On the recordMay 8, 2024
Yes, California is a great State. Madam Speaker, six Republicans joined Democrats in voting to stop this bill and send it back to committee, something that hasn't happened in 32 years. Of the Republicans who voted to send the bill back to committee, one had an amendment to say that if a company is guilty of human rights abuses, including slave labor in other countries, than they are not welcome to our land and minerals for free. By the time the bill came to the House floor last week, Republican leaders had stripped the amendment right out. I guess Republicans want to take the win on supporting drug cartels and child sex traffickers, groups that benefit from human rights violations. In addition, the Republican chair of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party also filed an amendment to close the loophole. That one was blocked twice by Republican leaders. Republicans have voted to keep foreign adversaries from accessing our oil and gas. How are our minerals different? Insert side eye here because it doesn't add up. Pardon my skepticism that there is not bipartisan concern here. This bill is a toxic national security giveaway to our foreign adversaries. It undercuts our competitiveness, and it is unconscionable on human rights. That is why we are seeing some Republicans buck their party on it, and I hope they will stand strong. {time} 1345
