U.S. Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and John Moolenaar (R-MI) on May 10 proposed a bipartisan bill to prohibit federal contracting with biotechnology providers owned by foreign adversaries of the United States, including the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“I believe it is incredibly important we protect American patients, hospital systems, and the U.S. biotechnology industry from exploitation by foreign adversaries like China,” said Rep. Wenstrup, who sponsored the BIOSECURE Act, H.R. 8333, with seven original cosponsors, including Rep. Moolenaar and lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).
“This is particularly important in light of China’s publicly stated desire to dominate the global biotechnology market by 2035 and the [CCP’s] ongoing denial and coverup on the origins of the COVID-19 virus in Wuhan,” added Rep. Wenstrup, chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
If enacted, H.R. 8333 would prohibit the head of an executive agency to procure or obtain any biotechnology equipment or service produced or provided by a biotech company of concern, according to the bill’s text.
Specifically, the measure would prohibit an agency’s leader from entering into a contract or extending or renewing a contract with any entity that uses biotech equipment or services produced or provided by a biotech company of concern, or from entering into any contract the performance of which such entity knows or has reason to believe will require the use of biotech equipment or services produced or provided by a biotech company of concern, the text says.
“For too long, U.S. policy failed to recognize the twin economic and national security threats posed by China’s domination of particular markets and supply chains, all too clearly highlighted during the pandemic,” Rep. Wenstrup said. “U.S. supply chains must break free from our dependency on foreign adversaries; American patients cannot be in a position where we rely on China for genomic testing or basic pharmaceutical ingredients.
“The BIOSECURE Act is the first step in what I hope will be a multi-faceted approach by this Congress to fortify our national health security,” he added.
Rep. Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, also noted that for the last year, his Select Committee has worked across Congress to produce solutions that protect the nation’s pharmaceutical supply chains and Americans’ personal health data from CCP exploitation.
“I am proud to support the BIOSECURE Act and thank Congressman Wenstrup and [House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party] Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi for their leadership in ensuring America’s advantage in health care innovation,” said Rep. Moolenaar.
H.R. 8333 has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the U.S. House Intelligence Committee.