Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Dingell Statement on Republican Full-Year Continuing Resolution

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Dingell Statement on Republican Full-Year Continuing Resolution

Washington, March 11, 2025

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today released the following statement on her ‘no’ vote on the Republican Continuing Resolution.

“Passing a full-year continuing resolution instead of real appropriations bills is a failure for the American people and provides a blank check for this Administration to continue dismantling the programs and services people depend on every day. This continuing resolution is a partisan House Republican funding bill that does nothing to stop the dismantling of critical services. In fact, it makes things worse with deep cuts that will hurt veterans, seniors, and families. It is a betrayal to our nation’s veterans, cutting $23 billion from care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.  It also slashes affordable housing – potentially leading to more than 32,000 veterans, domestic violence survivors, seniors, and people with disabilities across the country losing their homes. I am ready, willing, and want to support bipartisan government funding legislation – but I cannot and will never go along with cutting veterans’ benefits, taking away health care, or evicting families from their homes.”

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Dingell, Moolenaar Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Services for Rural Veterans

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and John Moolenaar (R-MI) today reintroduced the bipartisan Veterans Patient Advocacy Act, which would require the VA to ensure veterans in rural areas have reliable access to patient advocates to receive better care. Patient advocates assist veterans with paperwork, services, and appeals related to their care.  

“America’s veterans rely on the VA for access to vital programs, benefits, and supportive services. Patient advocates employed by the VA are an important source of support for veterans navigating the VA health system, and strengthening the VA workforce is more important than ever,” said Rep. Dingell. “I am glad to join Congressman Moolenaar in introducing the Veterans Patient Advocacy Act, which will increase the number of VA patient advocates so veterans can get easier access to the support they deserve.” 

“Our nation’s veterans deserve the best possible service from the VA. Unfortunately, veterans know receiving care from the VA often consists of time-consuming paperwork, fighting through layers of red tape, and lengthy appeals. This is especially true for Michigan veterans in rural communities, where the nearest VA clinic may be hundreds of miles away. Patient advocates are an asset for veterans to work through the bureaucracy, and improve accountability in the VA. Our legislation will increase the number of patient advocates available to these veterans, so they receive better care and attention from the VA,” said Rep. Moolenaar.   

The lawmakers previously introduced the Veterans Patient Advocacy Act in 2021 and 2023. The text of the legislation can be found here. 

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McCollum Announces More Than $15 Million For Local Projects

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

Community Project Funding for water infrastructure, public safety, libraries, workforce development, and more in the Fourth District included in FY 2024 federal government funding package

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) announced $15,217,036 in Community Project Funding that she has worked to secure for Minnesota’s Fourth District in the Fiscal Year 2024 spending bills that passed the House today. These projects were included in H. Res. 1061, legislation that establishes federal funding for multiple agencies across six Appropriations bills: Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Interior and Environment; and Veterans Affairs and Military Construction. Her vote to pass this first of two anticipated Appropriations government funding packages for FY 2024 will allow federal resources to be directly invested in some of the most pressing needs in the East Metro. Congress must now act by March 22 to pass the remaining funding legislation for FY 2024 to avoid a partial government shutdown.

“This legislation is long overdue, and should have passed six months ago—but nevertheless, I am pleased that $15,217,036 in Community Project Funding I worked to secure within this bill will have a positive impact on Minnesota’s Fourth District,” Congresswoman McCollum said. “These investments are the result of strong partnerships led by local leaders for projects that will make families and our communities healthier, safer, and stronger.”

Rep. McCollum secured funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit Fourth District residents.

These include:

