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On Thursday, Chairman Moolenaar and Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs requested a classified briefing from the Biden administration as the chairmen remain concerned that without robust protections, sensitive U.S.-origin technology transferred as part of the Microsoft-G42 partnership could end up the CCP’s hands.
Chairmen Moolenaar and McCaul write, “It is vital we do all we can to limit the PRC's [People’s Republic of China] malign influence around the world, including in the Middle East... we support your efforts to work hand in glove with U.S. companies like Microsoft to strengthen our dominance in AI; however, we must also be clear-eyed about the risks posed by transferring our most critical AI technology particularly when it comes to countries where the PRC is active.”
The lawmakers continue, “Given the ties between the PRC and G42 as well as PRC’s continued interests in the UAE, we ask that the National Intelligence Council prepare an official Intelligence Community assessment on the ties between G42, including its subsidiaries and affiliates, to the Chinese Communist Party, the People’s Liberation Army, or any part of the PRC’s apparatus.”
The full text of the letter can be found HERE.
On Monday, Chairman Moolenaar released the following statement after Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would renew the Select Committee in the 119th Congress:
“I’m grateful for Speaker Johnson’s clear-eyed assessment of the existential threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and the importance of the Select Committee on the CCP in tackling that threat head-on. What the Chinese Communist Party fears most is a united America where Democrats and Republicans work together to defend our nation. For the remainder of this Congress and into the next, the Select Committee will work in a bipartisan manner and alongside the committees of jurisdiction to continue to protect the United States and our values from the malign influence of our nation’s foremost adversary, the Chinese Communist Party.”
Additionally, Speaker Johnson announced the House would consider several Select Committee championed efforts this fall, including outbound investment restrictions, the BIOSECURE Act, and de minimis reform.
On Wednesday, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party's Critical Minerals Policy Working Group, led by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), held its second meeting to discuss the United States’ heavy reliance on Chinese imports of critical minerals, working with our allies to create alternative supplies of these minerals, and policy solutions to incentivize this shift.
Members heard from experts including Mr. Adam Johnson, Managing Partner, Metis Endeavor, Mr. Wade Yeoman, Executive General Manager, Commercial, Jervois, and Ms. Mahnaz Khan, Vice President of Policy for Critical Supply Chains, Silverado Policy Accelerator.
Watch highlights from the meeting HERE.
As first reported by the Daily Mail, on Wednesday, Chairman Moolenaar wrote to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, inquiring why the U.S. Department of Agriculture greenlit a Chinese agricultural biotech company with close links to the Chinese government to operate in the United States. The firm, Qi Biodesign, is a company that makes genetically engineered soybean seeds and was prioritized for USDA regulatory approval ahead of many American agricultural companies that currently face extensive delays.
Select Committee Members Neal Dunn (R-FL), Dusty Johnson (SD), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), and Ben Cline (R-VA) joined the letter.
Read the lawmakers' letter to the FDA HERE.
In a mark up on Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Protecting American Innovation and Development (PAID) Act (H.R. 8924), led by Chairman Moolenaar and Representative Young Kim (R-CA), who serves as Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. This bill exposes foreign adversaries stealing U.S. intellectual property (IP) and trade secrets of dual-use technologies critical to national security.
“It is the Chinese Communist Party’s playbook to steal our technology and leave our industry high and dry. We must push back against CCP IP theft and support the ingenuity of American tech companies. I’m encouraged that the PAID Act passed in the House Foreign Affairs Committee and eagerly await its passage in Congress," said Chairman Moolenaar.
“We must expose authoritarian regimes like the CCP who steals up to $600 billion worth of U.S. intellectual property and trade secrets each year. The PAID Act does exactly that, so we can hold bad actors accountable,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I thank my House Foreign Affairs Committee colleagues for supporting this commonsense bill to protect U.S. competitiveness and our national security.”
The PAID Act would require the Secretary of Commerce to identify and report on foreign adversary entities, including those affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Russia, North Korea, and Iran, using American IP related to a critical or emerging technology area, including hypersonic systems, artificial intelligence, and space technology, without a license. Watch Rep. Kim speak in favor the PAID Act during the markup HERE.
Full bill text can be found HERE.
On Thursday, Chairman Moolenaar and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi released the below statement following the Washington Summit Declaration issued by the NATO allies condemning the Chinese Communist Party for its support of Russia's war in Ukraine:
“Founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law, for 75 years, NATO has been a source of peace and stability across the world. Established to advance the collective defense of likeminded nations against Soviet aggression, today those nations and their shared principles are under threat from a new authoritarian adversary--the Chinese Communist Party. NATO’s call today for the Chinese Communist Party to end its backing for Russia while reaffirming the alliance’s support for Ukraine is an important step forward for regional and global security as well as a recognition of the relevance of the Indo-Pacific to the security of NATO’s member states. To build on this progress and further strengthen international security, the alliance should open additional liaison offices in the Indo-Pacific, including in Tokyo, while incorporating the Philippines and other partners from the region in future NATO summits. NATO has been crucial for safeguarding international security for 75 years and will be vital in doing the same for many years to come.”
On Tuesday, Chairman Moolenaar released the below statement following the recent announcement by the Treasury Department that it would expand Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) coverage of real estate transactions near military installations:
"I welcome the Department of the Treasury’s addition of over fifty military installations to be covered under CFIUS regulations. Treasury’s first move under this expanded authority should be to deny the land purchase by CCP-backed firm Gotion, which is within 100 miles of the newly added Camp Grayling. This is also another sign that state and local leaders should withdraw their support for Gotion as well. While Treasury’s announcement is a good step, this new regulation still allows foreign adversaries to purchase American land without mandatory national security vetting, continuing to leave our military facilities susceptible to surveillance. Congress needs to close this gaping loophole to protect American national security.”
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