The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“CHINA” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Senate section on pages S2987 on May 21, 2019.
The Department includes the Census Bureau, which is used to determine many factors about American life. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department is involved in misguided foreign trade policies and is home to many unneeded programs.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CHINA
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, finally, there is a topic I have discussed before--the administration's moves to block access to telecommunications equipment to China's state-controlled and state-
backed firms, like Huawei. I firmly back these measures. Our defense, law enforcement, and intelligence officials have publicly testified that Huawei and other Chinese telecom companies pose a national threat to the security of the United States. Their technology could allow China to spy on Americans, steal their data, and otherwise conduct espionage.
Also, there is another point. China has taken advantage of us. There is a huge consensus now in America that that has happened. We didn't have that consensus even 5 years ago, but whether it is business or labor, average American citizens, Democrats, or Republicans, everyone agrees that China takes advantage, and one of the main ways they take advantage is they don't let our companies that have top-line products sell them in China, except under restrictions that make it almost impossible for them to do it. Our major tech companies are excluded from China, but China, at the same time, can sell anything it wants here.
``Reciprocity'' should be our watch word. If Google or Facebook or any of our other companies can't sell in China, their top companies shouldn't sell here until they let us in. That is what has happened with Huawei, in addition to the national security concerns, and it makes sense.
So I say to the Commerce Department: Stay strong.
We are now talking about some 90-day delay. I hope this is not a prelude to what we did with ZTE, when we stood tough at the beginning. It had an effect, and then we backed off.
President Trump, don't back off on Huawei.
Commerce Secretary Ross, don't back off on Huawei.
Secretary of Treasury Mnuchin and Ambassador Lighthizer, stay strong.
This will get the Chinese to play fair; talking won't. Tariffs are one tool; this is another. We need all the tools in our toolbox to get China to play fair.
I yield the floor.
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