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The Select: 'TikTok Special' - A Weekly Committee Recap

March 15, 2024

Welcome to The Select, a weekly newsletter on the work of the Congressional Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party led by Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI).

 

See below for this week's updates.

352-65: House Of Reps Overwhelmingly Pass Bipartisan Bill to Force the Sale of TikTok

 

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newsletter

WATCH: Chairman Gallagher and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi answer questions following the passage of the bipartisan Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Following the overwhelming bipartisan vote to pass the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, Chairman Gallagher and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) released the below statement.

“Today, a bipartisan group of members came together to address the grave national security risk posed by TikTok. We speak with one voice and carry the same message as the Directors of the DIA, FBI, CIA, NSA, and the head of U.S. Cyber Command — TikTok cannot continue to operate in the United States under its current ownership structure. We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to pass this critical, bipartisan legislation and deliver it to the President’s desk.”

Watch Chairman Gallagher's remarks on the House floor HERE.

Watch Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi's remarks on the House floor HERE.

Read more about the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act HERE.

 

'They are weaponizing the DC swamp against us' - Gallagher condemns TikTok's lobbying campaign

 

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Gallagher

WATCH: “We have major American investors who have billions on the line— having invested in ByteDance— that are now using that money to lobby against any action in the House and Senate.They are weaponizing the DC swamp against us.” - Chairman Gallagher on Fox News

 

'TikTok Blatantly Deceived Americans' - Gallagher, Krishnamoorthi Demand TikTok CEO Stop Spreading Lies

 

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Gallagher

WATCH: "Last week, TikTok forced a pop-up on all its users asking for their zip code information and then calling members of congress. We had kids calling members of congress threatening to commit suicide"- Chairman Gallagher on Fox.

On Monday, Chairman Gallagher and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi wrote to TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, demanding that TikTok immediately stop deceiving its users and broadcasting false information about the lawmakers' bill, the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

In part, the lawmakers write, "Last week, TikTok distributed the following messages to many of its American users: ‘Congress is planning a total ban of TikTok. Speak up now—before your government strips 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country, and deny artists an audience. Let Congress know what TikTok means to you and tell them to vote NO. Call now.’ & ‘TikTok is at risk of being shut down in the US. Call your representative now.'"

They continue, "These messages are deceptive. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act does not ban TikTok. Rather, it gives TikTok six months to eliminate foreign adversary control—which would include ByteDance divesting its current ownership—to remain available in the United States. All TikTok would have to do is separate from CCP-controlled ByteDance. However, if TikTok chose not to rid itself of this CCP control, the application would no longer be offered in U.S. app stores. But TikTok would have no one but itself to blame—it would be choosing this path by opting for CCP control rather than Americans’ privacy and national security.”

Read the letter to TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew HERE.

Click HERE to read more about the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act

Issues: TikTok