Burgess speaks on the America COMPETES Act

Statement

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX)delivered the following remarks on the House Floor to warn Americans about how the America COMPETES Act contains several provisions that will actually aid China instead of countering China.

This bill claims to counter China, but many of its provision may actually help China. There is no prohibition in this bill on Federal dollars going towards Gain of Function research in adversarial countries, including China. The bill creates a new "W" visa class for start-ups with no restrictions on awarding visas to Chinese applicants. The bill authorizes $8 billion for the United Nation's Green Climate Fund, which has awarded $100 million directly to China. The bill also creates a $3 billion slush fund for solar manufacturing -- but most solar companies use critical minerals that are primarily sourced from China."

"This legislation also includes an investigational report on COVID-19 origins. Energy and Commerce Republicans have written countless letters to the Majority requesting hearings, briefing, and investigation of this pandemic's origin, and it is ridiculous that it has taken this long to get even a façade of focus on this important issue.

"This bill supposedly provides over $300 billion in new spending, but we don't really know the cost because the Congressional Budget Office has not had time to score the bill. Members were given 72-hours between the bill being released and amendments being due to the Rules Committee. Unsurprisingly, most of the amendments made in order are Democratic amendments that continue their wasteful push for partisan priorities.

"Most of these are just messaging provisions that take not real action. This bill requires the federal government to produce 166 new reports. It also contains no less than 70 "Sense of Congress" provisions -- these are nothing but a get well card to our problems and are not enforceable by law.

"The Senate passed their version of this bill, the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) in June of 2021. But for some reason, it is imperative that the House pass its own hastily drafted version this week.

"It appears that the Democrats are more concerned about politics over policy and partisan priorities over protecting the American people."

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