U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION FACT SHEET
Establishment:
The Commission was created on October 30, 2000 by the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for 2001 § 1238, Pub. L. No. 106-398, 114 STAT. 1654A-334 (2000) (codified at 22 U.S.C.§ 7002 (2001), as amended by the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for 2002 § 645 (regarding employment status of staff) & § 648 (regarding changing annual report due date from March to June), Pub.L. No. 107-67, 115 STAT. 514 (Nov. 12, 2001); as amended by Division P of the "Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003," Pub L. No. 108-7 (Feb. 20, 2003) (regarding Commission name change, terms of Commissioners, and responsibilities of Commission); as amended by Pub.L. No. 109-108 (H.R. 2862) (Nov. 22, 2005) (regarding responsibilities of Commission and applicability of FACA).
Purpose:
To monitor, investigate, and submit to congress an annual report on the national security implications of the bilateral trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, and to provide recommendations, where appropriate, to Congress for legislative and administrative action.
Public Law 109-108 directs the Commission to focus its work and study on the following eight areas: proliferation practices, economic transfers, energy, U.S. capital markets, regional economic and security impacts, U.S.-China bilateral programs, WTO compliance, and the implications of restrictions on speech and access to information in the People’s Republic of China.
Composition:
The Commission is composed of 12 members, three of whom are selected by each of the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, and the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House. The Commissioners serve two-year terms.
Commissioners:
Carolyn Bartholomew, Chairman; Larry M. Wortzel, Vice Chairman; Daniel A. Blumenthal; Peter T.R. Brookes; Jeffrey L. Fiedler; Hon. Patrick A. Mulloy; Hon. William A. Reinsch; Daniel Slane; Peter Videnieks, and Michael R. Wessel (Brief bios are attached.)
Staff:
The Commissioners are supported by a professional and administrative staff with extensive backgrounds in trade, economics, weapons proliferation, foreign policy, and U.S.-PRC relations. Some are fluent or proficient in Chinese (Mandarin), and most have significant prior working and traveling experience in China and Taiwan. The staff is headed by T. Scott Bunton, Commission Executive Director.
Web Site:
The Commission’s web site provides the Commission’s complete charter, hearing schedule, hearing transcripts, and selected research papers, and economic and trade data www.uscc.gov.
2009 U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Members
Carolyn Bartholomew, Chairman
Former Chief of Staff, Counsel, Legislative Director, and Foreign Policy Advisor to U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi; former Professional Staff Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Reappointed by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on December 17, 2007 for a term expiring December 31, 2009. Chairman Bartholomew was unanimously elected as the Commission’s Chairman for the 2009 report cycle effective January 1, 2009. She previously served as the Commission Vice Chairman for the 2006 and 2008 report cycles and as Chairman for the 2007 report cycle.
Larry M. Wortzel, Ph.D., Vice Chairman
During a 32-year military career, Dr. Wortzel spent 12 years in the Asia-Pacific region, including two tours of duty as a military attaché at in China. Following his retirement from the Army as a colonel in 1999, he was an executive with The Heritage Foundation. At Heritage he was Asian Studies Center Director and Vice President for foreign policy and defense studies. Dr. Wortzel has written or edited numerous books and articles on China. Dr. Wortzel was reappointed by House Republican Leader John Boehner on December 10, 2008 for a fifth term expiring December 31, 2010. He was unanimously elected as the Commission Vice Chairman for the 2009 report cycle effective January 1, 2009. He previously served as Chairman for the 2006 and 2008 report cycles.
Daniel A. Blumenthal
Resident Fellow in Asian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Previously, Mr. Blumenthal was senior director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs during the first George W. Bush administration. Appointed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2009. Served as Vice Chairman for the report cycle 2006-2007.
Peter T.R. Brookes
Senior Fellow for National Security Affairs. Previously served in the George W. Bush administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs; former professional member with the Republican staff of the House Committee on International Relations. Reappointed by House Minority Leader John Boehner on December 6, 2007, for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2009.
Robin Cleveland
Principal, Olivet Consulting, LLC. Previously, served as Counselor to the President of the World Bank; Associate Director at the White House Office of Management and Budget; and in variety of positions for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell including the Senate Intelligence, Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees. Appointed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on April 21, 2009 for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2010.
Jeffrey L. Fiedler
President of Research Associates of America, a non-profit labor research organization. Previously he was the elected President of the Food and Allied Service Trade Department, AFL-CIO (“FAST”). Reappointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on December 19, 2007, for a term expiring December 31, 2009.
Hon. Patrick A. Mulloy
Adjunct Professor of Public International Law and International Trade Law at Catholic University and George Mason University law schools; former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance; former General Counsel, U.S. Senate Banking Committee. Appointed to the Commission by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for a two-year term expiring December 31, 2009. Commissioner Mulloy previously served as a member from April 2001 to December 31, 2006.
Hon. William A. Reinsch
President, National Foreign Trade Council; former Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration; former legislative assistant to Senator John Heinz (PA) and Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV (WV). Reappointed by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid for a fifth term expiring December 31, 2009.
Hon. Dennis C. Shea
Government and public policy attorney, former director of policy for the Bob Dole for President Campaign, and Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Appointed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on April 21, 2009, for a second two-year term expiring December 31, 2010.
Daniel M. Slane
Founder and co-owner of the Slane Company with extensive international business experience. Mr. Slane was appointed to the Commission by House Minority Leader John Boehner for a two-year term expiring on December 31, 2009.
Peter Videnieks
Former advisor on foreign affairs and energy issues to Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WVA); previously an IRS revenue officer and contracting officer (NASA, Department of Justice, and U.S. Customs). Mr. Videnieks was reappointed on Nov. 20, 2008 by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for a second two-year term expiring December 31, 2010.
Michael R. Wessel
President of The Wessel Group Inc.; former Counsel to Congressman Richard A. Gephardt (MO). Currently serves as a member on the Board of Directors of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., one of the world’s largest tire companies. Reappointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on November 20, 2008, for a fifth term expiring December 31, 2010.