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The Blast: House committee assignments released [1]

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Date: 2023-02 

COMMITTEE OF 100 STRAYS FROM TEXAS GOP

The Committee of 100 is the latest organization to stick its neck out in opposition to the proposed ban on land purchases by Chinese, Iranian, North Korean and Russian citizens, governments and entities.



Zhengyu Huang, president of the national nonprofit organization of prominent Chinese Americans co-founded by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, issued a statement Tuesday saying Senate Bill 147 — filed by state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, and backed by the Texas GOP — unconstitutionally discriminates against people based on their national origin and strays away from the national security rationale behind last session’s bill.



“This bill is saying that those of Chinese backgrounds that come to the U.S. in pursuit of the American dream can’t buy a house for their families,” Huang said. “The current environment in the U.S. is clouded by anti-Asian tropes, xenophobia and violence, and this proposed law further fuels that hate and division.”



Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, told us the Committee of 100 response is an echo of the concerns of the Chinese American community.



“I think there’s a sort of exasperation of people feeling like we, especially Chinese Republicans, are like, 'We supported the party, we donated money and now they’re doing this,'” Wu said. “I think that is going to be a theme that carries on. … This is not something that I think the community is going to forget anytime soon because it is such a direct attack on the community.”



Wu also thinks many leaders are unhappy with the move, which he tied to Gov. Greg Abbott’s need to keep pace with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But those dissidents are “laying low for right now,” he added.



Meanwhile, Fox News’ Bill Melugin reported there has been an uptick of Chinese nationals crossing the southern border into Texas. His tweet earned retweets from some Texans, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. — Renzo Downey

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[1] Url: https://mailchi.mp/texastribune/the-blast-house-committee-assignments-released

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