JONES QUESTIONS OBAMA ABOUT TRANSFER OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA

Washington, D.C.– Today, U.S. Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-03) sent a letter to President Barack Obama inquiring why Commerce Secretary Gary Locke was given authority to authorize the export of United States missile technology to the People’s Republic of China, and asking the President to disclose the nature and extent of conversations about equipment and technology transfers with Chinese Communist Party and government officials.

“If there have been any discussions between the United States government and China about missile technology exports, Congress and the American people need to know about it,” said Congressman Jones. Congressman Jones’ letter to President Obama is as follows:

Dear President Obama:

It has come to my attention that last month, you delegated your function as President of the United States to the Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Gary Locke, under section 1512 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. That authority granted Secretary Locke the power to certify in advance that any export of missile equipment or technology to the People’s Republic of China is not detrimental to the United States and will not measurably improve their missile capabilities.

Our own Central Intelligence Agency has reported that a majority of China’s long range strategic missiles are aimed at U.S. cities; therefore the potential export of any missile technology to that country is problematic. Given that Secretary Locke has just traveled to China this week, this delegation of authority raises a number of serious and disturbing questions.

Why did you delegate your presidential powers on a decision so vital to the safety and security of all Americans? Specifically, why did you delegate this national security decision to the Secretary of Commerce and not the Secretary of Defense? What qualifies the Secretary of Commerce to certify that a particular missile technology being exported to China is not detrimental to US interests? Has your administration had discussions with officials of the Chinese Communist Party or the Chinese government about transferring United States missile technology to the People’s Republic of China? If so, what missile technology have you discussed exporting? Why would the Chinese want to buy U.S. missile equipment or technology that does not measurably improve their capabilities? And finally, what promises or assurances might have been made by officials of the Chinese Communist Party or the Chinese Government in exchange for Secretary Locke potentially allowing the export of missile technology to China?

The implications of these above questions are obvious, so if the administration is not contemplating the export of missile technology to China I would certainly welcome any clarification, and look forward to having what is precisely being contemplated shared with Congress and with the American people.

JONES AND GOP LEADER DEMAND ANSWERS FROM OBAMA ON CAR CZAR AND GM BAILOUT

Washington, D.C.– Today, U.S. Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-03), House Republican Leader John Boehner and 18 other House Republicans sent a letter to President Barack Obama demanding answers on the use of American tax dollars to bail out General Motors (GM). Despite the strong opposition of Congressman Jones and many House Republicans, over the past year the U.S. government orchestrated a takeover of the U.S. auto industry and sunk nearly $50 billion in taxpayers’ money into GM. The administration has also disclosed very little information about the details of the government bailout of GM. However, last week the President’s former “Car Czar”, Steve Rattner, stated that the value of the taxpayers’ stake in GM has plunged to only $25 billion.

“Keeping American taxpayers in the dark is wrong. The Administration pledged transparency, and yet there has been none as far as the General Motors bailout is concerned,” said Congressman Jones. “I have been adamantly opposed to all bailouts and there must be accountability shown for our taxpayers’ money, especially if it is being wasted.”

The letter to the President is as follows:

Dear Mr. President:

Last December, the U.S. Treasury Department loaned General Motors $13 billion. In the spring, Treasury loaned GM another $6 billion. In June, days before GM declared bankruptcy, the Administration provided another $30 billion – just in time to convert taxpayer loans to equity taking ownership of GM.

All of these funds came from the Troubled Asset Relief Program – a bailout never intended for such purposes. As the Congressional Oversight Panel wrote last month, “the use of TARP funds for the automotive industry raises questions regarding both Presidents’ authority to use these funds under EESA legislation and, more broadly, under the U.S. Constitution.”

Last week, Steve Rattner, your former “Car Czar,” estimated that the taxpayers’ stake in GM now stands at $25 billion. If Mr. Rattner is correct, the Administration’s “Bridge Loan to Nowhere” lost half of the taxpayers’ money. And while sales for private-owned Ford Motors fell only 6% in September, government-owned GM saw a 45% decline.

Despite your Administration’s pledge of transparency, this “Bridge Loan to Nowhere” comes with none. American taxpayers remain in the dark when it comes to basic details of $49 billion in taxpayers’ money provided to GM.

How much should taxpayers expect to lose from the “Bridge Loan to Nowhere?” When will we see the minutes from Automotive Task Force meetings? When will we see all financial and operating information for GM – at the same level of detail that shareholders of any other major company would expect?

As the American people struggle through the Great Recession, they deserve better than a $25 billion loss in a non-transparent investment.