‘China week’ at US House puts biotech firms, Hong Kong offices in legislative cross hairs
Most of the scheduled 28 items have bipartisan support and follow efforts to tackle national and economic security threats posed by Beijing
The US House may vote this week on more than two dozen China-related bills on the floor, including legislation that could close Hong Kong’s diplomatic offices stateside and restrict government contracting with world-leading mainland biotech firms.
In total, 28 measures scheduled this week by the Republican-led House reference or focus on competing with China, addressing issues ranging from countering Beijing’s tech, political and economic influence to bolstering American allies in the Indo-Pacific.
Most of the bills are Republican-led but draw on bipartisan support. They are poised for consideration under the suspension of rules – an expedited process requiring a two-thirds majority to pass.
This push, dubbed ‘China week’, follows numerous bicameral efforts to tackle national and economic security threats posed by Beijing.
“The best way to get something done in Washington is to frame it in the China or national-security framing,” said Rory Murphy, speaking as the vice-president of government affairs at the US-China Business Council, a position he recently left.
