{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=736A0B2B-6A0C-45DA-B671-8F749CEEABE4", "Rubio Introduces Bill Targeting Chinese Aggression in South China Sea", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Marco Rubio", "R000595", "www.rubio.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act, which would sanction Chinese individuals and entities that participate in Beijing\u2019s illegitimate operations in the South China Sea and East China Sea.\r\n\u201cChina\u2019s aggressive actions in the South China Sea are illegitimate and threaten the region\u2019s security and American commerce, with reverberations that can be felt here at home, including Florida\u2019s ports and throughout our state\u2019s shipping and cargo economy,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cThe security of our allies in the region and our own economic livelihoods cannot be endangered by Beijing\u2019s ongoing, flagrant violations of international norms in its pursuit of dominance in the South China Sea and East China Sea.\r\n\u201cBeijing\u2019s illegitimate activities in these waters need to end, and the sanctions called for in this legislation would hold violators accountable and serve as a deterrent to others,\u201d Rubio added.\u00a0\u201cConsistent with international law, China should not be allowed to interfere in any way with the free use of the waters and airspace in the South China Sea and East China Sea by civilian and military ships and aircraft of all countries.\u201d\u00a0\r\nRubio\u2019s bill would:\r\n \r\nRequire the president to impose sanctions and prohibit visas for Chinese individuals and entities who contribute to construction or development projects, and those who threaten the peace, security or stability of the South China Sea (SCS) or East China Sea (ECS);\r\n \r\n \r\nImpose sanctions on foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct or facilitate a significant financial transaction for sanctioned individuals and entities if China takes certain actions in the SCS or ECS, including declaring an air defense identification zone or increasing activities at Scarborough Shoal;\r\n \r\n \r\nMandate a report on individuals and entities involved in sanctionable activities, including some employees of certain Chinese companies;\r\n \r\n \r\nProhibit the publication of documents portraying the SCS or the ECS as part of China, investments in the SCS or the ECS, and the recognition of the annexation of the SCS or the ECS; and\r\n \r\n \r\nRestrict foreign assistance to countries that recognize China\u2019s sovereignty in the SCS or the ECS.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.rubio.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=736A0B2B-6A0C-45DA-B671-8F749CEEABE4"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5561790205538273, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}