This week, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) submitted 10 amendments ahead of the U.S. House of Representatives voting on the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendments range from ways to hold China accountable for its actions, to leveling the playing field for Utah businesses on the international stage, to ranking international organizations for funding priority as it relates to U.S. interests. Many are associated with legislation Curtis has previously introduced.
“Supporting our military and our partners around the world is crucial to protecting the United States,” said Rep. Curtis. “These amendments ensure that Utah’s priorities are considered in this equation, and we continue our dominance against our adversaries.”
Brief synopsis of the amendments are listed below and can be found at this link.
- Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from knowingly permitting the sale, at a commissary store or military exchange, of any good, ware, article, or merchandise from any company that has engaged in or engages in a boycott of the State of Israel.
- Adds SEC disclosure requirements for knowingly transacting with an entity that the Secretary of Defense has determined qualify as “Chinese military companies”.
- Establishes reporting from the Department of Commerce on instances of demands for user data, assistance with law enforcement, and content takedowns. Identical to the Hong Kong Business Integrity and Transparency Act.
- Modifies and updates a report regarding Iranian involvement in the narcotics trade.
- Requests a determination of sanctions under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act with regards to 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.
- Asks for a report ranking United Nations agencies based on the manner and extent that the organization is vital to U.S. national security interests. Identical to the DEFUND Act.
- Imposes sanctions on Chinese companies that steal U.S. intellectual property. Further it imposes broad visa bans on certain senior PRC officials, certain CCP officials, and active-duty PLA soldiers and their family members until China is no longer actively supporting the stealing of intellectual property from the U.S. Identical to the CCP IP Act.
- Determination of sanctions for financial institutions in state sponsor of terror nations.
- Ensures it is U.S. policy to combat China’s attempts to claim sovereignty over Taiwan in the United Nations. Amendment text matches the bipartisan, House-passed Taiwan International Solidarity Act.
- Directs the President to make a sanctions determination for 49 judicial officials in Hong Kong taking part in the implementation of the CCP’s national security law and Article 23. Text is identical to the Hong Kong Sanctions Act.
Additional Reading:
Deseret News: Rep. John Curtis responds to calls for his arrest in Hong Kong
