News & Events - coverage of a virtual discussion

McMorris Rodgers Touts American Tech Innovation & Competitiveness with China

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) appeared before The Ripon Society on September 11th to discuss her work on the Energy & Commerce Committee, the panel’s priorities to boost American development in emerging technology, and her thoughts on the upcoming election.

But first, McMorris Rodgers – pictured above speaking at an event earlier this year – took a moment to address the wildfires raging in her home state and throughout the Western United States.

“The fires in Eastern Washington and all across the West are heavy on my heart,” the Washington lawmaker stated. “Just yesterday I was visiting towns just thirty miles South of Spokane – Malden and Pine City – where a fire came through on Labor Day and just destroyed these towns. Malden is a small town and the City Hall is gone. The Fire Department, the Post Office, and the Grange Hall are all gone as well. Eighty-five homes out of one hundred twenty in this small town are gone. Walking through that town is just devastating, yet there was also this sense of the community coming together.

“There is a bright dawn ahead. Folks are already talking about how we’re going to clean this up, how we’re going to rebuild, and how we’re going to meet the immediate needs of the families here – it just shows me the resiliencyof theAmerican spirit.”

McMorris Rodgers, a 15-year veteran of Capitol Hill and the top Republican of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, then outlined the latest work being done by her and her Energy & Commerce colleagues.

“In May, we introduced a package of bills around emerging technology. They were all Republican-led bills at the time. Yet, on Wednesday, we were able to pass nine of those bills out of the Democrat-controlled committee. And it’s part of a larger global competitive package and highlights the importance of American leadership around emerging tech.

“This is artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, and other emerging technologies that we see China using to oppress minorities

McMorris Rodgers is pictured here addressing a meeting of The Ripon Society in February of this year.

and dissidents within their borders. races across the country for the House the country,” McMorris Rodgers It is very important that America is of Representatives. According to explained. “Forty percent of our jobs leading on this. And the fact that we McMorris Rodgers, 2020 has shaped are trade dependent and we exporta lot introduced this package in May and up to be a banner year for Republican to China and to the entire Pacific rim. I passed nine of the bills on Wednesday candidates running for Congress. think, where my heart is right now, it is out of the committee proves that “It is record-breaking and so important for America to be smart, be when you have the right policy, you exciting to see the women that are strategic, and lead the American way. can drive the agenda – even from the stepping up, getting into the arena, The relationship that we’ve had with minority.” and running for Congress. We’ve had China has been an important one, and

This bipartisan legislative 228 file to run – a record number. It is going to continue to be an important package, called the American was nearly double anything that we’ve one, but we need to make sure that COMPETE Act, includes a bill written seen in the past. And we have 90 that we’re continuing to bring China our by McMorris Rogers, which seeks to won their primaries. This means we way, where China respects individual reinforce American development of have more women in general elections rights and intellectual property rights. artificial intelligence. than we’ve ever seen before. “President Trump has been the

“One of the bills is my legislation “I just want to highlight this part toughest of any president on China. called the GAINS Act, I know that it has been which is Generating very disruptive, but I am Artificial Intelligence Networking Security Act, “We need to make sure we are pleased to see him holding China accountable. It has but it’s really focused on building a strong foundation here needed to happen because AI and the importance of American leadership in AI. We need to focus on what AI at home and holding China accountable.” whether it’s HP or so many other companies – big and small – have had products can do to help cure cancers, Cathy McMorris Rodgers stolen. Companies that for example. It is because Remarks to The Ripon Society have gone out of business of artificial intelligence and digging deeper into these September 11, 2020 because China would steal or duplicate the systems or algorithms that we can the products.” detect cancers earlier, and that we’re in particular: these are women that McMorris Rodgers continued. going to be able to save lives. Think approached me. For years I’ve been “I think that clearly we have about the clinical trials that are recruiting women and men all over invested a lot in China. A lot of underway right now, the work that has the country to run, but especially it American businesses have invested a been done around the COVID vaccine was noteworthy with the women, how lot in building this relationship and it’s and Operation Warp Speed. The often I felt like we had to reach out to going to continue to be an important public private partnership to bring a them and tap them on the shoulder and relationship. I just think it’s time for new vaccine to market is being driven encourage them to run. And this cycle, America to stand up for American by artificial intelligence as well as they’ve been knocking on my door, products and intellectual property some of the work that they’re doing to asking if they could talk with me about rights and make sure that China is learn more about the coronavirus and running for Congress. These women adhering to that. I also think about how develop treatments even sooner. are impressive. They are successful dependent we have become on China

“The issues in front of this in business, technology, health care, for so much, and that’s been exposed committee are energy technology and other fields. They’re running during coronavirus. Think about the and health care. These are the issues and waging good campaigns, and strategic minerals and chemicals that that are going to define our future and it’s really exciting to see this energy we need in so many products that will define whether or not America is around women as well as minorities.” we are now dependent upon China leading in this global economy and At the end of the virtual discussion, for, whether it’s weapon systems or whether or not we’re beating China McMorris Rodgers was asked about critical infrastructure or products. And in these areas. And we need to make where she sees the dynamic between again, I just think that we need to look sure that we continue to give people the United States and China heading in more strategically about how we make confidence and give them the courage the coming years, and how American sure that we’re not making ourselves to dream again, especially after what companies working overseas should vulnerable or weak. We need to we’ve been through with coronavirus.” navigate this relationship. make sure we are building a strong

She wrapped up her initial remarks “I come from Washington state foundation here at home and holding by turning to the fall election and the – the most trade dependent state in China accountable.” RF