Senate Might Add China Provisions to NDAA, Cardin Says

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, D-Md., who has been working for months to develop a major China bill (see 2402010067 and 2406130071), said Aug. 20 that parts of the legislation could end up in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Democratic and Republican committee staff are discussing potential China-related additions to the NDAA, Cardin told reporters in response to a question from Export Compliance Daily. “The staff is trying to figure this out,” he said.

Cardin also said he has been reviewing “a whole slew” of proposed NDAA amendments that fall under his committee’s jurisdiction. Senators have submitted hundreds of potential amendments to the NDAA, which awaits floor consideration (see 2407180045 and 2407300041). “Whether there will be an open floor debate on amendments is an open question,” he said.

Cardin said it’s possible the Senate will take up the NDAA when it reconvenes for its three-week session in September. “It’s pretty close, but there are some loose ends still there,” he said.

With Congress scheduled to be on recess for all of October, Cardin said the full Senate is unlikely to take up its FY 2025 appropriations bills until after the Nov. 5 elections. “There’s going to be a strong effort to get it done in the lame duck [session] and maybe even before Thanksgiving,” he said.

Cardin said the Senate’s September session likely will address a continuing resolution to keep the government temporarily funded beyond the end of FY 2024, and possibly an omnibus bill that addresses health, housing and taxes.

In February, Cardin said that he wants a “comprehensive” bill to address a wide range of concerns about China, including commerce, energy, human rights, Taiwan and “coercive actions.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., made similar comments in July, saying he hopes to have a "significant package of China-related legislation" signed into law this year, including measures to "punish" Chinese military firms that provide material support to Russia and Iran (see 2407080046).

Cardin made his NDAA comments the same day Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, was scheduled to resign from the Senate after being found guilty in a federal corruption trial (see 2407240056). Cardin said he didn't know whether Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would fill the committee seat now or wait until next year. "I'm going to talk to Sen. Schumer about it probably today or tomorrow in Chicago" during the Democratic National Convention, he said. "That's a decision for him to make."