设计和发行所有硬币的总成本之前,不会向受益组织支付任何资金。
Any excess funds collected from the sale of these commemorative coins would aid in the execution of the 2028 Games and support its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States.
出售这些纪念币所筹集的任何多余资金都将有助于2028年奥运会的举办,并支持其遗产计划,包括促进美国的青少年体育运动。
Senator Mitt Romney's Olympic amendment, part of the broader Strategic Competition Act of 2021, was introduced to address various concerns related to China's global conduct. The background and rationale for this amendment are multifaceted:
1. **Background of the Amendment**: The amendment was one of seven that Senator Romney secured in the bipartisan Strategic Competition Act of 2021. This Act was a significant bipartisan initiative aiming to develop a comprehensive strategy to encourage China to adhere to the norms of the international community.
2. **Reasons for Introducing the Amendment**:
- **Diplomatic Boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics**: The amendment mandated a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics. This decision was primarily in response to the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing human rights abuses, including the Uyghur genocide. The boycott was co-sponsored by Senators Tim Kaine and Ed Markey, highlighting bipartisan support for the measure【9†source】.
- **Deterring China’s Aggression**: Another aspect of the amendment focused on deterring China from using force against Taiwan. It emphasized pressing the administration and allies to develop and coordinate significant consequences that China should expect if it resorts to force【10†source】.
3. **Relation to the Strategic Competition Act of 2021**:
- **Bipartisan Effort**: The Strategic Competition Act of 2021, introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez, was a bipartisan effort to mobilize U.S. strategic, economic, and diplomatic tools in a strategy aimed at addressing the challenges posed by China. It was the first major proposal to unite Democrats and Republicans in a strategic approach towards Beijing【18†source】.
- **Key Elements of the Act**: The Act focused on several areas, including bolstering U.S. diplomatic strategy to address challenges posed by China, investing in human rights and civil society measures, countering China’s international economic behavior, strengthening American competitiveness, and enhancing coordination with allies on arms control. It addressed various spheres of influence, including the Indo-Pacific region, the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Arctic, and Oceania【19†source】.
In summary, Senator Romney's Olympic amendment was a strategic response to China's actions, particularly its human rights violations and aggressive foreign policy. It was part of the broader Strategic Competition Act of 2021, which aimed to comprehensively address the multifaceted challenges posed by China, aligning the U.S. with its allies and reasserting American leadership and values on the global stage.
***==Point of answer==*** - Romney Olympic amendment.
**==Background of the Amendment==**: The amendment was one of seven that Senator Romney secured in the bipartisan Strategic Competition Act of 2021. This Act was a significant bipartisan initiative aiming to develop a comprehensive strategy to encourage China to adhere to the norms of the international community.
- U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
**==Reasons for Introducing the Amendment==**:
- **Diplomatic Boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics**: The amendment mandated a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics. This decision was primarily in response to the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing human rights abuses, including the Uyghur genocide. The boycott was co-sponsored by Senators Tim Kaine and Ed Markey, highlighting bipartisan support for the measure
- **Deterring China’s Aggression**: Another aspect of the amendment focused on deterring China from using force against Taiwan. It emphasized pressing the administration and allies to develop and coordinate significant consequences that China should expect if it resorts to force
**==Key Elements of the Act==**:
- make a commemorative coin that will honor the 2028 Games and its legacy youth sports programs.”
- These coins are minted at no cost to the federal government since no funds are disbursed to the benefiting organization until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins is recovered by the Treasury Department
- Any excess funds collected from the sale of these commemorative coins would aid in the execution of the 2028 Games and support its legacy programs, including the promotion of youth sports in the United States
#### Murphy amendment on DFC (Development Finance Corporation)
- Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank Senator Coons and others for their leadership on empowering the Development Finance Corporation to be able to do the kind of international development deals that are good for the world and our partners, but also help us compete with a Chinese International Development Bank that still distinctly dwarfs the size of our own.
- This amendment that I am hoping the committee will support would do two things. First, it includes a sense of the Congress that DFC's equity investments should be treated as loans, which are expected to generate returns. Right now these equity investments are treated as spending, meaning that they count against us when it comes to congressional expenditures and any budget agreements that we provide. These equity investments are not that different than loans. They, infact, bring money back into the U.S. Treasury. This is just a sense of the Congress that, moving forward, working with other committees of jurisdiction, we can treat them in the same way that would allow DFC to do much more sound equity investment.
- Second, this amendment would increase the cap for those investments up to $100 billion. Again, we are talking about a China Development Bank that has a $1 trillion portfolio. This amendment would simply move from $60 to $100 billion the amount of equity investment that DFC can do. I would argue that we should go further, but that would be a really important step to try to get to a position where we can better compete with China's International DevelopmentnBank, especially when it comes to developing nations, which is where DFC's focus is
#### Cruz SOS amendment
* [TAIWAN **SYMBOLS OF SOVEREIGNTY** ACT](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3310/text#:~:text=116th%20CONGRESS%202d%20Session%20S,UNITED%20STATES%20February%2013%2C%202020).
- This legislation, officially known as S. 3310, was introduced to the Senate on February 13, 2020
- Taiwan SOS bill, letting Taiwan display their symbols of sovereinty
- Essentially, the bill is directed towards the Department of State and the Department of Defense, instructing them to allow such representations of Taiwanese sovereignty
- Action:
- in Senate: the bill is referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
- in house: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Armed Services
- introduced in senate again in 2022, referred to Foreign relations
#### Merkley amendment on China Censorship and Monitor Action Group.
- Merkly No.3, which addresses the China Censorship and Action Group, If this gets into the main bill, - incliation to drop the markup on the standalone bill
- Cory Gardner, Macro Rubio.
- China exercising influence on US companines, from basketball to hotels, in regards to their expression of opinion about China's activities in the world
- What this amendments does: sets up an action group take will take an interagency process to monitor all of the Chinese influence on US freedom of speech
#### Rubio amendment on AIT Director
#### Rand Paul amendments.
## Congress documents
The major topics discussed in the documents related to the Strategic Competition Act and the USICA bill are as follows:
1. **Strategic Competition Act of 2021**: The document from May 18, 2021, refers to the "Strategic Competition Act of 2021" as a part of Division C
2. **USICA Bill (United States Innovation and Competition Act)**: In the document from May 19, 2021, the Senate resumed consideration of the bill (S. 1260), which aimed to establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, a regional technology hub program, and a strategy for economic security, science research, innovation, manufacturing, job creation, and establishing a critical supply chain resiliency program【17†source】. This legislation is known as the United States Innovation and Competition Act, which aims to make the nation more economically competitive, improve protections for U.S. intellectual property and research, and keep the U.S. a step ahead of China in areas of high-stakes competition