Yakima Times

Over the past two years, a member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has highlighted concerns about the CCP's influence in American institutions. The committee has identified several actions by the CCP that threaten national security, including land purchases near sensitive sites and involvement in the illicit fentanyl trade.

In response to these findings, over twenty-five pieces of legislation have been passed by the House of Representatives to protect military, economic, ideological, and technological interests. This includes a bill aimed at safeguarding American agricultural land. Other legislative measures originated from policy recommendations developed by the Select Committee.

Efforts to secure supply chains are also underway. Legislation such as the BIOSECURE Act aims to prevent U.S. companies from using biotechnology linked to foreign adversaries like the CCP. Additional bills include the End Chinese Dominance of Electric Vehicles in America Act and the Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act, which seek to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled supply chains.

Concerns about CCP investment in U.S. agricultural land have led to the passage of the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act. This bill adds oversight by requiring reports on transactions that could pose national security threats.

To address control over critical mineral resources essential for electric vehicles and lithium batteries, new legislation has been introduced to promote U.S.-based production. The Securing America’s Midstream Critical Materials Processing Act aims to relocate critical material processing back to American soil and streamline permitting processes.

The member emphasizes that "the CCP’s campaign of malign influence poses a direct threat" and calls for decisive action to decouple supply chains from reliance on adversaries.