2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Condemn China For Using A High-Altitude
Balloon To Surveil U.S. Territory And Request The Biden Administration
TO Provide Briefings On Prior Instances Of China Violating U.S.
Airspaces. In February 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for a resolution that would "state that the House of
Representatives condemns China's use, in February 2023, of a
high-altitude balloon to conduct surveillance over United States
territory and its 'efforts to deceive the international community ...
about its intelligence collection campaigns.' It would state that the
Feb. 2 incident was a 'brazen violation of United States sovereignty'
and that it should be U.S. policy to take prompt action to prevent
foreign aerial surveillance platforms from violating U.S. sovereignty.
It would further request that the Biden administration provide
comprehensive briefings to Congress on the issue, including on prior
instances of China violating U.S. airspace; the timeline of events from
the first detection of the balloon to its shootdown; surveillance data
the balloon may have collected or transmitted; options identified to
respond the balloon and timing of recommendations made by the military
regarding the options; diplomatic communications with China regarding
the incident; and the administration's plans to combat future
intelligence collection activities by China and other adversaries in the
national airspace system." The vote was on passage. The House passed the
resolution by a vote of 419 to 0. [House Vote 117,
2/9/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/9/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
104]
The Resolution Condemned The Balloon As A Violation Of American
Sovereignty. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Also on
Thursday, the House registered its disapproval by agreeing
unanimously to a resolution (H Res 104) condemning the balloon as a
'brazen violation of U.S. sovereignty.'" [Congressional Quarterly,
2/9/23]
The Chinese Spy Balloon Was Initially Spotted In Alaska On January
28, 2023 And Was Destroyed Off The Coast Of South Carolina On
February 3, 2023. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The spy
balloon, which was initially spotted as it approached Alaska on Jan.
28, crossed the contiguous U.S. before being destroyed off the coast
of South Carolina on Feb. 3. An operation to recover and analyze the
balloon's debris is currently underway." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/9/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Condemn China's Use Of A High-Altitude
Surveillance Balloon Over U.S. Territory. In April 2023, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the Upholding Sovereignty
of Airspace Act, which would "express the sense of Congress condemning
China's use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over U.S. airspace
as an 'unacceptable violation' of U.S. sovereignty and urge a number of
diplomatic actions and sanctions intended to neutralize similar, future
threats and combat Chinese misinformation and propaganda about its
intelligence collection efforts. The bill would require the State
Department, in consultation with the National Intelligence director and
the U.S. representative to the United Nations, to develop and report to
Congress on a diplomatic strategy to inform allies and partners of the
scope of China's surveillance program and build global consensus to
address the program --- including to advocate for Taiwan's participation
in International Civil Aviation Organization events and meetings;
promote international coordination to identify and track future Chinese
surveillance balloons, continue to share information regarding Chinese
surveillance, and implement related sanctions; and advocate at the U.N.
and other international organizations to increase diplomatic pressure on
China to halt its surveillance collection operations that violate
international sovereignty. The bill also would require the Commerce
Department to evaluate U.S. export and transfer policies for aerospace
items and technologies that are used by China for intelligence and
reconnaissance, and to report to Congress, within 180 days, on the
evaluations and a list of related controls it has implemented or plans
to implement. It would authorize the president to impose
property-blocking and visa sanctions against any Chinese individual that
the president determines is 'directly managing and overseeing' the
Chinese global surveillance balloon program." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 405 to 6, thus the bill was sent
to the Senate for their consideration. [House Vote 183,
4/17/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/17/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1151]
The Bill Sought To Hold The Chinese Government Accountable For
Violating U.S. Airspace And Sovereignty. According to The Hill,
"Monday's bill proposed holding the PRC 'accountable for the
violation of United States airspace and sovereignty with its
high-altitude surveillance balloon.'" [The Hill,
4/17/23]
The Bill Would Allow President Biden To Impose Sanctions On Any
Chinese-Government Individual Who Managed And Oversaw The Global
Surveillance Balloon Program. According to The Hill, "One way to
achieve that, according to the legislation, is through imposing
sanctions. The legislation, if enacted, would allow President Biden
to impose sanctions on 'any PRC individual the President determines
is directly managing and overseeing the PRC's global surveillance
balloon program.' The president could impose the sanctions as soon
as 180 days after the legislation is enacted." [The Hill,
4/17/23]
The Bill Would Direct The Commerce Secretary To Review The Export
And Transfer Of Items And Technology Pertained To Aerospace Programs
That Were Used By The Chinese Government. According to The Hill,
"The legislation also calls on the Commerce Secretary to evaluate
the export, reexport and in-country transfer of items and technology
that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that pertains to aerospace
programs --- including airships, balloons and related materials ---
that are used by the People's Liberation Army for intelligence and
reconnaissance. The secretary would be directed to submit a report
to congressional committees on the findings." [The Hill,
4/17/23]
The Bill Would Call On The Secretary Of State To Develop A
Strategy To Inform Allies And Partners Of The Surveillance Program
And Build Consensus On How To Address The Program. According to
The Hill, "Thirdly, the bill calls on the Secretary of State --- in
consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and U.S.
Permanent Representative to the United Nations --- to 'develop a
diplomatic strategy to inform allies and partners of the scope of
the PRC surveillance program and build global consensus in order to
address the PRC's global surveillance balloon program.'" [The Hill,
4/17/23]