WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives passed Representative Dale Strong’s (R-AL) “SHIELD Against the CCP Act,” H.R. 9668, requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a working group to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) threats to the United States. Cosponsors of the bill include House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN); Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA); Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Chairman Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY); Vice Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS); Representative Tom Suozzi (D-NY); and Committee on Ways and Means Vice Chairman Vern Buchanan (R-FL).
“I am encouraged to see my colleagues on both sides of the aisle so clear-eyed about the threat the Chinese Communist Party poses to our homeland security,” Chairman Green said. “Rep. Strong’s ‘SHIELD Against the CCP Act’ will ensure DHS prioritizes, monitors, and actively counters Beijing’s efforts to undermine our sovereignty, threaten American innovation, and spread its malign influence even in our own communities. I urge the Senate to take up this legislation and the president to sign it into law swiftly.”
“China is one of the biggest threats to our country, and they have taken every opportunity over the last 4 years to exploit Biden’s open borders. This bill will ensure DHS has a dedicated team working to combat this threat head-on,”Rep. Strong said. “After a long four years, it’s time to make America safer. I’m excited to get this bill through to better protect the American people.”
“The Chinese Communist Party is intent on weakening democratic institutions, targeting our critical infrastructure, and interfering in our elections. Today Congress is taking a solid bipartisan step in protecting the United States from the CCP,” Rep. Suozzi said.“I would like to thank Rep. Strong for sponsoring this bill and working with me on it.”
Background:
Rep. Strong introduced H.R. 9668 in September, and it advanced through the Committee by a unanimous vote.
The DHS working group established by H.R. 9668 would examine, assess, and report on efforts by the department to counter threats posed by the CCP. These threats include the CCP’s use of nontraditional tactics and exploitation of the U.S. immigration system through identity theft, the immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processes, unlawful border crossings, predatory economic and trade practices, and malign influence operations. The bill also requires the working group to provide a report and briefing to Congress, annually for five years, that assesses these threats.
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