Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) issued the following statement regarding the U.S. declaration of China’s actions against Uyghurs as genocide:

“U.S. foreign policy should be guided with understanding the world as it is and not as what we want it to be. It's clear what's unfolding in the Xinjiang region in China is genocide,” said Waltz.

“The world must understand that millions of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang are being sent to concentration camps and forced into labor. In many instances, the products produced from forced labor are being sold into the global market. This has to stop.

Today's designation from the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that a genocide is taking place in Xinjiang is the correct action and serves notice to the rest of the world in how they should deal with the Chinese Communist Party. 

The Chinese Communist Party's attempts to ethnically cleanse their country is inhumane and vile. The world has stood on the sidelines before as we've watched genocide take place and doing so again only emboldens evil behavior. 

Until the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is signed into law, the Biden Administration must continue to block imports from Xinjiang like the Trump Administration has done at the Department of Homeland Security through "Withhold Release Orders". 

In addition to restricting goods via supply chain, Congress should work towards restricting companies from producing or operating "services" in the region, like the production of movies.

I look forward to hearing from Biden Administration nominees on steps they plan to take to hold the Chinese Community Party accountable. I am also urging my colleagues in the House of Representatives and Senate to begin holding hearings on American companies associated with these forced labor practices.”

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