Nick Langworthy: “I thank my friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy) for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, as we go through our…”

“I thank my friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy) for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, as we go through our appropriations process, as we started here today, we must ensure that the United States is prepared to combat China. While the left wants us to focus on the latest partisan pet project, China's actions demand comprehensive and strategic response to safeguard our national security, economic competitiveness, and democratic values. Internationally, China's aggressive military buildup poses a direct challenge to the United States. With the largest Navy in the world and efforts to rival our capabilities, it is crucial that we prioritize investments in our defense to deter any potential aggression and to protect our interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the PLA Rocket Force's efforts to build a significant stockpile suggests that China is preparing for long-term competition and conflict. China's global infrastructure projects further solidify its position as a trade and economic power. While economic cooperation is important, we must be cautious of the potential debt-trap diplomacy where China leverages loans to seize assets and influence the policies of indebted countries. This undermines the sovereignty of nations and challenges the rules-based international system, and directly counters democratic values.…”