U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) this week submitted 10 amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, several of which were identical to legislation he previously introduced, prior to a vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives.
“Supporting our military and our partners around the world is crucial to protecting the United States,” Rep. Curtis said on June 10. “These amendments ensure that Utah’s priorities are considered in this equation, and we continue our dominance against our adversaries.”
The various amendments focus on a range of issues, including ways to hold China accountable, leveling the playing field for Utah businesses on the international stage, and ranking international organizations for funding priority as it relates to U.S. interests, the congressman’s staff said.
One amendment is identical to the Combatting China’s Pilfering of Intellectual Property Act, H.R. 7608, a bill Rep. Curtis sponsored in March that would impose sanctions on Chinese companies that steal U.S. intellectual property. It also would impose visa bans on certain senior People’s Republic of China officials, certain Chinese Communist Party officials, and others until China is no longer actively supporting the stealing of intellectual property from the United States.
Another amendment to the NDAA submitted by Rep. Curtis is identical to his Hong Kong Business Integrity and Transparency Act, H.R. 2815. That bipartisan bill, introduced in April and cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), would create reporting from the Department of Commerce on instances of demands for user data, assistance with law enforcement, and content takedowns.
In addition, the congressman submitted an amendment that requests a determination of sanctions under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act regarding a specific list of Chinese entities and companies and modifies the annual China Military Power Report to include People’s Liberation Army Complicity in human rights abuses against Uyghurs, according to a summary of the amendments.