(The Center Square) Several Republican senators introduced new legislation last week that would prevent U.S. taxpayer dollars from going to certain Chinese firms.
It comes as a recent CNN report revealed that major Chinese telecommunications company Huawei could potentially disrupt the communications of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced the Turn Off the Tap Act along with Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.
The bill would stop any federal funds from going to companies that have been blacklisted by the Department of Commerce’s Entity List and the Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List.
“It’s not only dangerous to fund Chinese businesses with American taxpayer dollars, but it’s also dumb,” Rubio said. “This bill would prohibit federal funds from bankrolling Chinese and other firms we know are not acting in our best interest.”
Lawmakers also argued China is taking advantage of the U.S. while not addressing its human rights violations.
“We know Communist China will stop at nothing to try and exploit American markets and take advantage of American businesses operating within the genocidal regime’s borders,” Scott said. “The Turn Off the Tap Act will stop the flow of hardworking Americans’ dollars to countries like Communist China who want to hurt our economy. This legislation is a no-brainer, and I urge the support of my colleagues for its quick passage.”
The federal funding goes to these companies via federal grants or contracts which, aside from the national security concerns, threatens American businesses since Chinese companies have a history of predatory investment and stealing U.S. intellectual property.
Experts say Chinese companies often use cultural-exchange programs or shell companies to access U.S. investment.
“It is unconscionable that the Biden administration has enabled the Chinese Communist Party to rake in cash from American taxpayers,” Blackburn said.
“Rather than letting Joe Biden award grants or sign federal contracts that undermine the United States, I am cosponsoring legislation to cut our adversaries off,” she added. “The White House needs to stop emboldening the New Axis of Evil and start putting America first.”
Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., introduced companion legislation in the House with the same goal.
“The American people’s tax dollars should not be invested in blacklisted Chinese companies,” she said. “Yet today, because of weak policies in Washington, they continue to be. It’s time we cut off the tap.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s predatory trade policies, significant human rights abuses, and threats to American security are absolutely unacceptable.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced a similar bill Monday, the Time to Choose Act, which would “prohibit the Department of Defense and other federal agencies from contracting with consulting firms like McKinsey & Company who are simultaneously providing services to the Chinese government or its affiliates.”
Hawley said, “The fact that these consultants are awarded huge contracts by our Defense Department and other federal agencies, while they are simultaneously working to advance China’s efforts to coerce the United States is appalling and completely unacceptable. It is well past time that we hold these companies accountable and prohibit this kind of conflict of interest in government contracting.”
