[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4525-H4527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ASSESSING XI'S INTERFERENCE AND SUBVERSION ACT

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 7314) to require the Secretary of State to submit to 
Congress a report on the People's Republic of China's support to the 
Russian Federation with respect to its unprovoked invasion of and full-
scale war against Ukraine, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7314

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Assessing Xi's Interference 
     and Subversion Act'' or ``AXIS Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) On February 4, 2022, weeks ahead of the Russian 
     Federation's invasion of Ukraine, Russia and the People's 
     Republic of China released a joint statement following a 
     meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, which outlined 
     a strategic partnership with ``no limits'' and no 
     ``forbidden'' areas for cooperation.
       (2) On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in an 
     unprovoked and unjustified act of war.
       (3) China abstained from voting on the February 25, 2022, 
     United Nations Security Council resolution and the March 2, 
     2022, United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning 
     Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
       (4) As of April 1, 2022, China has not publicly condemned 
     Russia's unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
       (5) In his call with Xi Jinping on March 18, 2022, 
     President Joe Biden communicated that there would be 
     ``implications and consequences if China provides material 
     support to Russia as it conducts brutal attacks against 
     Ukrainian cities and civilians''.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the People's Republic of China's disinformation efforts 
     relating to the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine make 
     it culpable in whitewashing Russia's war crimes, which 
     include the indiscriminate killing of countless Ukrainian 
     men, women, and children; and
       (2) if China is found to be materially supporting Russia in 
     its war against Ukraine, there should be swift and stringent 
     consequences for China.

     SEC. 3. REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and every 90 days thereafter, the 
     Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Commerce and the Director of National Intelligence as 
     appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report on whether and how the People's Republic 
     of China, including the Government of the People's Republic 
     of China, the Chinese Communist Party, any Chinese state-
     owned enterprise, and any other Chinese entity, has provided 
     support to the Russian Federation with respect to its 
     unprovoked invasion of and full-scale war against Ukraine.
       (b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required by 
     subsection (a) shall include a discussion of the People's 
     Republic of China support to the Russian Federation with 
     respect to--
       (1) helping the Government of Russia or Russian entities 
     evade or circumvent United

[[Page H4526]]

     States sanctions or multilateral sanctions and export 
     controls;
       (2) deliberately inhibiting onsite United States Government 
     export control end-use checks, including interviews and 
     investigations, in China;
       (3) providing Russia with any technology, including 
     semiconductors classified as EAR99, that supports Russian 
     intelligence or military capabilities;
       (4) establishing economic or financial arrangements that 
     will have the effect of alleviating the impact of United 
     States sanctions or multilateral sanctions;
       (5) furthering Russia's disinformation and propaganda 
     efforts;
       (6) coordinating to hinder the response of multilateral 
     organizations, including the United Nations, to provide 
     assistance to the people or Government of Ukraine, to condemn 
     Russia's war, to hold Russia accountable for the invasion and 
     its prosecution of the war, or to hold those complicit 
     accountable; and
       (7) providing any material, technical, or logistical 
     support, including to Russian military or intelligence 
     agencies and state-owned or state-linked enterprises.
       (c) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form and published on the 
     Department of State's publicly available website.
       (d) Sunset.--The requirement to submit the report required 
     by subsection (a) shall terminate on the earlier of--
       (1) the date on which the Secretary of State determines the 
     conflict in Ukraine has ended; or
       (2) the date that is 2 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 7314, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7314, the AXIS Act, 
authored by our committee colleague, Representative   Andy Barr.
  The world watched in horror as Russia launched its latest invasion of 
Ukraine, marking an egregious violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and a 
disdain for the rules-based international order. Russia has mercilessly 
killed thousands of innocent civilians. Graphic images of death and 
destruction from Bucha and Mariupol lay bare: There is no defense for 
Putin's barbarity.
  Amid this carnage, the international community has overwhelmingly 
come together to condemn Russia's brutal, unprovoked aggression against 
Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for the gross atrocities being 
committed.
  While China has tried to distance itself from Russia's war of choice 
against Ukraine, it has, at best, remained neutral in the face of this 
violence, demonstrating a woeful abdication of its self-proclaimed role 
as a responsible stakeholder. Worse, growing signs indicate China is 
aligning itself more closely with Russia.
  Just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Putin and 
Chairman Xi released a joint statement calling for closer strategic 
cooperation. While China has publicly denied any foreknowledge of the 
invasion, it discounted and ignored American intelligence showing 
Russian buildup around Ukraine. At no point since the invasion began 
has China condemned Russia for its invasion nor for its subsequent 
human rights atrocities.
  The PRC has chosen to employ a disinformation campaign to spread 
harmful narratives about Russia's assault on Ukraine. Both within China 
and abroad, the PRC is promoting Russian propaganda about the war and 
echoing Russian's absurd justifications for the invasion, going so far 
as accusing the United States for Russia's one-sided aggression.
  President Biden has warned China that there will be consequences if 
it decides to materially support Russia's war or helps it skirt U.S. 
export controls and sanctions. H.R. 7314 would require the Secretary of 
State to report on any efforts made by the PRC to support Russia's 
unprovoked, unjust, and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
  This bipartisan measure is vital to ensure Congress and the American 
people stay informed about how, if at all, China might be supporting 
Russia in Ukraine.
  Mr. Speaker, I support swift passage of this timely and urgent bill, 
I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the AXIS Act, A-X-I-S, a bill that 
is to require the Department of State to report on China's support of 
Putin's unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
  Mr. Speaker, the Chinese Communist Party is complicit in Russia's 
crimes against the people of Ukraine.
  Xi and Putin established a no-limits partnership with their joint 
statement that foolishly cast NATO as an aggressor. They coordinated 
the timing of the invasion to avoid disturbing the CCP's genocide 
Olympics. The Chinese state media has regurgitated Russian propaganda, 
and instead of joining the world in sanctioning Putin, the CCP is 
working with Putin to avoid sanctions.

