(Headline USA) A House Democrat claimed this week that a newly-formed special congressional committee investigating China and its influence is “xenophobic” and racist.
House Republicans and Democrats voted on Tuesday to form a new panel that will focus on the economic and technological challenges China poses to the U.S. and its national security. It will be chaired by Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc.
“It is time to understand the urgency of the threat. It is time to reclaim our economic independence in key areas,” Gallagher said in a statement. “The select committee will expose the [Chinese Communist Party]’s coordinated whole-of-society strategy to undermine American leadership and American sovereignty while working on a bipartisan basis … to identify long-overdue, commonsense approaches to counter CCP aggression.”
Most Democrats agreed that the committee is an important step toward combatting China’s influence. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., for example, expressed her support for the committee on the House floor, saying Congress needs a “full, holistic look at Chinese competition and our economic security, and our national security.”
Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Ga., however, blasted the committee as yet another “platform to elevate hate.”
“House Republicans’ new select committee on competition with China isn’t about rational policy – it’s another platform to elevate hateful, xenophobic rhetoric. I stand against hate in all its forms, so I voted against the creation of the committee,” she tweeted.
One other leftist voted against the establishment of the select committee: Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Even though several other caucus colleagues supported the committee, Jayapal warned that it could “go in an extreme Republican direction.”
Conservatives blasted Williams for embracing Chinese propaganda.
What’s China paying you?
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 10, 2023
CCP sympathizer says what?
— Will Collier (@willcollier) January 10, 2023
I hope Xi sees this bro. pic.twitter.com/qUKwDiJ11z
— Calamity Jen (@CensoredJen) January 10, 2023
