July 31, 2024

Duckworth Joins Sullivan in Introducing Bipartisan S.T.A.N.D with Taiwan Act of 2024

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)—a fellow member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—in introducing the Sanctions Targeting Aggressors of Neighboring Democracies (STAND) with Taiwan Act of 2024, which would impose devastating, comprehensive economic, energy, financial and other sanctions on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the event that the People’s Liberation Army initiates military aggression against Taiwan. The suite of sanctions includes the targeting of certain Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members and PRC financial institutions and industrial sectors, as well as prohibiting U.S. financial institutions—including investment companies, private equity firms, venture capital firms or hedge funds—from making any investments in a Chinese entity that benefits or is affiliated with the CCP. The bill would also restrict importation of PRC-produced goods. 

“I’ve always believed that if America wants to remain a global leader, we have to show up and support our friends like Taiwan—a partner that our nation has strong economic and military ties with—who are facing escalating threats from the People’s Republic of China as they work to strengthen their own democracy,” said Senator Duckworth. “After proudly leading a bipartisan delegation with Senator Sullivan to Taiwan earlier this year to demonstrate our strong support for the Taiwanese people, I’m glad to team up with him to help introduce the STAND with Taiwan Act. With this legislation, we’re sending a strong message to our partner and our competitors that we are here for long haul—and we won’t tolerate the kind of unilateral aggression that would endanger a democratic friend and the health and stability of the global economy.”

Duckworth is a proven leader when it comes to strengthening our relations with Indo-Pacific nations and improving security in the region—which she has done while successfully securing significant international investments in Illinois. In a meeting with the President of Taiwan during a successful bipartisan congressional delegation visit that she led to Taiwan, Senator Duckworth announced that she would join as a sponsor of the STAND with Taiwan Act.

In June, Duckworth secured an important provision in the SASC-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) aimed at improving medical readiness within the U.S. Department of Defense and ensuring our nation’s servicemembers as well as their families have access to quality patient care throughout the Indo-Pacific region—where they often must to travel long distances to receive care—both during peacetime and in the event of a conflict abroad. This provision secured by the Senator mirrors her Access to Care for Overseas Military Act and, if enacted into law, would help enhance our medical capabilities overseas by enabling our military personnel to access accredited foreign military medical facilities and create a medical readiness strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

Duckworth also successfully included a modified version of her Strengthen Taiwan’s Security Act in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help Taiwan strengthen its military defenses.

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