Merkley named chair of Congressional-Executive Commission on China

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 16, 2021

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced Tuesday, Feb. 16, that he will serve as chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, known as the CECC, for the 117th Congress.

“The U.S. relationship with China will define the world for years to come.” — Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon

Congress established the commission in 2000 in order to monitor China’s compliance with international human rights standards; to encourage development of rule of law in China; and to establish and maintain a list of victims of human rights abuses in China.

“The U.S. relationship with China will define the world for years to come, and we must ensure that American advocacy for human rights and democracy is a centerpiece of that relationship,” Merkley said. “In recent years, the CECC has played a key role reporting on, and responding to, China’s crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and the internment, torture and genocide of Uyghur Muslims.”

The commission is comprised of nine senators, nine representatives and five senior administration officials. Every year, the commission submits a report to the president and to Congress to outline its findings. The 2020 report is available here.