On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed two bipartisan bills introduced by Representative Dale W. Strong , R-Ala.,: the SHIELD Against CCP Act and the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act.
SHIELD Against CCP Act (HR9668)
The SHIELD Against CCP Act mandates the Department of Homeland Security to establish a dedicated working group to assess and counter security threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. This group is tasked with examining and reporting on various nontraditional tactics employed by the CCP, including espionage, intellectual property theft, and other malign activities.
“China is one of the biggest threats to our country, and they have taken every opportunity over the last four years to exploit Biden’s open borders. This bill will ensure DHS has a dedicated team working to combat this threat head-on,” said Rep. Strong.
House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, R-TN, expressed strong support for the legislation, stating, “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.”
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support, passing the House with a vote of 409-4.
Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act (H.R. 901)
The Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act requires DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate to develop processes for safeguarding sensitive information in research and development projects, thereby preventing unauthorized access and disclosure. The legislation also mandates the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on DHS’s compliance with government-wide policies to protect research and development initiatives.
“Chinese espionage is one of our country’s greatest threats. Protecting our innovations is critical to national security, and this legislation takes an important step in ensuring the integrity of DHS research,” noted Rep. Strong.
Both bills now advance to the Senate for consideration.
