
Hold China Accountable
Since the novel coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19) spread from Wuhan, China, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have taken legislative action to hold China accountable for the devastation caused by the virus.
Both chambers have sent letters, authored opinion pieces, and made public statements to urge various agencies of the Trump Administration to strongly look at our nation’s dependency on China.
They have also called for a review of the handling of COVID-19 by the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
This week, House GOP Members announced the formation of the “China Task Force,” a committee of 15 Republicans representing 14 different committees of jurisdiction. The goal of the Task Force is to compromise a legislative strategy in response to challenges posed by China.
Resolutions and Bills Introduced in the Senate:
- Resolution: China Must Be Held Accountable (Introduced with Senator Cotton): The resolution calls on the Chinese Government to publicly state there is no evidence that COVID-19 originated anywhere else but China, denounce the conspiracy that the U.S. Army placed COVID-19 in Wuhan, revoke its expulsion of American journalists, end its detainment of Uyghur Muslims and other persecuted ethnic minorities, and end all forced labor programs.
- Resolution: Honoring Dr. Li Wenliang, Chinese Whistleblower who Sought to Warn the World About Coronavirus: The resolution honors Dr. Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who first identified the severity of COVID-19 in China.
- Bill: End U.S. Dependence on Chinese-manufactured Pharmaceuticals: This bill aims to end U.S. dependence on China for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Bill: Allow Americans to Sue China for Virus Damages: The legislation would allow Americans to sue China in federal court for death, injury, and economic harm caused by COVID-19.
- Bill: The FORCE Act to Thwart Chinese Military Aspirations in the Indo-Pacific: This bill would increase funding to $43 billion for military infrastructure, weapons, and other assets in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act: This legislation aims to authorize the President to sanction foreign officials who withhold or distort information about international public health crises.
- Legislation banning U.S. Officials from Using Tencent, Huawei, ZTE, or Chinese Communist-Party Backed Platforms: This bill prevents Chinese surveillance and espionage by prohibiting U.S. federal employees from conducting official business over platforms run by the CCP.
- Legislation to Cut off Hollywood Studios over Complicity in Chinese Censorship: The Stopping Censorship, Restoring Integrity, Protecting Talkies Act would cut off Hollywood studios from the assistance they receive from the DOD if those studios censor their films for screening in China.
- Sanctioning Chinese Officials For Censorship and Medical Cover-Ups: The Ending Chinese Medical Censorship and Cover-Ups Act of 2020 would sanction Chinese officials involved in the suppression of doctors, journalists, and political dissidents which helps fuel the global pandemic COVID-19.
- Bill: Preventing the Chinese Communist Party from Exploiting FCC Loopholes to Propagandize Americans from Radio Stations in Mexico and China: This legislation prevents the CCP from exploiting FCC loopholes to propagandize to Americans from radio stations in Mexico or Canada among other things.
- Bill: End Taxpayer-Funded Purchases from Chinese Wet Markets: This is a bipartisan bill to ban taxpayer money from being spent at China’s unregulated wet markets.
- Bill: Ban TikTok from Government Devices: TikTok, an app owned by a Chinese company with members of the CCP on its board, would be banned through this bill to be on federal government devices to avoid cybersecurity and possible spying concerns.
- Bill: Justice for Victims of Coronavirus Act: This bill holds the CCP responsible for causing the COVID-19 global pandemic.
- Resolution: Calling for an International Investigation into China’s Coronavirus Cover-up: This resolution calls for an international investigation into the CCP’s cover-up of the early spread of COVID-19.
- Bill: Stop COVID Act to Hold China Accountable for the Spread of the Coronavirus: This legislation ensures the CCP faces consequences for its role in spreading COVID-19.
Resolutions and Bills Introduced in the House:
- H.R. 6665: To direct the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to submit a report on the actions of the World Health Organization to address the spread of the virus responsible for COVID-19.
- H.R. 6444: Stop China-Originated Viral Infectious Diseases Act of 2020. This bill limits the immunity of foreign states from suit in the United States.
- Cheney Introduces Bill Renaming Chinese Embassy Street “Li Wenliang Plaza”: This bill honors the late Dr. Li Wenliang of Wuhan who warned about COVID-19 before being silenced by the CCP.
- Rep. Stefanik & Sen. Hawley Resolution for International Investigation of CCP: This House resolution calls for an international investigation of the CCP’s cover-up of the early spread of COVID-19 among other actions.
- No CHINA Act: H.R. 6386 prevents appropriated money, including coronavirus relief funds, from being disbursed to businesses owned by the Chinese government.
- Countering Chinese Attempts at Snooping (CCAS) Act: calls for the Secretary of State to create a list of organizations that are under Chinese influence and that help China in areas like surveillance.
- H.Con.Res. 97: This establishes the Joint Select Committee on the Events and Activities Surrounding China’s Handling of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
- H.Res. 919: This resolution condemns the United Nations’ decision to appoint China a seat on its Human Rights Council.
- H.R. 6482: This legislation aims to protect Our Pharmaceutical Supply Chain from China Act of 2020.
- H.Res. 944: This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the People’s Republic of China should be held accountable for its handling of COVID-19.
- H.Res. 909: Supports an international investigation into the handling by the Government of the People’s Republic of China of COVID-19 and the impact on the people of the United States and other nations.
- H.Res. 907: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of the People’s Republic of China made multiple mistakes in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak that heightened the severity and spread of COVID-19.
- H.Res. 922: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all nations should permanently close live wildlife markets and that the People’s Republic of China should cease spreading disinformation regarding the origins of COVID-19.
- H.R. 6208: Protecting American Space Assets Act: This bill directs the President to develop a strategy to protect the space assets of the United States.
- H.R. 6405: Chinese Government COVID-19 Accountability Act: This legislation directs the President and Secretary of the Treasury to develop a strategy to seek reimbursement from the People's Republic of China.
- H.Res. 917: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should withhold the contribution of Federal funds to the World Health Organization until Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus resigns.
- H.R. 6471: Dr. Li Wenliang Congressional Gold Medal Act: This bill awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Li Wenliang for his efforts to save lives in light of COVID-19.
- H.R. 6598: SOS ACT Act: This legislation preserves national security by providing guarantees to investors for investments in businesses at risk of predatory economic tactics by the CCP.
- H.R. 5932: Ensuring Chinese Debt Transparency Act of 2020: This bill ensures greater transparency regarding the terms and conditions of financing provided by the People's Republic of China to member states of the international financial institutions.
- H.R. 6519: To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide a civil action against a foreign state for deliberate concealment or distortion of information concerning an international public health emergency, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 5927: Safe Medicine Act: This legislation directs the Secretary of HHS to study American dependence on unsafe Chinese pharmaceuticals and strengthen the FDA to mandate drug recalls in the case of contamination.
- H.R. 5846: Neutralizing Unfair Chinese Export Subsidies Act of 2020: To provide for working with allies to seek increased compliance by China with certain OECD export credit standards.
- H.R. 6406: American-Made Protection for Healthcare Workers and First Responders Act: This bill requires PPE to be included in the strategic national stockpile and for the Federal Government to procure equipment from United States sources.