Washington, D.C.— U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) is being reappointed to serve on the House China Task Force (CTF). House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) appointed Congressman Barr to help lead the CTF in 2020. CTF was established to produce policy recommendations to confront the military, technological, economic and political threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the United States. Additionally, CTF will also examine the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Congress must deliver answers about the COVID-19 virus and confront the broader Chinese Communist Party threat,” said Congressman Barr. “600,000 plus Americans died because of this virus and we cannot prevent the next pandemic if we don’t know how this one started. Furthermore, China’s human rights abuses, military buildup in the South China Sea as well as American dependence on China for critical manufacturing all pose significant challenges that Congress can no longer ignore.”
“Unlike our Democrat colleagues, when Republicans retake the majority we will ensure that the Chinese Communist Party is held accountable for the lies and deceit that cost over 600,000 Americans their lives, and led to the closure of tens of thousands of small businesses,” said House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23). “In order to do that, we must be prepared with a plan to counter the threats posed by the Chinese government. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation, Congressman Barr has amassed a wealth of knowledge that will be instrumental in holding China accountable, exposing their coverup of the origins of Covid-19, protecting America’s supply chains, and countering the CCP’s malignant influence at home and abroad.”
“I am pleased to welcome back Congressman Andy Barr to the China Task Force for the 117th Congress,” said Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), who serves as the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member and is the Chairman of the House China Task Force. “As we continue to focus our efforts on countering the malign activity of the Chinese Communist Party, his expertise and experience will be valuable to continuing our critical work to implement all the report’s recommendations and look into new solutions to the China challenge.”
Congressman Barr was one of the first Members of Congress to propose legislation to establish a Congressional investigation into the origins of COVID-19 in April of 2020. As a CTF Member in 2020, Congressman Barr proposed legislation to strengthen domestic supply chains, protect COVID-19 vaccine research, root out Chinese espionage in American universities, among other proposals. A full breakdown of Congressman Barr’s CTF proposals can be found here.