Amata-Sponsored Bill Passed by HFAC
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming passage in the House Foreign Affairs Committee of her bill, H.R. 6606, for consideration by the full House of Representatives.
“The United States faces unprecedented espionage by unfriendly states, and we have seen time and time again that these actors will steal everything they can from the American people,” said Congresswoman Amata. “My bill further clarifies U.S. policy for export controls to act against those that steal American trade and industrial secrets, and I want to especially thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks for their support on this important issue and legislation.”
Amata (center) in HFAC markup
H.R. 6606, sponsored by Congresswoman Amata, amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 statement of policy to better protect the trade secrets of the United States and the administration’s ability to respond. It was passed in a full Committee markup, along with other bills.
Chairman Mike McCaul said, “The CCP poses a direct threat to our national security. Each year, China steals upwards of 600 billion dollars’ worth of American technology and the [Federal Bureau of Investigation] opens a new case on CCP economic espionage every 12 hours. … It is well past time that we modernize the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to stay ahead of our adversaries.”
In other congressional activity this week, the House passed a bipartisan health care bill, H.R.2365, Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act. This act directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a project to prevent and cure Parkinson's disease, improve treatment and diagnosis, and establish a council to advise HHS.
In the Veterans Affairs’ Committee, Amata took part in an oversight hearing of Subcommittee on Health examined the success of a program working to eliminate veteran suicide. The hearing was titled, SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grants: Saving Veterans’ Lives Through Community Connection. The grants provide veteran-based outreach, veteran suicide prevention services, connections to VA, and community resources.
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