US Codex
Bill
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Chinese Government COVID–19 Accountability Act

H.R. 685 · 118th Congress · Jan 31, 2023 · Lineage

A BILL

To direct the President, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to develop and carry out a strategy to seek reimbursement from the People’s Republic of China of funds made available by the United States Government to address the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19).

Section 1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Chinese Government COVID–19 Accountability Act”.

Sec. 2 Findings

Congress finds the following:
(1)
The United States economy has been severely affected by the Government of the People’s Republic of China’s controls on media reporting that limit coverage of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19).
(2)
United States Government senior officials have expressed concerns about the completeness and timeliness of information China is reporting on COVID–19 and about the overall economic impact of COVID–19 in the United States.
(3)
China should be held financially responsible for funds made available by the United States Government to address COVID–19.

Sec. 3 Executive strategy to seek reimbursement from China of funds made available by the United States Government to address COVID–19

(a)
Executive strategy— The President, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall develop and carry out a strategy to seek reimbursement from the People’s Republic of China of funds made available by the United States Government to address COVID–19.
(b)
Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the strategy required under subsection (a) and its implementation.
(c)
Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
(1)
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives;
(2)
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
(3)
the Joint Economic Committee.