Progressive Works to Water Down China-Competition Bill

A progressive lawmaker is urging colleagues to water down a congressional industrial-policy package touted by Democratic leadership as a counter-China measure. Representative Sara Jacobs, in a letter circulated among House members last week and obtained by National Review, expressed concern about proposals that boost U.S. diplomatic support of Taiwan and counter Chinese malign influence, and called for negotiations to remove “problematic” provisions.

Her outreach surrounding the $250 billion America COMPETES Act, introduced last week by House Democrats, is indicative of how progressives are trying to steer the legislative initiative in a less hawkish direction. Like the version of the legislation that passed along bipartisan lines in the Senate last year, called the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), this bill would boost scientific-research funding, subsidize semiconductor production, and include a number of proposals relevant to America’s dealings with China. GOP lawmakers, however, say that Democrats cut them out of the process prior to introduction, and that it’s just another Democratic messaging bill.

About the Author

Jimmy Quinn

Jimmy Quinn is the former national security correspondent for National Review.

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A progressive lawmaker is urging colleagues to water down a congressional industrial-policy package touted by Democratic leadership as a counter-China measure. Representative Sara Jacobs, in a letter circulated among House members last week and obtained by National Review, expressed concern about proposals that boost U.S. diplomatic support of Taiwan and counter Chinese malign influence, and called for negotiations to remove “problematic” provisions.

Her outreach surrounding the $250 billion America COMPETES Act, introduced last week by House Democrats, is indicative of how progressives are trying to steer the legislative initiative in a less hawkish direction. Like the version of the legislation that passed along bipartisan lines in the Senate last year, called the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), this bill would boost scientific-research funding, subsidize semiconductor production, and include a number of proposals relevant to America’s dealings with China. GOP lawmakers, however, say that Democrats cut them out of the process prior to introduction, and that it’s just another Democratic messaging bill.