Tell Schumer to reject the Strategic Competition Act!

Action request:
Please take two minutes to call Senator Chuck Schumer and express your opposition to the Strategic Competition Act (SCA) by no later than Friday, May 14.

See sample call scripts below.

You can call 256-SCHUMER to be connected to the Capitol Switch Board, from there ask to be connected with Sen. Schumer’s Office and you will likely go to his voicemail. Just leave your message based on our talking points or scripts below.

Once you’ve called fill out the form at the bottom so we can know how many people called his office and follow up to hold him accountable.

What is the Strategic Competition Act?

The Strategic Competition Act is a fast-moving bill in the Senate and is intended to direct US-China foreign policy strategy to ensure US dominance in the science and technology industries.

Worryingly, it uses Cold War rhetoric in its characterization of China as the United States’ greatest threat, and is becoming a catch-all bill for a variety of other US foreign policy priorities.

It is being led by Senators Menendez and Risch in a bipartisan effort and has passed through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee without much resistance.

It is likely to be folded into the “Endless Frontier Act,” a bill led by Senators Schumer and Young and focused on US competitiveness in the tech industry.

The bill could be brought to the Senate floor as early as May 17.

Why are we concerned about it?

The bill’s Cold War-style logic has long-term implications for US foreign policy.

It supports a military approach that will fuel a destabilizing nuclear and conventional arms race in Asia and drive us closer to needless war.

We do not want to risk escalation towards an unwinnable war with China.

The bill also goes beyond US-China policy and contains policies that would foreclose diplomatic options on North Korea and hamstring the administration’s ability to negotiate international agreements.

Lastly, anti-China rhetoric has dangerous implications for Asian Americans, as recently evidenced by the alarming increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the US.

Call Scripts:

Short Version:

As your constituent in ____ New York, I am calling to express my concern about the Strategic Competition Act.

I strongly object to the Strategic Competition Act as it puts us on a path to a Cold War with China, and expands its scope too far into other global areas. This has long-term implications for US foreign policy.

Two sections in particular really highlight why the Strategic Competition Act is worrisome overall, Section 234 and Section 310.

I urge you, as our Senator, to reject the Strategic Competition Act and advocate global cooperation over competition to tackle the greatest security challenges of today, such as economic inequality, climate change, nuclear proliferation, and pandemics.

Medium Version:

As your constituent in ____ New York, I am calling to express my concern about the Strategic Competition Act.

It is my understanding that the Strategic Competition Act may be folded into another bill that you have introduced in the Senate–the Endless Frontier Act.

I strongly object to the Strategic Competition Act as it puts us on a path to a Cold War with China, and expands its scope too far into other global areas. This has long-term implications for US foreign policy. According to ReThink Media, “Seventy-seven percent of Democrats agree that “[o]ur goal should be to avoid a new cold war with China.” I agree, we cannot risk escalation towards another war in yet another complex region.

Two sections in particular really highlight why the Strategic Competition Act is worrisome overall, Section 234 and Section 310.

Additionally, anti-China sentiment, as encapsulated in the Strategic Competition Act, has dangerous implications for Asian-Americans, the fastest growing population in New York State, where we have recently witnessed an alarming increase in anti-Asian hate crimes.

I urge you, as our Senator, to reject the Strategic Competition Act and advocate global cooperation over competition to tackle the greatest security challenges of today, such as economic inequality, climate change, nuclear proliferation, and pandemics.

Long Version:

As your constituent in ____ New York, I am calling to express my concern about the Strategic Competition Act.

It is my understanding that the Strategic Competition Act may be folded into another bill that you have introduced in the Senate–the Endless Frontier Act.

I strongly object to the Strategic Competition Act as it puts us on a path to a Cold War with China, and expands its scope too far into other global areas. This has long-term implications for US foreign policy.

Two sections in particular really highlight why the Strategic Competition Act is worrisome overall, Section 234 and Section 310.

Section 234 of the Strategic Competition Act states that it is the policy of the United States to sustain maximum economic pressure on North Korea until it undertakes complete, verifiable, and irreversible actions toward denuclearization.

A policy of maximum pressure will take diplomatic options off the table for the administration on its approach to North Korea.

I am also concerned about Section 310 of the bill, which would require the written details of any international agreement to be submitted to Congress within 5 days or otherwise risk blocked funding for such negotiations. While I support improved transparency and oversight on international agreements between Congress and the Executive Branch, this overly broad scope and notification requirement could undermine needed flexibility and confidentiality that is critical in diplomatic negotiations.

Additionally, anti-China sentiment, as encapsulated in the Strategic Competition Act, has dangerous implications for Asian-Americans, the fastest growing population in New York State, where we have recently witnessed an alarming increase in anti-Asian hate crimes.

I urge you, as our Senator, to reject the Strategic Competition Act and advocate global cooperation over competition to tackle the greatest security challenges of today, such as economic inequality, climate change, nuclear proliferation, and pandemics.