,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #dac ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bd1 #bjba,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,ms4 ,warren1 and ,mr4 ,cornyn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,china ,censorship ,monitor and ,action ,group1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,qualified research entity ,the term qualified research entity means an entity that-- 7,a7 is a nonpartisan research organization or a federally funded research and development center2 7,b7 has appropriate expertise and analytical capability to write the report required under section #c2 and 7,c7 is free from any financial1 commercial1 or other entanglements1 which could undermine the independence of such report or create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest1 with-- 7i7 the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 7ii7 the ,chinese ,communist ,party2 7iii7 any company incorporated in the ,people's ,republic of ,china or a subsidiary of such company2 or 7iv7 any company or entity incorporated outside of the ,people's ,republic of ,china that is believed to have a substantial financial or commercial interest in the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 7#c7 ,united states person ,the term ,united ,states person means-- 7,a7 a ,united ,states citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the ,united ,states2 or 7,b7 an entity organized under the laws of the ,united ,states or any jurisdiction within the ,united ,states1 including a foreign branch of such an entity4 #b4 ,china ,censorship ,monitor and ,action ,group 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president shall establish an interagency task force1 which shall be known as the ,china ,censorship ,monitor and ,action ,group 7referred to in this section as the ,task ,force74 7b7 ,membership ,the ,president shall-- 7#a7 appoint the chair of the ,task ,force from among the staff of the ,national ,security ,council2 7#b7 appoint the vice chair of the ,task ,force from among the staff of the ,national ,economic ,council2 and 7#c7 direct the head of each of the following executive branch agencies to appoint personnel to participate in the ,task ,force3 7,a7 ,the ,department of ,state4 7,b7 ,the ,department of ,commerce4 7,c7 ,the ,department of the ,treasury4 7,d7 ,the ,department of ,justice4 7,e7 ,the ,office of the ,united ,states ,trade ,representative4 7,f7 ,the ,office of the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 and other appropriate elements of the intelligence community 7as defined in section #c of the ,national ,security ,act of #aidg 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjc774 7,g7 ,the ,federal ,communications ,commission4 7,h7 ,the ,united ,states ,agency for ,global ,media4 7,i7 ,other agencies designated by the ,president4 7c7 ,responsibilities ,the ,task ,force shall-- 7#a7 oversee the development and execution of an integrated ,federal ,government strategy to monitor and address the impacts of efforts directed1 or directly supported1 by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china to censor or intimidate1 in the ,united ,states or in any of its possessions or territories1 any ,united ,states person1 including ,united ,states companies that conduct business in the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 which are exercising their right to freedom of speech2 and 7#b7 submit the strategy developed pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 to the appropriate congressional committees not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,meetings ,the ,task ,force shall meet not less frequently than twice per year4 7e7 ,consultations ,the ,task ,force should regularly consult1 to the extent necessary and appropriate1 with-- 7#a7 ,federal agencies that are not represented on the ,task ,force2 7#b7 independent agencies of the ,united ,states ,government that are not represented on the ,task ,force2 7#c7 relevant stakeholders in the private sector and the media2 and 7#d7 relevant stakeholders among ,united ,states allies and partners facing similar challenges related to censorship or intimidation by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 7f7 ,reporting requirements 7#a7 ,annual report ,the ,task ,force shall submit an annual report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes1 with respect to the reporting period-- 7,a7 the strategic objectives and policies pursued by the ,task ,force to address the challenges of censorship and intimidation of ,united ,states persons while in the ,united ,states or any of its possessions or territories1 which is directed or directly supported by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 7,b7 the activities conducted by the ,task ,force in support of the strategic objectives and policies referred to in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 the results of the activities referred to in subparagraph 7,b7 and the impact of such activities on the national interests of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,form of report ,each report submitted pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall be unclassified1 but may include a classified annex4 7#c7 ,congressional briefings ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,task ,force shall provide briefings to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the activities of the ,task ,force to execute the strategy developed pursuant to subsection 7c77#a74 #c4 ,report on censorship and intimidation of ,united ,states persons by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china 7a7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall select and seek to enter into an agreement with a qualified research entity that is independent of the ,department of ,state to write a report on censorship and intimidation in the ,united ,states and its possessions and territories of ,united ,states persons1 including ,united ,states companies that conduct business in the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 which is directed or directly supported by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 7#b7 ,matters to be included ,the report required under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 assess major trends1 patterns1 and methods of the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china's efforts to direct or directly support censorship and intimidation of ,united ,states persons1 including ,united ,states companies that conduct business in the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 which are exercising their right to freedom of speech2 7,b7 assess1 including through the use of illustrative examples1 as appropriate1 the impact on and consequences for ,united ,states persons1 including ,united ,states companies that conduct business in the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 that criticize-- 7i7 the ,chinese ,communist ,party2 7ii7 the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 7iii7 the authoritarian model of government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 or 7iv7 a particular policy advanced by the ,chinese ,communist ,party or the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 7,c7 identify the implications for the ,united ,states of the matters described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b72 7,d7 include best practices for industries in which freedom of expression issues are particularly acute1 including the media and film industries2 7,e7 include policy recommendations for the ,united ,states ,government1 including recommendations regarding collaboration with ,united ,states allies and partners1 to address censorship and intimidation by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 and 7,f7 include policy recommendations for ,united ,states persons1 including ,united ,states companies that conduct business in ,china1 to address censorship and intimidation by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 7#c7 ,applicability to ,united ,states allies and partners ,to the extent practicable1 the report required under paragraph 7#a7 should identify implications and policy recommendations that are relevant to ,united ,states allies and partners facing censorship and intimidation directed or directly supported by the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china4 7b7 ,submission of report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state shall submit the report written by the qualified research entity selected pursuant to subsection 7a77#a7 to the appropriate congressional committees4 7#b7 ,publication ,the report referred to in paragraph 7#a7 shall be made accessible to the public online through relevant ,united ,states ,government websites4 7c7 ,federal ,government support ,the ,secretary of ,state and other ,federal agencies selected by the ,president shall provide the qualified research entity selected pursuant to subsection 7a77#a7 with timely access to appropriate information1 data1 resources1 and analyses necessary for such entity to write the report described in subsection 7a7 in a thorough and independent manner4 #d4 ,sunset ,this ,act shall terminate on the date that is #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4