China restrictions pass House, still must pass Senate

The House this week passed several legislative measures that members said targeted threats posed by China.

One such measure was the Countering the PRC Malign Influence Fund Authorization Act, which authorizes funds for the State Department to partner with allies and other nations to counter the malign Chinese influence programs and debt diplomacy.

“The U.S. needs more effective and agile tools to better compete with the Chinese Communist Party around the world,” said Rep. John Moolenaar, Michigan Republican and chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

The bill, which must still pass the Senate, would help the government to counter Chinese extensive influence operations — estimated to include annual investments of over $2 billion — and to better advance U.S. interests abroad.

Other House-passed bills seek to prevent China from obtaining Americans’ genetic data from predatory Chinese state-backed companies, and a measure restricting the Chinese drone manufacturer DJI, which has a huge share of the American commercial market.

“DJI poses a real national security risk to the U.S. given its deep partnership with the Chinese military, its expressed allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party, and its surveillance technology operating across U.S. soil,” Mr. Moolenaar said.

The House also voted to block the Department of Homeland Security from buying batteries from six Chinese companies linked to the ruling Communist Party.

“We cannot be dependent on our foremost adversary, and we must ensure the CCP can never profit from its genocide and human rights abuses,” Mr. Moolenaar said.

Another approved legislative measure would require the State Department to notify Congress 30 days in advance of any science and technology agreements with China.