  • $1,000,000 to Ramsey County for the Rice Street Reconstruction which will improve traffic flow and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers.
  • $2,965,000 to Ramsey County for their Emergency and Public Safety Communications Network Replacement to provide reliable communication infrastructure for first responders.
  • $963,000 to Washington County to upgrade their Public Safety Equipment and Technology with two airboats and a digital evidence management system.
  • $500,000 to Washington County to construct the Trunk Highway 96, Norell Avenue, and Stonebridge Trail Roundabout which will improve safety for all users on these roadways.
  • $1,000,000 to the East Side Boys Girls Club to renovate and expand their facility to create a state-of-the-art Workforce Development Training Center for youth in the community.
  • $1,666,279 to the City of Saint Paul to construct a new Fire Station 7 to improve fire and EMS coverage to the East Side and surrounding areas.
  • $500,000 to the City of Saint Paul for the Riverview Library Renovation that will ensure this historic Carnegie library serves the next generation of Saint Paul’s West Side with upgrades to its technology and programming space, and improved accessibility.
  • $500,000 to the City of Saint Paul for their Hayden Heights Library Renovation to create an innovative technology resource hub on the East Side that will meet residents’ business, economic, and community space needs.
  • $963,000 to the University of St. Thomas for Analytical Equipment for Measurement Science that will allow research into complex questions about ecological and water issues in Minnesota.
  • $1,000,000 to the American Indian Family Center to construct the Oyate Ota Center to provide a central community space to deliver services and supports to the American Indian community.
  • $850,000 to the City of North St. Paul for their Community Center Revitalization to create a year-round, mixed-use community hub that will be safe and accessible to all residents.
  • $959,757 to the City of Gem Lake for their Municipal Water Supply Project to provide safe drinking water for residents whose well water has been contaminated.
  • $850,000 to the City of Woodbury for their reconstruction and improvement of Weir Drive to address safety concerns and access.
  • $500,000 to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to guide the development of an Anerobic Digester Nutrient Recovery industry that would reduce nutrient run-off into Minnesota’s waters.
  • $1,000,000 to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for their Cereal Disease Laboratory, which conducts cutting-edge research to support the stability of our global food supply.

H. Res. 1061 includes six of the 12 Appropriations bills that provide regular funding for the federal government. For the last five months, the government has remained open through passage of four temporary funding bills.  These Continuing Resolutions were required because Republicans controlling Congress pushed extreme partisan measures in the funding legislation instead of working with Democrats to craft responsible bills based on agreements in the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act that was signed into law in June 2023.

House Appropriations Democrats, working with the White House, were successful in accomplishing two major goals in H. Res. 1061: First, removing harmful, extreme House Republican policy riders that attempted to make abortion illegal everywhere, slash efforts to fight climate change, and threaten our national security. And secondly, Democrats rejected extreme Republican funding cuts that would have decimated Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) funding for families facing food insecurity, taken away affordable housing vouchers for tens of thousands of Americans, and a massive cut to heating assistance, literally leaving families out in the cold, among other cuts.

This government funding package invests in America’s future and delivers for the American people by:

  • Protecting women’s rights by blocking attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive health care, including abortion, and by increasing funding for gender-based violence prevention and prosecution programs.
  • Confronting the climate crisis, fighting climate change, and ensuring America’s energy independence with robust, transformative investments in deploying clean energy technologies in communities across the country, and providing funding for cutting-edge scientific and climate-related research.
  • Honoring our commitments to our veterans by ensuring they receive the care and benefits that they have earned and investing in veterans’ health care, including targeted investments that advance women’s health, mental health, and homelessness assistance.

H. Res. 1061 is expected to be passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden later this week. A detailed summary of the bill is available here. By March 22, Congress must pass the remaining Fiscal Year 2024 funding bills: Defense, Legislative Branch, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, and State and Foreign Operations, in order to avoid a partial government shutdown.

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McCollum Announces Gillette Children’s CEO Barbara Joers As State of the Union Address Guest

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

Highlighting the importance of federal investments in high-quality, compassionate health care for children

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) will be joined by Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare President and CEO Barbara Joers as her guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress on Thursday, March 7.

The State of the Union Address will highlight the historic achievements that House Democrats and President Biden have delivered and share an optimistic vision of putting People Over Politics to lower costs, grow the middle class, make all our communities safer, and defend our freedoms.

In Fiscal Year 2023, Congresswoman McCollum and Barbara Joers worked together to secure $1.5 million in Community Project Funding for Gillette Children’s Research Investigative Lab in Saint Paul. The funds for this project are being used to reconfigure clinical space with the goal to integrate in-patient research functions to better suit the needs of patients and families.

“I am proud to welcome Barbara Joers as my State of the Union guest to highlight our partnership in securing federal investments in high-quality, compassionate health care for children,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “The investments in Gillette’s Research Investigative Lab are about meeting the needs of our community. Last Congress, President Biden worked with House Democrats to pass significant federal investments that are benefiting Minnesota—lowering health care costs and protecting the Affordable Care Act, fighting climate change, and improving people’s lives. During our leadership together we showed how the House should work with our communities to serve the American people.”

“I am honored to join Rep. McCollum at the State of the Union Address to hear from President Biden,” said Barbara Joers, President and CEO of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. “At Gillette Children’s, we lead in pediatric specialty care through innovation and care coordination. Our providers and researchers are passionate about improving the lives of children living with complex healthcare needs and relentlessly pursue research to discover the newest and best evidence-based clinical care. Research is a crucial driver of how we advance detection, diagnosis, and treatment interventions for pediatric musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. I am so pleased to have worked with Congresswoman McCollum on funding for a project that will expand Gillette Children’s research capacity and capabilities, positively impacting the lives of many children and their families.”

