Sec. 304. Countering Chinese threats to U.S. activities in space
311 words·~1 min read·
/bill/116/hr/5470/ih/section-304·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Government of the People’s Republic of China maintains, as a national priority, a global program of theft and other misappropriation of intellectual property, and unacceptable technology transfer requirements, particularly in fields of high technology. China is taking steps to establish a commanding position in the commercial launch and satellite sectors relying in part on aggressive state-backed financing that market-driven companies cannot match. China has engaged in an aggressive campaign to dominate sensitive markets such as germanium wafer production, used for nearly all specialized satellite solar panels, allowing China ownership of over 70 percent of global germanium mining, refining, and production.
China has begun focusing on the lunar surface and cislunar space as priorities in its space program, which is indistinguishable from its armed forces. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment, the Executive Secretary of the National Space Council shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes: How China is harming the U.S. commercial space industry’s competitiveness and threatening U.S. national security. Specifically, the Executive Secretary shall investigate— theft of intellectual property through technology transfer requirements or otherwise;
Chinese efforts to seize control over critical elements of the space industry supply chain; Chinese efforts to seize control over space industry companies, sister companies with shared leadership, or supply chain; and U.S. cybersecurity weaknesses. Current steps the United States is taking to protect its domestic space industry from Chinese influence. Recommendations to Congress on legislative action necessary to address Chinese threats to the U.S. domestic commercial launch and satellite industries and improve U.S. efforts to counter threats to U.S. activities in space.
Recommendations on how the U.S. Government can best utilize existing Federal entities to investigate and act against potentially harmful Chinese investment into the U.S. commercial space industry, and how the U.S. Government can bolster domestic investment in critical U.S. space industry technologies.