I
118THCONGRESS
2
DSESSION H. R. 8238
To require the Secretary of Defense to appropriately consider Taiwan for
enhanced defense industrial base cooperation activities.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY2, 2024
Mrs. S
TEEL(for herself and Mr. HORSFORD) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition
to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to appropriately consider
Taiwan for enhanced defense industrial base cooperation
activities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. CONSIDERATION OF TAIWAN FOR ENHANCED 3
DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE COOPERATION. 4
(a) E
NHANCEDDEFENSEINDUSTRIALBASECO-5
OPERATION.— 6
(1) I
N GENERAL.—Consistent with the Taiwan 7
Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the Sec-8
VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 May 31, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8238.IH H8238
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 2
•HR 8238 IH
retary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary 1
of State and the head of any other relevant Federal 2
department or agency, shall take measures to ensure 3
that Taiwan is appropriately considered for en-4
hanced defense industrial base cooperation activities 5
aligned with the United States National Defense In-6
dustrial Strategy to expand global defense produc-7
tion, increase supply chain security and resilience, 8
and meet the defense needs of Taiwan. 9
(2) E
LEMENTS.—Consideration for enhanced 10
defense industrial base cooperation activities under 11
paragraph (1) shall include the consideration of Tai-12
wan for the following: 13
(A) Eligibility for funding to initiate or fa-14
cilitate cooperative research, development, test-15
ing, or evaluation projects with the Department 16
of Defense. 17
(B) Eligibility to enter into a memo-18
randum of understanding or other formal 19
agreement with the Department of Defense for 20
the purpose of conducting cooperative research 21
and development projects on defense equipment 22
and munitions, with a focus on enhancing the 23
defense industry and supply chain resilience of 24
Taiwan. 25
VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 May 31, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8238.IH H8238
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 3
•HR 8238 IH
(b) FEASIBILITYSTUDY.— 1
(1) I
N GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in 2
coordination with the Secretary of State, the Gov-3
ernment of Taiwan, and representatives of the 4
United States defense industry, shall conduct a 5
study on the feasibility and advisability of entering 6
into one or more defense industrial agreements with 7
Taiwan. 8
(2) E
LEMENTS.—The study required by para-9
graph (1) shall— 10
(A) evaluate the strategic benefits and im-11
plications of entering into a defense industrial 12
agreement with Taiwan, including with respect 13
to— 14
(i) long-term supply chain security 15
and resilience; 16
(ii) mutual supply of defense goods 17
and services; 18
(iii) supply of regional maintenance, 19
repair, and overhaul capabilities and any 20
other support capability the Secretary con-21
siders appropriate; and 22
(iv) the promotion of interoperability; 23
(B) account for the legal, economic, and 24
defense policy aspects of a closer defense pro-25
VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 May 31, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8238.IH H8238
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 4
•HR 8238 IH
curement partnership between the United 1
States and Taiwan; and 2
(C) include a list of not fewer than 5 de-3
fense capabilities— 4
(i)(I) developed by, and produced in, 5
Taiwan; and 6
(II) that require expedited licenses for 7
components produced in the United States; 8
or 9
(ii) developed by the United States 10
but for which the United States defense in-11
dustry cannot meet the demand of Taiwan 12
on a timely basis so as to necessitate pro-13
duction in Taiwan. 14
(3) R
EPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 15
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 16
of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed 17
Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-18
tives a report on the results of the study conducted 19
under paragraph (1). 20
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:58 May 31, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8238.IH H8238
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB