II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2822 

To ensure the United States maintains a competitive edge over China, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 

Mr. RUBIO introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

A BILL 

To ensure the United States maintains a competitive edge 

over China, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prioritizing Readiness 

5 and Competitiveness Act’’ or the ‘‘PRC Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

7 It is the policy of the United States that— 

8 (1) great power competition with the People’s 

9 Republic of China will define the future of the 21st 

10 century; 


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1 (2) the People’s Republic of China is a revi2 sionist power that seeks to upend the international 

3 system in ways that are inimical to United States 

4 national interests; 

5 (3) great power competition with the People’s 

6 Republic of China is global in nature and requires 

7 a whole-of-government response; 

8 (4) resilient domestic manufacturing, a strong 

9 and advanced United States Navy, and an innovative 

10 economy are critical to succeeding in great power 

11 competition; and 

12 (5) promoting and supporting new technological 

13 research and development will be necessary to main14 tain a competitive advantage and effectively combat 

15 hostile efforts by the Government of the People’s Re16 public of China. 

17 SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF CERTAIN UNEXPENDED FUNDS RE18 LATED TO AFGHANISTAN FOR THE PURPOSE 

19 OF BUILDING A RESILIENT DOMESTIC INDUS20 TRIAL BASE AND STRENGTHENING DEFENSE 

21 TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall transfer to 

23 each of the following appropriations accounts for the fol24 lowing purposes an amount equal to one-third of the total 

25 amount rescinded under subsection (b): 


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1 (1) The Defense Production Act purchases ac2 count for activities by the Department of Defense 

3 pursuant to sections 108, 301, 302, and 303 of the 

4 Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4518, 

5 4531, 4532, 4533). 

6 (2) The Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy ac7 count of the Department of Defense. 

8 (3) The research, development, test, and evalua9 tion, Defense-wide account of the Department of De10 fense, to be available for the Defense Advanced Re11 search Projects Agency to carry out projects related 

12 to strengthening the United States global advantage 

13 in strategic technologies, which may include aero14 space, robotics, artificial intelligence, information 

15 technology, new and advanced materials, bio16 technology, advanced machinery, telecommuni17 cations, and energy and power generation. 

18 (b) RESCISSION OF UNEXPENDED FUNDS DEDI19 CATED TO MAINTAINING A MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC

20 PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN.—The following amounts are 

21 hereby rescinded: 

22 (1) The unobligated balance of amounts made 

23 available to the Department of Defense for the Af24 ghanistan Security Forces Fund. 


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1 (2) Of the unobligated balance of amounts 

2 made available to the Department of State for Dip3 lomatic Programs, all remaining funds relating to 

4 maintaining United States diplomatic personnel in 

5 Afghanistan. 

6 (3) Of the unobligated balance of amounts 

7 made available for the Economic Support Fund, all 

8 remaining funds relating to implementing and sup9 porting comprehensive strategies to combat corrup10 tion in Afghanistan, and for the reintegration of 

11 former Taliban and other extremists. 

12 (4) Of the unobligated balance of amounts 

13 made available to the Department of State for the 

14 International Narcotics Control and Law Enforce15 ment Fund, all remaining funds relating to pro16 grams in Afghanistan. 

17 (5) Of the unobligated balance of amounts 

18 made available to the Department of State for Inter19 national Military Education and Training programs, 

20 all remaining funds relating to training personnel of 

21 the Afghan security forces. 

Æ 


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