Asa Hutchinson: “last week the Senate, by adopting two of the remaining eight House-passed China provisions, I believe took an important…”

“last week the Senate, by adopting two of the remaining eight House-passed China provisions, I believe took an important first step in reversing this Nation's failed, flawed and counterproductive policy of so-called ``constructive engagement'' with the People's Republic of China. The first amendment we adopted last week, an amendment to the Defense Department authorization bill, requires the Department of Defense to monitor enterprises which are owned by the People's Liberation Army and gives the President increased authority to take action against these companies should circumstances warrant. It does not mandate the President to act, but it would give him enhanced authority to act should the evidence warrant it. The second amendment we adopted gives the U.S. Customs Service increased funding and authority to stop the importation of goods produced in Chinese slave labor camps. The importation of goods produced by slave labor has been prohibited in this country for half a century, and yet the practice is continuing, unfortunately, and thus, this enhanced monitoring and enhanced authority for the Customs Service is essential. These were two very, very important amendments, I believe, but there are six bills still remaining in the Foreign Relations Committee.”