Andy Barr got two China bills passed in the House. Can they clear the Senate?
Congressman Andy Barr is the author of two foreign policy bills that earned wide bipartisan support in the House, but whose fate remains uncertain in the U.S. Senate as the year’s legislative session races to a close.
It’s a demonstration of Barr’s confrontational posture toward China and a strategy that marries tough sanctions with strategic funding.
Earlier this fall, the Lexington-area representative and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee secured overwhelming support for legislation aimed at countering China’s moves to undermine U.S. national and economic security.
It asks for $325 million annually for the next three years to combat Chinese Communist Party disinformation and to raise awareness about China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a giant infrastructure project often likened to a modern day “Marshall Plan” that spans across three continents.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s growing global influence is a direct threat to the sovereignty of nations and the free and open international order we are committed to defending,” Barr said in a statement. “This legislation equips us with the tools to counter China’s coercive tactics, ensuring that America and our allies can stand strong against authoritarianism while protecting our national security interests.”
In effect, the funds would be used to counteract Chinese influence overseas at the discretion of a senior State Department official.
Critics argue that it could lead to the U.S. government to engage in propaganda efforts similar to those it condemns in other countries and that the funds could be better spent at home.
Still, Barr’s bill passed 351-36, with GOPRep. Thomas Massie registering the only “no” vote in the Kentucky delegation.
“The U.S. needs more effective and agile tools to better compete with the Chinese Communist Party around the world,” said Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan.
On the same September day, the House used a voice vote to clear Barr’s “Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act,” legislation that would require the State Department to notify Congress of any science and technology agreements with China.
It would also revoke any existing governmental agreement with China unless the State Department notifies Congress of the agreement no later than 60 days after his bill is signed into law.
“For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has exploited these partnerships to gain access to sensitive technologies that could threaten our national security. This bill ensures Congress has the power to review and scrutinize every agreement, making sure that we are protecting America’s interests and holding China accountable. We cannot continue to allow blind trust to dictate our security,” Barr said.
The unity around this oversight issue underscores the urgency U.S. lawmakers have about safeguarding U.S. technology from Chinese spyware. The last significant legislative oversight of U.S.-China science and technology agreements came in 2003, long before the internet consumed Americans’ lives.
Both pieces of legislation are awaiting action in the Senate, where they’ve been referred to the Foreign Relations Committee.
But time is of the essence.
The most obvious vehicle for Barr’s bills to become law would be including them in the National Defense Authorization Act, the must-pass legislation that authorizes projects and identifies priorities for the Department of Defense.
While the House cleared its version of the NDAA in June, the Senate still needs to take action on it, which will likely come in December before the Christmas holiday recess. It’s a common carrier for other non-controversial legislation that might not have time to pass otherwise, which gives Barr’s bills a fighting chance.
“We are vehicle agnostic in how these bills become law. NDAA makes the most sense. But yes, hoping they will become law,” said Barr spokesman Tyler Staker.
This story was originally published December 2, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Andy Barr got two China bills passed in the House. Can they clear the Senate?."