Background:

Barbara Joers, President and CEO, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
Barbara (Walczyk) Joers has served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in Minnesota since 2013. As the United States’ first publicly funded hospital dedicated to serving children who have disabilities, Gillette Children’s today is an independent organization that provides subspecialized care to children who have complex, rare or traumatic conditions affecting the performance of an individual’s musculoskeletal and neurological systems.

Community Project Funding: Gillette Specialty Healthcare Research Investigative Lab ($1,500,000)
The investigative lab will be used to conduct research related to assessment of motor control, movement disorders, spasticity, and pain, and include a rehabilitation research and clinical care space needed to advance the development of biofeedback, robotics, and exoskeleton development.

Congresswoman McCollum is committed to working to make health care more affordable and accessible, including protecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has lowered costs, brought quality health care to tens of millions of people, and protected people with pre-existing conditions from discrimination. In Minnesota, our ACA insurance exchange MNsure broke its previous enrollment record, with 146,000 signups during the 2023 open enrollment period. Protecting and strengthening the ACA and MNsure is important to facilitate access to health care coverage for families with children who have disabilities and medically complex conditions.

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McCollum Announces 2024 Congressional Art Competition

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) invites high school students in Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District to participate in the 43rd annual Congressional Art Competition. Announcing the competition, the congresswoman released the following statement:

“I’m pleased to announce my office’s participation in the 43rd annual Congressional Art Competition,” Congresswoman McCollum said. “Minnesota is fortunate to be such a strong national leader in the arts, and every year I am so impressed by the talent and creativity of young artists here in the Fourth District. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the artistic talents of students in our community, and I look forward to seeing all of the entries displayed at the 2024 Spring Saint Paul Art Crawl!”

Background:

Submissions are due Friday, April 12, 2024, by 5:00pm Central Time.

The competition is open to all high school students who either attend school or reside in the Fourth Congressional District. All entries will be displayed in the Atrium Gallery of the Schmidt Artist Lofts as part of the 2024 Spring Saint Paul Art Crawl, April 19-21, 2024. All entries will also be displayed in a digital exhibit on Congresswoman McCollum’s official website, mccollum.house.gov.

The winning entry from the Fourth District will be displayed as part of a national exhibit in the U.S. Capitol. Entries from the runners-up will be displayed in Congresswoman McCollum’s offices in Saint Paul and in Washington, D.C.

Please contact Congresswoman McCollum’s Saint Paul office at 651-224-9191 with any questions. Find complete rules and instructions at mccollum.house.gov/art-competition.

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Congresswoman Betty McCollum, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce Federal Funding for Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Minnesota

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

Funding was announced for the State of Minnesota, as well as an award specific to the City of Saint Paul

Congresswoman Betty McCollum and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced federal support to help cities and commercial buildings develop plans to implement energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades across Minnesota. It will also be used to help eligible homeowners install energy efficiency upgrades in their homes, like installing energy efficient furnaces and water heaters or improving insulation and sealing windows, providing them long term cost-savings. The money comes from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure legislation, which both Senators and the Congresswoman voted for in 2021.

“I am so pleased that Minnesotans will benefit from the $2,566,630 total investment in our state through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “The City of Saint Paul’s visionary Climate Action and Resilience Plan will be directly supported by these funds to conduct municipal energy audits and further their strategy to decarbonize municipal buildings by 2030. I commend President Biden for this important investment that will help us meet our climate goals and make our communities more resilient.”

“Investing in energy efficiency upgrades and clean energy sources can help lower utility bills and our carbon footprint,” said Senator Klobuchar. “With these federal funds, Minnesota businesses and families can install the equipment they need to retrofit their homes to save money, and communities can get assistance to implement their energy goals.”

“The transition to clean energy is happening, the question is whether our country leads or follows. I want us to lead,” said Senator Smith. “The cheapest and cleanest energy is the energy that you don’t ever need to buy. These investments will help Minnesota businesses, communities, and families save money on their utility bills and reduce harmful emissions contributing to climate change.”

The allocated money will fund three programs for energy efficiency upgrades across Minnesota, including:

  1. A competitive grant program for small towns to audit their government buildings and do climate planning;
  2. A revolving loan fund for energy audits needed to access clean energy loans;
  3. Assistance for low-to-moderate income households seeking to make energy efficiency upgrades. 

