Charleston Leader

Last week, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined nine Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the STRATEGIC Act 2024. This legislation aims to position the United States and its allies for success in strategic competition against China. The effort is led by U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"We know that China is intent on challenging the U.S. in everything from military strength to economic power, trade relations, and global influence," said Senator Capito. "Competing with the CCP’s influence operations and standing up to their coercive tactics should be a priority across the federal government. The STRATEGIC Act charts a course for a comprehensive approach to competition with China and shows that Senate Republicans are ready to confront China’s malign actions from a position of strength."

The STRATEGIC Act addresses several areas:

- Predatory Chinese economic practices through initiatives countering economic coercion, prohibiting World Bank contracts for Chinese companies, and anti-trust reform.

- Malign Chinese Communist Party influence by enhancing think tank transparency, prohibiting certain gifts and contracts with strings attached to U.S. universities, improving research security, and exposing China's harassment of U.S. diplomats.

- Strengthening U.S. support for Taiwan and partner countries facing threats from China, establishing a State/Treasury Department "Tiger Team" to identify targets for sanctions and other measures before potential military action by China.

- Increasing oversight of U.S. government funding for biological research with China.

- Strengthening international security by countering the proliferation of Chinese drones in the Middle East and modifying missile technology controls to increase cooperation with key allies like the United Kingdom and Australia.

- Protecting U.S. interests in international organizations and supporting human rights.

- Reforming the Foreign Agents Registration Act by removing exemptions for foreign adversaries and granting investigative authorities to the Department of Justice.

- Authorizing strategic infrastructure initiatives focused on digital, transport, energy sectors, strengthening supply chain security, and lowering trade barriers in partner countries.

In addition to Senators Capito and Risch, this bill was introduced by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

###