Republicans dismissed the provision as “no
independent investigation, no sanctions, no
punishment.” They want a select committee
of lawmakers to look into the origins of
COVID-19. “Instead of taking action to get a
real accountability, it’s going to ask them for a
report,” said Republican leader Kevin McCarthy
of California.
Another provision would subject more
lower-cost products made in China to tarifs.
Currently, imports valued at less than $800
are exempted from expedited processing and
tarifs. The bill eliminates the threshold for
certain countries, most notably China.
The Senate passed its computer chips
legislation in June by a vote of 68-32,
representing a rare bout of bipartisanship on
major legislation. Negotiators will now try to
work out a compromise both chambers can
accept, though it’s uncertain they could do so
before the midterm elections.
Whatever emerges will need support from 10
Republicans in the 50-50 Senate to be passed
into law.
“We’ll send House Republicans a much better
option to vote on in the next couple of months,”
said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who worked with
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the
Senate’s version of the legislation.
“Democrats in the Senate and House know we
have much more work to do to bridge our two
proposals together and move this bill to the
president’s desk, and I believe we will,”
Schumer said.