                              {time}  1300

  We are already seeing the results of this unholy alliance between the 
two dictators, and it is essential that CCP support of the Russian 
invasion of Ukraine become a matter of public record.
  I thank our colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Barr) for introducing the 
AXIS Act. This bill requires an unclassified report on the full scope 
of CCP support of the Putin invasion, from sanctions violations, to 
disinformation, to the sale of controlled technology.
  If the United States is going to counter the national security threat 
of this new axis of autocrats working together, we must understand how 
they are working together in the conflict between autocrats, which are 
ruled by gun, against democracy, which is ruled by law.
  Mr. Barr's bill fills this need. I thank the gentleman for 
introducing the AXIS Act, and I urge our colleagues to support this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr).
  Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for 
his leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee, his leadership in the 
Congress, and his advocacy for the free people of Ukraine.
  Mr. Speaker, as the United States, our NATO allies, and other allies 
respond to Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and brutal attack on the free, 
sovereign, and independent nation of Ukraine, we must assess the many 
ways in which Russia is seeking to evade sanctions. That includes the 
extent to which Russia is turning to China to enable its aggression.
  Mr. Speaker, the unholy alliance between the Chinese Communist Party 
and the authoritarian oligarchs running the Kremlin is a serious threat 
to the United States and our allies. It is enabling this illegal 
aggression against Ukraine.
  On February 4, Russia and the CCP released a joint statement 
following a meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping outlining a 
strategic partnership with ``no limits.''
  Following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, China refused to 
condemn Russia's gross violation of international law. China has 
continued to be silent while Russia targets and kills innocent women, 
children, and civilians in Ukraine.
  Instead of condemning Putin's war crimes, the CCP is rewarding them. 
On February 28, after the invasion, the CCP struck a massive deal with 
the Russian energy company Gazprom. Gazprom will deliver 50 billion 
cubic meters of natural gas per year to the CCP under the agreement.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for the United States to confront this new 
axis of evil

[[Page H4527]]

head-on. My legislation, the Assessing Xi's Interference and Subversion 
Act, or the AXIS Act, requires the U.S. State Department to submit an 
ongoing report to Congress detailing the CCP's support for Russia 
before and since the invasion of Ukraine. This includes troubling 
reports about CCP efforts to assist Russia in evading the effects of 
international sanctions.
  The AXIS Act also requires the State Department to submit its first 
report to Congress within 30 days of the bill being enacted and 90 days 
thereafter. I plan on receiving a commitment from Secretary Blinken at 
tomorrow's Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that he will comply with 
this deadline.
  I thank my Democratic and Republican colleagues on the House Foreign 
Affairs Committee, including Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul, 
for their support. I thank my friend from Minnesota for his support of 
this legislation, and I thank my friend from South Carolina, as well, 
for helping us unanimously pass this bill out of committee.
  The threat that this new axis of evil poses to the United States is 
not a Republican one or a Democratic one. It is an American one. This 
full report on the Russia-CCP alliance will inform the American public 
and enable lawmakers to begin positioning the United States to overcome 
this geopolitical challenge.
  As a member of the House China Task Force, and with my strong belief 
that freedom must be defended from the aggression of authoritarians, 
like this invasion that we have seen, we must confront it; we must 
repel it; and we must call it out when we see it. That is why I urge 
all of my colleagues in the House to vote ``yes.''
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).
  Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Wilson for yielding 
and for his leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the AXIS Act. We must take 
strong steps to investigate if and how the Chinese Government and 
affiliated entities are helping Russia evade sanctions after Vladimir 
Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
  While the United States, our NATO allies, and countries around the 
world have strongly condemned and taken action during Vladimir Putin's 
invasion, the silence and deference from Chinese Government officials 
is deafening.
  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi continues to say Russia is China's 
most important strategic partner. We know that as Russia continues to 
invade Ukraine, China is eyeing Taiwan. We must show dictators that 
they cannot invade a free country and ally unprovoked without 
consequences.
  I am proud to cosponsor the AXIS Act, and I thank my friend, 
Congressman   Andy Barr, for leading this bill.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I especially appreciate the people of China. My father 
served in 1944 as a member of the Flying Tigers, the 14th Air Force of 
the Army Air Corps of the United States, to defend the people of China 
in World War II. He served in Kunming, Chengdu, and Xi'an, and he had a 
deep affection for the people of China. We want the best for the people 
of China.

  Sadly, at every step of Russia's unprovoked, full-scale invasion of 
Ukraine, the CCP has chosen to reject the free world and embrace 
Putin's mass murder. Just last week, one of the CCP's top Foreign 
Ministry officials promised to increase strategic coordination with 
Russia, regardless of Russia's war crimes. But we know that Ukraine 
will win with the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
  They need to be held accountable at the CCP, and Congressman   Andy 
Barr's legislation does just that.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume for the purpose of closing.
  Mr. Speaker, when it comes to China and Russia, I do not trust empty 
words; I verify.
  H.R. 7314, the AXIS Act, will help Congress and the American people 
stay informed about how, if at all, China might be supporting Russia in 
its unprovoked, unjust, and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
  It is of the utmost importance for this body and the world to 
understand whether China is complicit in the gross atrocities and war 
crimes being committed against the Ukrainian people. Doing so will 
allow us to adjust our strategies and policies as necessary to further 
isolate Russia and deepen support for the Ukrainian people.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7314, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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