[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 Codel

  Mr. President, now on our codel to China, next week, I will lead a 
bipartisan delegation of Senators on a visit to China, Japan, and 
Korea. This will be my second time leading a congressional delegation 
as majority leader after our first visit, which went to India, 
Pakistan, Israel, and Germany.
  Let me first thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for 
joining me on this visit: Senator Crapo, ranking member of the Finance 
Committee; Senators Cassidy, Hassan, Kennedy, and Ossoff.
  ``Bipartisan'' is our watch word in the Senate, and you can see that 
this delegation is no exception--three Democrats, three Republicans.
  Our trip will be a visit to the most consequential region in the 
world, focusing on the issues of economic competition and security, on 
American national security, and on global leadership and advanced 
technology. Unlike recent delegations to China, I am proud that we will 
go as elected representatives of the American people, underscoring how 
serious Congress is about maintaining America's global leadership in 
the 21st century.
  We will meet with government and business leaders from each country, 
with American Ambassadors and diplomats, and with American companies to 
hear from them about what they need to best succeed in Asia.
  Our message to China will be clear but fair: The Chinese Government 
must work with us to ensure a level playing field so that U.S. 
businesses and American workers have the opportunity to compete fairly 
in decades to come.
  So we will focus on the need for reciprocity in China for U.S. 
businesses, and we will focus on advancing America's national security 
interests and leadership in critical technologies.
  I also look forward to having a direct, candid, and respectful 
conversation with Chinese leadership on the need to combat the 
distribution of fentanyl, on China's human rights record, regional 
security and stability, and on the need for cooperation where possible.
  I thank all my colleagues for joining me on this bipartisan 
delegation to Asia, and I look forward to a constructive trip where we 
can work together to advance America's interests and leadership on the 
world stage.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.