• The federal government’s retirement program, the Thrift Savings Plan, has faced scrutiny for allowing Americans to invest in Chinese military companies through mutual funds since last year. According to an analysis by the Coalition for a Prosperous America, at least 115 of the offered mutual funds include 30 companies that have been sanctioned or blacklisted by the U.S. government for their involvement in China’s military expansion, as reported by Newsweek.
• This week, the Senate discussed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) aimed at prohibiting the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board from offering mutual funds associated with Chinese military companies and other firms targeted by U.S. sanctions and blacklists.
• However, the provision was voted down on Wednesday, with opposition from several Democrats in the chamber and two Republican lawmakers, Senators Bill Cassidy (LA) and Rand Paul (KY).

Tagged: China