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Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) was joined by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), David Perdue (R-GA), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, requesting information be made available with regard to the Blue Dot Network’s current initiatives and participating partners. The Blue Dot Network brings together members of the public and private sector to promote international infrastructure development.

“We write to inquire about the status of the Blue Dot Network and your progress in enlisting our allies and partners to support this important initiative,” the lawmakers wrote. “We are hopeful that the initiative to identify and certify high-quality, bankable infrastructure projects around the world can provide an important signal to private investors. Investment in, and construction of, high-quality infrastructure is an urgent need worldwide. We believe the program has the potential to be the kind of creative policy initiative necessary to counterbalance the predatory economic practices of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).”

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Secretaries Pompeo and Mnuchin:

We write to inquire about the status of the Blue Dot Network and your progress in enlisting our allies and partners to support this important initiative. We are hopeful that the initiative to identify and certify high-quality, bankable infrastructure projects around the world can provide an important signal to private investors. Investment in, and construction of, high-quality infrastructure is an urgent need worldwide. We believe the program has the potential to be the kind of creative policy initiative necessary to counterbalance the predatory economic practices of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

As you know, competing with the PRC requires strengthening democratic norms and institutions of good governance, where possible, and creating alternatives where none exist. Positive contributions – rather than appearing to reflexively block PRC initiatives – are the most effective ways for the United States to find a firmer footing in our relationship with the PRC and countering its economic statecraft.   

We request information as to specific actions and/or developments your departments are doing to promote the Blue Dot Network. It would also be beneficial to know which allies and partners you have engaged with, the resources that have been made available, the projects supported to date, and how Congress can be helpful in supporting this important work and overcoming any problems in implementation. 

Thank you for your work on this program. We look forward to working with you to ensure that the United States provides a positive alternative that promotes good governance and sound international economic policy.  

 Sincerely,