U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION FACT SHEET
Establishment:
The Commission was created on October 30, 2000 by the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for 2001 § 1238, Pub. L. No. 106-398, 114 STAT. 1654A-334 (2000) (codified at 22 U.S.C.§ 7002 (2001), as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (regarding changing the annual report due date from June to December), the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for 2002 § 645 (regarding employment status of staff) & § 648, Pub.L. No. 107-67, 115 STAT. 514 (Nov. 12, 2001); as amended by Division P of the "Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003," Pub L. No. 108-7 (Feb. 20, 2003) (regarding Commission name change, terms of Commissioners, and responsibilities of Commission); as amended by Pub.L. No. 109-108 (H.R. 2862) (Nov. 22, 2005) (regarding responsibilities of Commission and applicability of FACA).
Purpose:
To monitor, investigate, and submit to congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, and to provide recommendations, where appropriate, to Congress for legislative and administrative action.
Public Law 109-108 directs the Commission to focus its work and study on the following eight areas: proliferation practices, economic transfers, energy, U.S. capital markets, regional economic and security impacts, U.S.-China bilateral programs, WTO compliance, and the implications of restrictions on speech and access to information in the People’s Republic of China.
Composition:
The Commission is composed of 12 members, three of whom are selected by each of the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House. The Commissioners serve two-year terms.
Commissioners:
Larry M. Wortzel, Chairman, Carolyn Bartholomew, Vice Chairman, Daniel A. Blumenthal, Peter T.R. Brookes, Mark T. Esper, Jeffrey L. Fiedler, Hon. Patrick A. Mulloy, Hon. William A. Reinsch, Hon. Dennis C. Shea, Daniel M. Slane, Michael R. Wessel, Peter Videnieks. (Brief bios are attached.)
Staff:
The Commissioners are supported by a professional and administrative staff with extensive backgrounds in trade, economics, weapons proliferation, foreign policy, and U.S.-PRC relations. Some are fluent or proficient in Chinese (Mandarin), and most have significant prior working and traveling experience in China and Taiwan. The staff is headed by T. Scott Bunton, Commission Executive Director.
Web Site:
The Commission’s web site provides the Commission’s complete charter, hearing schedule, hearing transcripts, and selected research papers, and economic and trade data www.uscc.gov.
2008 U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Members
Larry M. Wortzel , Ph.D. , Chairman
Former Director of the Asian Studies Center and Vice President for foreign policy at the Heritage Foundation; was also the former Director of the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College; former Army Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in China. Reappointed by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert on December 8, 2006, for a third term expiring December 31, 2008. Unanimously approved as Commission Chairman for the 2008 Report Cycle, he previously served as the Commission Chairman for the 2006 report cycle.
Carolyn Bartholomew, Vice Chairman
Former Chief of Staff, Counsel, Legislative Director, and Foreign Policy Advisor to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi; former Professional Staff Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Reappointed by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on December 19, 2007, for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2009. Vice Chairman Bartholomew served as the Commission Vice Chairman and Chairman for the 2006 and 2007 report cycle, respectively.
Daniel A. Blumenthal, Vice Chairman
Resident Fellow in Asian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Previously, Mr. Blumenthal was senior director for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mongolia in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the first George W. Bush administration. Reappointed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2009. Previously served as Vice Chairman for the 2007 report cycle.
Peter T.R. Brookes
Senior Fellow for National Security Affairs and Director, Asian Studies Center, The Heritage Foundation. Previously served in the George W. Bush administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs; former professional member with the Republican staff of the House Committee on International Relations. Reappointed by House Minority Leader John Boehner on December 6, 2007, for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2009.
Mark T. Esper
Executive Vice President of the Aerospace Industries Association of America, and former Director of National Security Affairs for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). Appointed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on March 20, 2007, for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2008.
Jeffrey L. Fiedler
President of Research Associates of America, a non-profit labor research organization. Previously he was the elected President of the Food and Allied Service Trade Department, AFL-CIO (“FAST”). Reappointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on December 19, 2007, for a term expiring December 31, 2009.
The Hon. Patrick A. Mulloy
Adjunct Professor of International Trade Law at Catholic University and George Mason University law schools; former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance; former General Counsel, U.S. Senate Banking Committee. Appointed to the Commission by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2009. Commissioner Mulloy previously served as a member from April 2001 to December 31, 2006.
The Hon. William A. Reinsch
President, National Foreign Trade Council; former Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration; former legislative assistant to Senator John Heinz (PA) and Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV (WV). Reappointed by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid for a fifth term expiring December 31, 2009.
The Hon. Dennis C. Shea
Government and public policy attorney, former director of policy for the Bob Dole for President Campaign, deputy chief of staff to Senator Elizabeth Dole, and Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Appointed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on February 17, 2007, for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2008.
Daniel M. Slane
Founder and co-owner of the Slane Company with extensive international business experience. Commissioner Slane was appointed to the Commission by House Minority Leader John Boehner on December 10, 2007 for a two-year term expiring on December 31, 2009.
Peter Videnieks
Former advisor on foreign affairs and energy issues to Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WVA); previously an IRS revenue officer and contracting officer (NASA, Department of Justice, and U.S. Customs). Mr. Videnieks was appointed to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on January 12, 2007, for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2008.
Michael R. Wessel
President of The Wessel Group Inc.; former Counsel to Congressman Richard A. Gephardt (MO). Currently serves as a member on the Board of Directors of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., the world’s largest tire company. Reappointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on December 7, 2006, for a fourth term expiring December 31, 2008.