The program also contributes to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative by supporting eligible governments to direct 40% of overall benefits from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program-funded programs and projects to disadvantaged communities that are often energy-burdened or left behind in the clean energy transition.

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Wagner, Colleagues Relaunch Abraham Accords Caucus

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

 

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), along with Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL), Congressman Craig Goldman (R-TX), and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) today announced the relaunch of the House Abraham Accords Caucus in order to build on the success of the historic Abraham Accords. For decades, Congress has played a key role in promoting peace between Israel and its neighbors.  The Caucus provides an opportunity to strengthen the Abraham Accords by encouraging deeper partnerships among the existing Abraham Accords countries and expanding the agreement to include countries that do not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Abraham Accords, which were signed on September 15, 2020, resulted in peace and normalization agreements between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain, and have since been expanded to include Sudan, and Morocco—transforming the region, enhancing security, creating economic opportunities, and advancing vital US national security interests. The Accords built on the success of previous peace normalization agreements with Egypt and Jordan.

Wagner said: “I am once again proud to join my colleagues in co-chairing this important caucus as we work to advance the historic Abraham Accords and promote prosperity and stability in the region.  Because of the strength of these relationships between Israel and its Arab neighbors, Iran and its so-called “axis of resistance” has been greatly weakened.  President Trump’s negotiation of the Accords nearly five years ago was a massive step forward for Middle Eastern stability, and I am committed to working closely with the President so we can strengthen and expand these agreements, open new economic opportunities, and ensure Iran and its terrorist proxies can never again threaten peace in the region.”

Schneider said: “The initial Abraham Accords were a historic crossroads, for the first time fully normalizing relations between Israel and Arab states. Strengthening and building upon them offers a path to durable peace for the entire the Middle East, which is why Congress must stay engaged with the process.  I once again am proud to co-chair this bipartisan, bicameral effort to further Congress’s work toward ensuring a safe, strong Jewish and democratic Israel living side by side with its neighbors—including the Palestinian people—with security, prosperity, and peace for all peoples.”

Goldman said: “Alongside my colleagues, I am honored to co-chair the House Abraham Accords Caucus as we continue the vital work of strengthening U.S. national security while advancing peace and prosperity across the world. Nearly five years ago, President Donald Trump led the historic and monumental Abraham Accords—uniting nations once divided by conflict in a shared commitment to peace, mutual respect, and religious freedom. I look forward to working with my colleagues and President Trump to foster greater peace and cooperation between Israel and its neighboring Arab states.”

Wasserman Schultz said: “Strengthening and expanding the Abraham Accords is critical to advancing peace in the Middle East. I am proud to join my colleagues as co-chair of this vital caucus. We will be laser-focused on fostering broad bipartisan coalitions within the U.S. Congress to provide the resources and tools needed to promote the normalization efforts between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Achieving peace in the region will strengthen the security and economic opportunities for all.”

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Wagner Reintroduces Legislation Protecting Americans’ Personal Financial Privacy

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) issued the following statement after reintroducing the Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act in the 119th Congress.

Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-2) said, “While I welcomed the SEC’s recent decision to exempt the reporting of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the Consolidated Audit Trail, Congress must go even further. We must make this protection permanent and ensure the privacy of our fellow Americans. No one should be forced to endanger their personal information just to invest and save for their family’s future, and this legislation will give greater confidence to Main Street investors.”

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) said: “The SEC’s collection of personal financial information through the Consolidated Audit Trail is unconstitutional and entirely unnecessary; and it exposes American investors to serious cybersecurity risks from foreign adversaries and criminal hackers. This is why I developed the Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act in the House. The bill would effectively eliminate the potential for both accidental and intentional breaches by restricting the SEC’s automatic collection of investors’ PII. Among its provisions, the SEC will only be permitted to request this data in cases directly tied to investigating or enforcing violations of federal securities law. I appreciate Senator John Kennedy for introducing the Senate companion to this important bill.”

Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the U.S. Senate companion bill, S. 658.

“Americans assume their private information is secure when they invest money in the U.S. stock market. However, the SEC’s unlawful Consolidated Audit Trail could put their data in jeopardy. My bill would protect American investors from foreign enemies and bad actors by preventing the SEC from collecting personal information it doesn’t need and storing it on a dangerous database,” said Senator John Kennedy (R-LA).

“The SEC’s national registry makes every American investor and retirement saver’s personal and financial information an easy target for Russian and Chinese hackers,” said American Securities Association President & CEO Chris Iacovella. “We thank Congressman Loudermilk for his leadership and for standing up to protect America’s mom-and-pop investors and removing the personal and financial information of American investors from the SEC’s Consolidated Audit Trail.”

