13 Republicans named to new US committee on China by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

The new House select committee on China began to take form late on Monday when US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy named the 13 Republican members who will serve on it.

The members are from geographically diverse backgrounds and represent the range of the Republican ideological spectrum. Many of McCarthy’s picks are closely tied to agricultural and defence interests, and several are known China hawks, though others have not been as outspoken.

The 13 Republican members of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party are: its chairman, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin; Rob Wittman of Virginia; Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri; Andy Barr of Kentucky; Dan Newhouse of Washington; John Moolenaar of Michigan; Darin LaHood of Illinois; Neal Dunn of Florida; Jim Banks of Indiana; Dusty Johnson of South Dakota; Michelle Steel of California; Ashley Hinson of Iowa; and Carlos Giménez of Florida.

The Democrats have yet to name their committee appointments, which will be no more than seven members. Some Asian-American lawmakers – noting the rise in anti-Asian violence in recent years – have pushed House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to appoint one from their caucus to head the Democratic contingent.

The committee is tasked with investigating and submitting recommendations on “the status of the Chinese Communist Party’s economic, technological, and security progress and its competition with the United States”.

It has no legislative authority – it cannot make or amend laws – but has the authority to hold public hearings “in connection with any aspect of its investigative functions”. The committee is required to submit policy recommendations to standing committees by the end of 2023.

Five of the Republican members served on McCarthy’s China task force: Gallagher, Wittman, Barr, Dunn and Banks.