Embassy Construction Integrity Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6306) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to prohibit the acquisition or lease of a consular or diplomatic post built or owned by an entity beneficially owned by the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6306

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Embassy Construction Integrity Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. RESTRICTIONS ON CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC POSTS BUILT OR OWNED BY CERTAIN ENTITIES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of State (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall take such steps as may be necessary to avoid or minimize--

(1) acquiring or leasing a covered building--

(A) with respect to which a covered entity performed covered construction on or after January 1, 1949; or

(B) in which a covered entity has an ownership interest; or

(2) entering into or renewing a contract or other agreement with a covered entity to perform covered construction with respect to a covered building.

(b) Notification of Inconsistent Action.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary shall notify the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate--

(A) not later than 7 days before entering into an acquisition, lease, or agreement after the date of enactment of this Act that the Secretary is aware is inconsistent with the restriction under subsection (a); and

(B) not later than 7 days after becoming aware of an acquisition, lease, or agreement occurring after the date of enactment of this Act that is inconsistent with the restriction under subsection (a).

(2) Determination of national security interest.--The notification required under paragraph (1) shall also include, to the extent applicable--

(A) a determination of whether the inconsistent acquisition, lease, or agreement is in the national security interest of the United States;

(B) an identification of the interest advanced by such inconsistent action;

(C) a detailed explanation for such determination; and

(D) any action the Secretary has taken or intends to take to mitigate national security vulnerabilities that may be posed by such inconsistent action.

(c) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Covered building.--The term ``covered building'' means a building that is used or intended to be used by personnel, or for a function, of a consular or diplomatic post located outside of the United States.

(2) Covered construction.--The term ``covered construction''--

(A) means any construction, development, conversion, extension, alteration, repair, or maintenance performed with respect to a building; and

(B) includes the installation or maintenance of electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, communication, fire protection, and energy management systems with respect to such building.

(3) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means an entity with respect to which the Government of the People's Republic of China, or an agent or instrumentality of the Government of the People's Republic of China, directly or indirectly, including through any contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship--

(A) owns or controls a significant percent of the ownership interest; or

(B) otherwise exercises substantial control.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank Congressman Mills for his leadership in fixing this national security vulnerability. I also thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Meeks, and our Committee on Foreign Affairs colleagues for bringing this critical, bipartisan bill to the floor.

This legislation will ensure that our diplomatic buildings overseas do not fall victim to the active, ongoing surveillance and espionage efforts of the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for H.R. 6306, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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