Cheap goods aren’t all that’s made in China.
A newly published list reveals the names of current and former American elected officials who have participated in trips to China paid for by a foundation tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The list, compiled by The National Pulse, includes members of Congress, U.S. senators, state legislators, mayors, and governors from both major parties.
The group in question is called the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), which is linked to the CCP and sponsors trips to China for lawmakers in order to obtain “favorable coverage” and policy for China from U.S. institutions.
America’s U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has described China’s strategy as an effort “to co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of its ruling Chinese Communist Party” and “influence overseas Chinese communities, foreign governments, and other actors to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijing’s preferred policies.”
CUSEF has sponsored trips for the officials on the list in many ways; for example, trade missions and a Heartland Mayor Delegation Trip to China for current elected officials.
Some of the politicians named participated after departing their positions, per original National Pulse research into the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) filings between CUSEF and its American lobbying firm BLJ Worldwide.
A summary of CUSEF’s “Former U.S. Congressmen Program,” with participants “chosen based on their seniority and relevance to US-China relations during their time in Congress, as well as their open-minded perspective to China,” notes:
Former Congressmen can visit with current and former politicians in China, university professors and students, think tanks, and businesspeople to deepen their understanding of China’s peaceful development. Additionally, cultural activities and touring historic sites can also provide further context into the history of China’s development. Such visits will also help inform Chinese officials and thinkers about America’s perspectives of current domestic and foreign affairs issues that are relevant to China.
After each visit, CUSEF and its lobbying firm would “work with the former Congressmen to create reports on their experiences that will be distributed to politicians, experts, and other relevant individuals and organizations in the US.”
Officials who participated were:
- Congressman Timothy Roemer (D-IN)
- Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
- Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR)
- Congressman Jim McCrery (R-LA)
- Congressman Thomas Petri (R-WI)
- Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
- Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)
- Senator John Sununu (R-NH)
- Congressman Jon Christensen (R-NE)
- Congressman Jim Slattery (D-KS)
- Congressman Steve Bartlett (R-TX)
- Congressman Don Bonker (D-WA)
- Congressman Phil English (R-PA)
- Congressman Martin Frost (D-TX)
- Congressman Barbara Kennelly (D-CT)
- Congresswoman Connie Morella (R-MD)
- Congressman John Tanner (D-TN)
- Governor Bob Holden (D-MO)
- Mayor James Brainard (R-IN)
- Mayor Paul TenHaken (R-IA)
- Mayor Jamael Tito Brown (D-OH)
- Mayor Richard Carr (R-OH)
- Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele (R-CT)
- State Representative Mark Parkinson (R-ID)
- Governor Jim Folsom Jr. (D-AL)
- Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton (D-WI)
- Brian Rolicki
- State Senator Steve Harrelson (D-AK)
- State Senator Mark Norris (R-TN)
- State Representative Robbie Wills (D-AK)
- State Representative Jim Tucker (R-LA)
- State Representative Seth Hammett (D-AL)
- State Senator Ron Richard (R-MO)
- State Senator Chuck Colgan (D-VA)
- Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib (D-WA)
- Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (R-WA)
- Congresswoman-Elect Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
- State Representative Clarice Navarro (R-CO)
- Commissioner Bridget Gainer (D-IL)
- Mayor Michael Copeland (KS)
- Treasurer Tishaura Jones (D-MO)
- Congressman Charles Boustany (R-LA)
- State Representative L.F. Payne (D-VA)
- Congressman Gary Franks (R-CT)
- Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA)
- Congressman Mike Mclntyre (D-NC)
The publication of this list came shortly after a similar exposé on members of the U.S. media who participated in the CUSEF-sponsored trip.
Filings with the Department of Justice’s Foreign Agent Registration Act reveals that outlets such as the National Journal, The Nation, Congressional Quarterly, U.S. News & World Report, the Chicago Tribune, and the Washington Note were participants.
Moreover, a filing dated January 1, 2012, shows several participating in “private dinners” at the home of CUSEF’s American lobbying firm’s CEO.
These outlets were:
- The New York Times
- Forbes Asia
- Financial Times
- The Wall Street Journal
- Bloomberg
- The Economist
- Newsweek
- The Nation
- ABC News
- CNN
The threat of Communist China to the sovereignty and integrity of the American republic continues to grow in the face of such extensive pay-to-play within our government and media.
Money talks. And the money currently permeating the halls of power speaks in Mandarin.