“SIFMA applauds Congressman Loudermilk and Senator Kennedy for re-introducing the Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act. Consistent with the recent exemption provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), this important legislation would protect investors’ PII from being reported to the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT), which is the largest database of retail and institutional trading ever created and is a ripe target for cyber criminals. For a decade, SIFMA has consistently provided alternatives to collecting such data that still address the SEC’s enforcement concerns. We commend this bicameral effort to codify the SEC’s recent exemption from the requirement to report certain PII to the CAT, and we look forward to working with Congress to enact this critical bill and ensure investors’ PII is protected,” said Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association President and CEO Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr.

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Wagner, Hill, Cotton, Scott and Colleagues to Uyeda: Review Approach to Consolidated Audit Trail

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Capital Markets Subcommittee Chair Ann Wagner (R-MO), House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR), Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda to launch a comprehensive review of all aspects of the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT).

Senator Boozman (R-AR), Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), and Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) also signed the letter.

In part, the lawmakers wrote:

“The prohibition on collecting investor PII must be formally codified (rather than via rescindable exemptive relief) and already-collected PII must be expunged. Cybersecurity measures for the remaining data must be enhanced. And the CAT’s bloated out-of-control budget must be addressed… Further, it would appear appropriate for the Commission to pause and reconsider its position with respect to ongoing litigation related to the CAT, as it has done for other cases commenced during the Biden administration.”

Read the full letter here or below:

The Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) has been a highly controversial endeavor that has raised many concerns from Members of Congress, including with respect to (i) the unwarranted collection of personally identifiable information (PII) from millions of American investors, (ii) potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and (iii) its inequitable funding structure.

We are pleased that you and fellow Commissioner Peirce have repeatedly acknowledged these longstanding concerns and applaud the Commission for its recent steps to protect the financial privacy of American investors.

However, there is more work to be done. The prohibition on collecting investor PII must be formally codified (rather than via rescindable exemptive relief) and already-collected PII must be expunged. Cybersecurity measures for the remaining data must be enhanced. And the CAT’s bloated out-of-control budget must be addressed.

Given these continuing concerns, the Commission should launch a comprehensive review that covers all aspects of the CAT. In doing so, the Commission should take additional steps to pause the CAT’s most controversial elements—not only the collection of customer PII, but also the problematic funding structure that a majority of the current Commission voted against. Further, it would appear appropriate for the Commission to pause and reconsider its position with respect to ongoing litigation related to the CAT, as it has done for other cases commenced during the Biden administration.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

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Wagner Reintroduces Bill to Combat China’s Aggression, Support an Independent Taiwan

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), along with Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), released the following statement after they introduced the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, legislation that passed the House in 2023:

“The People’s Republic of China is hell-bent on exerting power over Taiwan and expanding their hostile influence to the detriment of the entire world,” said Wagner. “Taiwan is a strong partner of the United States, and we cannot and we will not let the Chinese Communist Party threaten our allies and assets in the Indo-Pacific. The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act will deepen the relationship between our countries and will signal to the world that the United States will never kowtow to Communist China.”

“Now more than ever, it is imperative for the United States to demonstrate its unwavering support for our friend and ally, Taiwan,” said Connolly. “In the face of an increasingly aggressive People’s Republic of China, our commitment to and partnership with Taiwan is paramount. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation that strengthens the deepening relationship between the United States and Taiwan.”

 “Taiwan is a key partner to the United States and the global community,” said Lieu. “As the Chinese government asserts more pressure on our regional partners and world, it’s critical our government works together to support Taiwan. I’m pleased to join my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to ensure the Administration consults Congress as it develops its Taiwan guidance. This will allow for a more unified approach in coordinating US-Taiwan relations and strengthen our essential partnership.”

Background

The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act would require the Department of State to conduct periodic reviews of its guidelines for U.S. engagement with Taiwan. These regular reviews and updates must:

  1. Explain how the guidance deepens and expands United States-Taiwan relations, and reflects the value, merits, and importance of the United States-Taiwan relationship;
  2. Give due consideration to the fact that Taiwan is a democratic partner and a free and open society that respects universal human rights and democratic values;
  3. Ensure that the conduct of relations with Taiwan reflects the longstanding, comprehensive, and values-based relationship the United States shares with Taiwan, and contribute to the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.
  4. Identify opportunities to lift any remaining self-imposed limitations on U.S.-Taiwan engagement and articulate a plan to do so.