Rep. Darin LaHood
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) will co-chair two subcommittees of the newly formed China Task Force focused on Competitiveness and on Economics and Energy.
“As we look to the future, China presents a unique challenge to the United States as technology and our economies modernize,” Rep. LaHood said on May 20. “As co-chair of these pillars, I look forward to ensuring our manufacturers, small businesses and farmers in Illinois have a seat at the table and engaging on key issues such as the U.S.-China trade relationship, supply chains and America’s energy independence.”
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), ranking member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the China Task Force, on May 19 announced the task force’s five subcommittees, which also include National Security, Technology, and Ideological Competition. Each member of the task force will serve on two pillars as a co-chair, according to the congressman.
“Each of these pillars represents a key focus area where U.S. leadership and democratic values counteract Chinese Communist Party malfeasance globally,” Rep. McCaul said. “The five pillars reflect the key aspects of our strategic competition with China, as identified by our members: military superiority and homeland security; advanced technology; economic strength; increasing our competitiveness; and the battle between democracy and authoritarianism.”
Rep. McCaul said lawmakers must take decisive action across each of these domains to better secure America’s future.
“Task force members will use their diverse expertise to develop policy recommendations for the pillars they co-chair, and I look forward to working with each of them as we add to our growing list of legislative solutions that address the greatest challenge of our generation,” he added.
As co-chair of the Economics and Energy Pillar, Rep. LaHood will help address U.S. competition in international trade, the movement of capital, economic statecraft, and the energy industry, including intellectual property violations, state-owned enterprises, technology transfers, tariff policy, oil and gas, renewable energy, and nuclear energy.
Rep. LaHood will focus on forming a proactive agenda to increase the competitiveness of the United States as co-chair of the Competitiveness Pillar. This includes macro-level federal competitiveness measures, education and research integrity, national security education, STEM education, and visa policy for talent acquisition.
As the sole member of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee named to the China Task Force, Rep. LaHood also will lend his expertise in trade and the economic relationship between the U.S. and China, according to his office, which said the lawmaker has led bipartisan delegation trips to China during the last three years to engage with business and government leaders and educate members of Congress on the U.S.-China relationship.
Other GOP members on the China Task Force include U.S. Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), and Elise Stefanik (R-NY).