The committee assignments for the new Congress were announced over the last week. In the upcoming 117th Congress, I have been named the Lead Republican (Ranking Member) of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation. For the last six years, I was either the Chairman or the Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee (depending on which party was in the majority.) Republicans have six year term limits on leading a committee, so I was not eligible to continue as the leader on the Small Business Committee. Regardless, I am really looking forward to again heading up the Asia Committee. I say “again“ because I was the Chairman of the committee back in the 113th Congress (2013 and 2014.)
In case you’re wondering what other committees I’ve led over the years, here’s a comprehensive list: Chairman of the Judiciary’s Constitution Subcommittee (2001 through 2006), Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee (2007 and 2008), Chairman of the Middle East Subcommittee (2011 and 2012), as previously mentioned Chairman of the Asia Subcommittee (2013 and 2014), and Chairman or Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee (2015 through 2020.)
I also hold a number of other positions of responsibility in Congress. For example, I am the Dean of the Ohio Republican Delegation. And I’m the Co-Chairman of a number of congressional caucuses. What the heck are congressional caucuses? They are groups of Members of Congress, usually consisting somewhere between a dozen and a 100 or so Members of Congress who pursue common legislative objectives in a certain area. Most of the ones I’ve led have the goal of improving US relations with a specific country. I currently co-chair the following country-specific caucuses: India, Taiwan, Philippines, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Norway, Nigeria, and the Israel Allies Caucus. I also am co-chair of the House Freedom of the Press Caucus. Interestingly, my Democratic counterpart is none other than Adam Schiff (not one of former President Trump’s favorite people.)
Okay, back to the Asia Committee. I’m particularly energized to be the Lead Republican on this committee at this time. We have responsibilities that cover half the earth’s surface, and more than half of the world’s population. Most experts agree that at least the next century’s focus will be shifting to Asia, as opposed to Europe or the Middle East. Of particular concern is our relationship (rivalry) with China.
Obviously, there are a great many things to be concerned about with respect to China. Unfortunately, their behavior in recent years has often been appalling. Their cover-up of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, resulting in devastation across the globe, tops the list of outrageous behavior, but there are so many other examples as well. The building of islands in the South China Sea, and then militarizing them. Brutal suppression of the Uighurs, the Fallon Gong, Hong Kong, Tibet, and of course Tiananmen Square.
And when it comes to trading with China, they break all the rules. They agreed to follow all WTO rules and regulations when admitted back in 2001 – they haven’t. The Chinese government either owns or highly subsidizes virtually all of their major businesses so they can unfairly compete with US businesses and everybody else. They manipulate their currency to give them an unfair advantage with the rest of the world. Rather than invest in research and development like other countries, they steal everything they need to get ahead. They steal from businesses. They steal from universities. They steal from governments and militaries. They are masters of industrial espionage and cyber theft. They have been called the “pirates of the world.”
Of course the committee will be dealing with a lot more than just China over the next two years. After all, we have jurisdiction with respect to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and half the rest of the world. But there’s no question that China will be our most challenging focus.
As always, I’ll do my best to keep you and the rest of my constituents in the loop about what’s going on in Washington, and in the rest of the world for that matter. Let me know if you have any thoughts.
See you next week.