The U.S. House of Representatives continues to ensure that American adversaries, including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, are held accountable for their aggression, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said last week.
“The days of leading from behind and undermining our military are behind us,” Rep. McCarthy said on Thursday. “These regimes are facing strong consequences for technology theft, election interference, ballistic missile development, and other acts that threaten our security and sovereignty.”
The lawmaker noted several significant steps taken by Congress to thwart global threats to the United States and its allies.
For instance, the Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017, H.R. 3364, for which McCarthy was an original cosponsor, became law in August 2017 and among numerous provisions directs the president to impose sanctions against North Korea, Russia and Iran, and to work to increase energy security in Ukraine.
Likewise, the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act, H.R. 3898, which the House approved in October 2017, includes what the congressman last year called “the most far-reaching sanctions Congress will have ever imposed on North Korea” to cut off the country’s ability to finance its weapons program. The measure remains under consideration in the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“Through the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which was signed into law, North Korea, Iran, and Russia face intense and expansive sanctions that derail their ability to harm America and Americans,” Rep. McCarthy said. “The House also passed the Otto Warmbier North Korea Sanctions Act, which would strengthen Congress’ oversight of sanctions on North Korea.”
Additionally, Rep. McCarthy spotlighted 10 other pieces of similar legislation passed by the House this congressional term, including: the Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act, H.R. 1644; the Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief Act, H.R. 390; the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act, H.R. 3329; and the Sanctioning Hizballah’s Illicit Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act, H.R. 3342.
“For the first time in 25 years, Congress overhauled how the federal government regulates foreign investment to protect against the Chinese threat,” Rep. McCarthy said, citing the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act, H.R. 5841, which the House also approved.
The measure, he said, has “closed loopholes in our system so China can no longer acquire sensitive advanced technologies and simultaneously undermine our defense industrial base.”
Toward securing America’s borders, Rep. McCarthy on Oct. 12 sponsored the Build the Wall, Enforce the Law Act of 2018, H.R. 7059, which would fund construction of the southern border wall in the United States and would ensure compliance with federal immigration law, according to the congressional record summary.
H.R. 7059 has 46 GOP cosponsors and has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary; Homeland Security; Ways and Means; Armed Services; and Budget committees.
“The House’s sanctions and other measures have made America’s position clear: We will work aggressively to protect our interests and prevent aggression by foreign powers,” Rep. McCarthy said.