Rep. Torres Small Cosponsors Legislation to Hold China Accountable for COVID-19 Response

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (NM-2), member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after supporting the Preventing China from Exploiting COVID-19 Act:

“As we fight to save American lives and rebuild our economy, no country should be allowed to exploit the pandemic for its own advantage, yet reports indicate that China has done exactly that,” said Torres Small. “This is a time when countries should be coming together to fight the spread of COVID-19, not exploiting breakdowns in supply chains or a shortage of critical equipment like masks, gloves and gowns in order to advance their own national security interests.  This is unacceptable, and the United States must be able to hold China accountable if it continues.”

The Preventing China from Exploiting COVID-19 Act was previewed in a letter that the Blue Dogs sent to House leadership on May 26th, which stated that it was “imperative for Members of Congress to work across party lines if we want to influence Chinese policy and to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable when its actions cross the line, as they have in the case of COVID-19.”

The bill requires the Director of National Intelligence—in coordination with the Secretaries of Defense, State, and Homeland Security—to prepare an assessment of the different ways in which the Chinese government has exploited or could exploit the pandemic, which originated in China, in order to advance China’s interests and to undermine the interests of the United States, its allies, and the rules-based international order. The assessment must be provided to Congress within 90 days and posted in unclassified form on the DNI’s website.  

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