ICYMI: China Select's Week-in-Review

Committee Action Taken to Win the Competition with China:

• Protecting America’s AI Advantage: Chairman Moolenaar warned against weakening U.S. national security by allowing advanced NVIDIA AI chips to be exported to China, urging strong Commerce Department guardrails.
• Ending Pathways for Malign Influence: Members of Congress called on D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to cut sister-city relationships with adversarial regimes like China, Cuba, and Iran.
• Demanding Market Transparency: Chairman Moolenaar and Senator Rick Scott pressed the SEC and PCAOB for answers on why Chinese companies with opaque governance continue to access U.S. capital markets.
• Halting CCP Surveillance Tech: The Committee urged the FBI to stop certifying Chinese surveillance equipment that threatens Americans’ privacy and national security.
• Targeting Hong Kong Repression: Chairman Moolenaar called on the administration to sanction Hong Kong Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming for his role in repressing freedom in Hong Kong.
• Holding Big Tech Accountable: Lawmakers raised alarm about CCP-linked scams appearing on Google that are draining billions from Americans, demanding the company take swift action.
• Stopping AI Chip Smuggling: The Committee joined bipartisan and bicameral leaders in a push to stop the CCP from illegally acquiring advanced U.S. AI chips through smuggling networks.
• Strengthening America’s Medicine Supply Chain: Chairman Moolenaar led a bipartisan roundtable with health and national security experts to identify solutions to U.S. medicine shortages and reduce reliance on Chinese pharmaceutical ingredients.
• Standing Up for Hong Kong: Chairman Moolenaar co-sponsored the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act (H.R. 2661), which would require the State Department to annually certify whether CCP-controlled Hong Kong offices should operate in the U.S.—a direct challenge to Beijing’s influence.
• Sanctioning Complicit Hong Kong Officials: The Chairman also co-sponsored the Hong Kong Judicial Sanctions Act (H.R. 733), which pushes the administration to assess whether Hong Kong judges and officials involved in repression should face sanctions under U.S. human rights laws. 

Other Action Taken to Win the Competition with China:

• Landmark Space Legislation Enacted: The Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, led by Rep. Neal Dunn, was signed into law—empowering U.S. spaceports to attract private investment and accelerate innovation, helping America stay ahead of China in the race for space dominance.
• Transportation & Infrastructure Bill Strengthens Maritime Readiness: The funding bill backs U.S. shipyards, the Merchant Marine, and sealift capacity—ensuring America can remain a strong maritime nation.
• Energy & Water Bill Enhances Nuclear Deterrence: With over $20 billion for nuclear modernization and safeguards to prevent CCP access to U.S. energy reserves and tech, this funding bill ensures our energy security and strategic advantage are protected from adversarial threats.
• State Dept. Funding Bill Cuts Aid to China & CCP Entities: The funding bill defunds PRC-linked institutions, supports partners like Taiwan, and supports U.S. diplomacy to counter CCP influence while advancing American values.
• Interior Funding Bill Supports Domestic Critical Mineral Mining: By promoting domestic mining and removing permitting hurdles, this funding bill helps reduce our dependence on Chinese-controlled mineral markets—crucial for U.S. tech, energy, and defense sectors.
• Commerce & Justice Funding Bill Revives DOJ’s China Initiative: This funding bill calls for the DOJ to formally restart its China Initiative, boosts fentanyl enforcement, and increases investments in AI and quantum to safeguard U.S. innovation from CCP theft and disruption.
• Foreign Affairs Hearing Targets Critical Mineral Dependency: A July 15 hearing focused on breaking China’s chokehold on global critical mineral supply chains—essential for reducing U.S. vulnerabilities in clean energy, defense, and tech.
• Homeland Security Hearing Tackles Drone Threats: On July 15, lawmakers examined how drone warfare abroad is reshaping homeland threats—an important step in countering China’s growing export of surveillance and drone tech to adversaries.
• Judiciary Hearing Focuses on CCP Exploitation of AI: On July 16, House Judiciary explored how adversaries, including the CCP, are using AI for criminal and national security threats—paving the way for guardrails to protect Americans. 

News to Know:

• US House committee chair warns Panama about Chinese influence over Panama Canal 
• House panel chair to query commerce on Nvidia chip sale to China 
• Wells Fargo suspends China travel after employee exit ban, source says
• Lawmakers target chip smuggling
• House committee leaders urge FBI to halt certifying Chinese biometric devices
• Lawmakers seek SEC briefing on Chinese companies’ market access 
• National-security concerns tie up Trump’s U.A.E. chips deal 
• China hawks rattled over Trump’s ‘dangerously inconsistent’ chip pivot
• Nvidia's resumption of AI chips to China is part of rare earths talks, says US Reuters
• University of Michigan under federal scrutiny after arrest of Chinese scientists USA Today
• US needs to 'work' its way out of dependence on Chinese drones, GOP rep says
• Chinese firms rush to buy Nvidia AI chips as sales set to resume
• Republicans demand urgent review of DJI, Autel drones
• Apple invests $500 million in rare earths producer MP Materials
• Explosives used in Tamsui defense drill
• House committee urges 7 US universities to terminate CCP sponsor program
• China’s government is threatening to block a deal that would transfer ownership of dozens of seaports to Western investors if Cosco doesn’t get a stake  
• China is seeking to further consolidate its global lead over the U.S. in electric-vehicle batteries  
• Republicans demand comprehensive security review of Chinese drones after Trump executive order
• Key House lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration to accelerate a congressionally mandated review of Chinese-made drones ahead of a potential US ban of the technologies later this year
• Republicans urge US universities to cut ties with China-backed scholarship program  
• Major colleges face heat over Chinese scholarship ties as espionage concerns mount  

Questions? Contact the Press Team!

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