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Hong Kong
We must hold China accountable for its mounting violations of international agreements and its disregard for decades-old agreements with the people of Hong Kong. As a commissioner on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), I have worked to hold China accountable for its human rights abuses and predatory lending practices. I was also a cosponsor of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was signed into law by President Trump in 2019.
Recently Hongkongers have raised their voices to the world about the Chinese overthrow of Hong Kong. The communist Chinese government recently imposed a sweeping security law that removes basic freedom in Hong Kong, including limiting access to the internet and restricting their ability to share information online and protest in public. The law was enacted to suppress voices in Hong Kong that the governments don’t like or to “cancel” peaceful protest movements that disagree with the abuses of power by the government. Our nation should stand with the people of Hong Kong and work to preserve their freedoms. Teachers, journalists, and protesters have been arrested or fined for speaking out about basic human rights. Freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and the press are liberties that could cease to exist in Hong Kong.
This week, Democrat Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia joined me to introduce the Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act, which pushes back on China’s aggressive actions to undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedom by bolstering firewall circumvention infrastructure in Hong Kong. We should allow the free people of Hong Kong to talk to each other online and share their stories and pictures with the world. China does not want the world to know what they are doing to the people of Hong Kong.
This week, the Chinese Consulate in Houston was shut down by the US government after it was discovered that Chinese personnel there could be involved in espionage and theft. I will continue to do what I can to shed light on the dangers posed to our nation and the international community by the communist Chinese government.
The JUSTICE Act
Since the last Lankford Letter, we have considered the JUSTICE Act to reform some law enforcement practices and help the Department of Justice work with local agencies to keep communities and officers safe. I worked with Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina to draft the legislation and move it quickly to floor consideration. The JUSTICE Act supports communities of color and law enforcement.
We offered the opportunity for up to 20 amendments to the bill for those who wanted to see different reforms than we proposed. However, Democrats in the Senate dug in and said, “If we’re not going to consider Speaker Pelosi’s law enforcement bill, then we’re not going to do one at all.” Unfortunately, in an election year, they wanted to have the political issue, rather than solve the issue. The bill, which was similar in many ways to the House’s proposal, ultimately failed to receive the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate.
While there is legislative work to do, ultimately race relations is a family issue and a heart issue. Improving our friendships and community relationships is everyone’s responsibility.