[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 106 (Monday, June 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31545-31546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12152]


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U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION


Notice of Open Public Hearings

AGENCY: U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

ACTION: Notice of open public hearings-June 18th and 19th, 2008, 
Washington, DC.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the following hearings of the U.S.-
China Economic and Security Review Commission.
    Name: Larry Wortzel, Chairman of the U.S.-China Economic and 
Security Review Commission.
    The Commission is mandated by Congress to investigate, assess, 
evaluate and report to Congress annually on ``the national security 
implications and impact of the bilateral trade and economic 
relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of 
China.'' Pursuant to this mandate, the Commission will hold two public 
hearings in Washington, DC on June 18th and 19th, 2008. The first, a 
full-day hearing on June 18th, will address ``Access to Information and 
Media Control in the People's Republic of China.'' The second, a half-
day hearing on the morning of June 19th, will examine ``The Memorandum 
of Understanding Between the U.S. and China Regarding Prison Labor 
Products.''

Background

    These events are the sixth and seventh in a series of public 
hearings the Commission will hold during its 2008 report cycle to 
collect input from leading academic, industry, and government experts 
on the impact of the economic and national security implications of the 
U.S. bilateral trade and economic relationship with China. The June 
18th hearing, ``Access to Information and Media Control in the People's 
Republic of China,'' will be Co-chaired by Chairman Larry Wortzel and 
Commissioner Jeffrey Fiedler. This hearing will seek to examine the 
ways in which media censorship and restrictions on publicly available 
information within China can impact

[[Page 31546]]

the economic, diplomatic, and security relationships between China and 
the United States.
    The June 19th hearing, ``The Memorandum of Understanding Between 
the U.S. and China Regarding Prison Labor Products,'' will be Co-
chaired by Chairman Larry Wortzel and Commissioner Peter Videnieks. 
This hearing will address the formal agreements made between the U.S. 
and Chinese governments vis-[agrave]-vis products made with prison 
labor, and seek to determine the status of Chinese government 
compliance with these agreements.
    Information on hearings, as well as transcripts of past Commission 
hearings, can be obtained from the USCC Web Site http://www.uscc.gov.
    Copies of the hearing agendas will be made available on the 
Commission's Web site http://www.uscc.gov as soon as available. Any 
interested party may file a written statement by June 18th, 2008, by 
mailing to the contact below. The June 18th hearing will be held in two 
sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon; the June 19th 
hearing will consist of a single session in the morning. Each hearing 
will include both expert witness testimony, and question and answer 
periods between the Commissioners and the witnesses.
    Date and Time: First hearing: Wednesday, June 18th, 2008, 8:30 a.m. 
to 4:45 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Second hearing: Thursday, June 
19th, 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Eastern Standard Time. Detailed agendas 
for the hearing will be posted to the Commission's Web site at http://www.uscc.gov in the near future.

ADDRESSES: Both hearings will be held on Capitol Hill, in Room 418 of 
the Russell Senate Office Building, located at Delaware and 
Constitution Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20510. Public seating is 
limited to about 50 people on a first come, first served basis. Advance 
reservations are not required.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing 
further information concerning the hearing should contact Kathy 
Michels, Associate Director for the U.S.-China Economic and Security 
Review Commission, 444 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 602, 
Washington, DC 20001; phone: 202-624-1409, or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

    Authority: Congress created the U.S.-China Economic and Security 
Review Commission in 2000 in the National Defense Authorization Act 
(Public Law 106-398), as amended by Division P of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Resolution, 2003 (Pub. L. 108-7), as amended by 
Public Law 109-108 (November 22, 2005).

    Dated: May 27, 2008.
Kathleen J. Michels,
Associate Director, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
[FR Doc. E8-12152 Filed 5-30-08; 8:45 am]
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