This week, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., brought back a proposal to cut down on Chinese espionage.
Back in November, Steube introduced the “Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Visa Disclosure Act,” a bill “which would require aliens applying for certain United States visas to disclose if they receive funds from the Government of the People’s Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.”
Steube offered some of the rationales behind the proposal when he introduced it.
“From using apps like TikTok to bankrolling Communist agents’ visa applications, it is clear that the Chinese Communist Party poses a dire threat to our intellectual property, personal information, and national security,” Steube said. “While my Democrat colleagues fail to address the national security risk from those entering our country with malicious intentions, I am committed to holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable and blocking their espionage tactics.”
Steube weighed in on Tuesday on why he reintroduced the proposal.
“As part of their ongoing efforts to spy on Americans, the Chinese Communist Party has been manipulating our student visa system to infiltrate our universities and steal our data,” Steube said. “By closing this dangerous loophole in our immigration system, this legislation will thwart the CCP’s dire threats to our intellectual property, personal information and national security.”
Steube reeled in eight Republican cosponsors including U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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