[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 139 (Monday, September 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5084-H5085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AMENDING THE EXPORT CONTROL REFORM ACT OF 2018 RELATING TO THE 
                          STATEMENT OF POLICY

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6606) to amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 
relating to the statement of policy.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6606

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

     SECTION 1. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       Section 1752(2) of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 
     (50 U.S.C. 4811(2)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(H) To protect the trade secrets of the United States, 
     its people, and its industrial base either related to items 
     subject to control by the Secretary pursuant to this part or 
     when the subject of economic espionage as described in 
     section 1831 of title 18, United States Code.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina 
(Ms. Manning) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from American Samoa.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from American Samoa?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 6606. Export 
controls are an important tool to ensure that American technology and 
items which are normally sold for commercial purposes cannot be used 
for nefarious purposes by our adversaries.
  Currently, those adversaries are using technological and economic 
espionage to steal everything they can from the American people and to 
undermine our security and our industrial base.
  H.R. 6606 clarifies U.S. policy to ensure that export controls can be 
used against those who want to steal America's trade secrets. It 
ensures that the most powerful tools we have in our policy toolbox can 
be used against economic espionage, as well.
  This bill is a clear and important message to our adversaries. We 
will not allow the stealing of American trade secrets. H.R. 6606 
deserves our unanimous support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6606.
  Over and over, we have seen Beijing fail to safeguard and enforce IP 
rights for U.S. firms. More alarmingly, we have seen it obtain American 
IP through illicit and problematic means such as strategic 
acquisitions, cyberattacks, and policies that coerce technology 
transfers.
  This is a direct threat to America's economic security and 
competitiveness, and we need to use every tool we have to protect our 
industries and our workers.
  That is why I support this bill by Delegate Radewagen. It makes a 
simple change to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to ensure that 
our export controls will better protect U.S. trade secrets on items 
subject to U.S. export control regulations.
  Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill from 
Delegate Radewagen. It reflects the strong, bipartisan concern about 
the violations of American IP rights by Chinese persons and entities.
  This addition of a statement of our policy of Export Reform Act of 
2018

[[Page H5085]]

will ensure that our export control policies account for China's intent 
to acquire or steal our trade secrets to bolster its military 
capabilities; therefore, I hope my colleagues will join me and support 
this important bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1930

  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks for 
bringing to the floor my bill ensuring that our adversaries do not 
continue to steal American technology and trade secrets is a bipartisan 
priority. I urge all Members to support H.R. 6606, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6606.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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