Bill to Ban Foreign Adversary Biotech Companies, including BGI Group
Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party today introduced the BIOSECURE act, a bill to ensure foreign adversary biotech companies of U.S. national security concern do not gain access to U.S. taxpayer dollars.
Co-leads in the House include Select Committee members Reps. Neal Dunn (R-FL), Seth Moulton (D-MA), and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), while Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Gary Peters (D-MI) Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) have already introduced corresponding legislation in the Senate.
Once enacted, the legislation would restrict federally funded medical providers from using foreign adversary biotech companies of concern, including BGI Group and its subsidiaries, MGI and Complete Genomics, along with another PLA-affiliated firm, called WuXi Apptec.
“Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) collects genetic data of Americans uses it for research with the Chinese military. The CCP will undoubtedly use the genetic data collected by BGI to further its malign aggression, potentially even to develop a bioweapon used to target the American people,” said Chairman Gallagher. “The good news is that Congress can do something about it. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of Congress to support this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that finally takes action to protect Americans from actors like BGI.”
“It is unacceptable for U.S. taxpayer dollars to be used to subsidize biotech companies of our foreign adversaries. By allowing these companies to amass and analyze large amounts of foreign genomic data, we risk our most sensitive information being used by our foreign adversaries against us. Our legislation addresses this problem by establishing a regulatory framework to prevent the flow of taxpayer dollars to biotech entities of concern. Closing this loophole is the first step in protecting the American bioeconomy and our national security, and ensuring our genomic data is kept safe and secure,” said Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi.
Click HERE to read the full bill text.
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