PROTECT Taiwan Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1531) to direct certain financial regulators to exclude representatives of the People's Republic of China from certain banking organizations upon notice of certain threats or danger, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Mr. Lucas' bill, the PROTECT Taiwan Act.

Mr. Speaker, China has shown no sign of slowing their aggression toward Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, continues to threaten the people of Taiwan's independence by repeatedly holding military drills, increasing economic coercion, and ramping up political pressure.

Let me state clearly, Mr. Speaker, and with no equivocation, the Chinese Communist Party's obligation under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which sets out quite clearly that China cannot use military force or coercion, boycotts or embargoes to compel Taiwan to capitulate to the Communists and become One China.

The PROTECT Taiwan Act will exclude Chinese representatives from international organizations like the G20 and the Financial Stability Board if the President of the United States notifies Congress declaring any threat to Taiwan.

H.R. 1531 ensures there will be significant financial and diplomatic consequences for China to invade Taiwan. Full stop.

The U.S. must send a clear message that China's aggression toward Taiwan will not and is not tolerated, and the PROTECT Taiwan Act does just that.

I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) for his work in standing up for our keen allies in the Indo-Pacific, not just Taiwan but all of our allies in northeast Asia. This is a key step in deterrence to the Communists in Beijing from invading Taiwan, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), the chair of our Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity and the author of the PROTECT Taiwan Act.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I noted in my remarks that the only way that Taiwan and the People's Republic of China can become one is through mutual consent, not through coercion, not through embargoes, not through invasion, and not through military attack. Congressman Lucas' bill is a commonsense measure to unify American policy of economic deterrence, military preparation, peace through strength, but also diplomacy and economic deterrence.

Mr. Lucas' bill is an excellent step in that regard. I urge all Members to support it on both sides of the aisle, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1531, the PROTECT Taiwan Act.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the President is required to notify Congress if China poses an immediate threat to Taiwan's security. If this notification is triggered, my bill states that it is U.S. policy to exclude Chinese representatives from key international organizations such as the G20, the Financial Stability Board, and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.

This bill sends a clear message. If China intends to engage in conflict with Taiwan, then China should be prepared to withstand the consequences.

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this body enacted a similar regime to demonstrate to the world that violating international order comes with swift and severe results.

We should have a proactive policy toward Beijing today. As China continues to show aggression in the South China Sea, the United States must show clear resolve that aggression will not be tolerated.

The United States' response to an invasion of Taiwan should be robust and include numerous sanctions and economic penalties. Exclusion from international bodies must be a part of that response.

If China seeks to disrupt the global order, then China cannot continue to be party to international organizations that seek to preserve that order.

China's position in multilateral economic institutions will be at risk should they engage in hostilities toward Taiwan. We simply cannot overlook the value of deterrence and preparedness.

China should understand the economic and diplomatic repercussions of threatening international financial stability and make its choices accordingly.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez) for his work on this issue and for cosponsoring this legislation. We received unanimous support in the committee, and I hope that the body will continue that tradition today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1531, the PROTECT Taiwan Act, sponsored by Representatives Lucas and Gonzalez.

China continues its provocations toward Taiwan with increasingly hostile rhetoric and actions. This includes military incursions into Taiwan's airspace and territorial waters. Thus, I agree with the sponsors of this bill that Congress must stand up for Taiwan and its people as they confront this threat.

This is especially true, given the Trump administration's naive, waffling actions regarding Taiwan's status. It is important that this body continue to stand up for our decades-long relationship as allies and trading partners.

This bill is a sensible measure to warn China that the United States is poised to act should it escalate its aggression toward Taiwan. If China chooses to do so, the United States would be required to oppose China's participation in a number of international financial organizations, including the Bank for International Settlements and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we share economic security and democratic values with our friends from Taiwan. In the face of increasingly hostile words and actions from China and predictably flimsy support from the President, it is important that Congress stand strong for the Taiwanese people.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the floor and missed Roll Call Nos. 57 and 58. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 57, H.R. 6644--Housing for the 21st Century Act, as amended and YEA on Roll Call No. 58, H.R. 1531--PROTECT Taiwan Act, as amended.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I missed the vote series on February 9, 2026. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 58, final passage of H.R. 1531, PROTECT Taiwan Act; and YEA on Roll Call No. 57, final passage of H.R. 6644, Housing for the 21st Century Act.