Kinzinger again seeks consumer protections from foreign imports

Two pieces of legislation authored and reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) would call for greater transparency about products coming into America from originating countries like China and Russia.

“I’m proud to reintroduce these two pieces of legislation that will better protect American lives impacted by the disingenuous, malign behavior of the Communist Party of China and other bad actors around the world,” Rep. Kinzinger said on Tuesday. 

Requiring more transparency about the products Americans download or buy online would allow them to make informed choices and weigh the privacy or safety risks, said the congressman, who added, “It’s our duty to protect American innovators and consumers alike from these threats.”

Rep. Kinzinger on June 17 sponsored the Internet Application Integrity and Disclosure Act, H.R. 4000, which would require websites or persons that sell or distribute apps owned by the Communist Party of China (CCP) or any non-state-owned entity in China to be clearly labeled as such and then enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

“As we’ve seen over the last year, the Communist Party of China has further encroached on the American way of life and we have to put a stop to it,” said Rep. Kinzinger, who serves on the congressional House China Task Force. “China’s involvement in (and consolidation of) so many supply chains has evolved from an economic challenge to a grave national security threat.”

The congressman last week also introduced the Online Retailer Product Origin Disclosure Act, H.R. 4001, which would require online retailers to prominently disclose product country-of-origin information, according to the congressional record bill summary.

“Strong American leadership is critically needed for our economic growth and global security,” Rep. Kinzinger said. “With our abundant resources and ingenuity, we must do more to foster this innovation in our technology and manufacturing while ensuring that our networks and supply chains are strong and secure.”

Rep. Kinzinger originally introduced similar bills in May 2020 — H.R. 6941 and H.R. 6942 — but both measures stalled in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.