On Wednesday, December 10, the United States House of Representatives passed the “SHIELD Against CCP Act”, calling for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a task force to address the threats posed by the Chinese Communist regime to American national security.
The bill, presented by Representative Dale Strong of the House Committee on Homeland Security, aims to prioritize, monitor, and actively counter Beijing’s efforts to undermine U.S. sovereignty, threaten American innovation, and spread its malicious influence even within American communities.
Among the co-sponsors of the bill are Chairman Mark E. Green of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman Clay Higgins of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, Chairman Anthony D’Esposito and Vice Chairman Michael Guest of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, Representative Tom Suozzi, and Vice Chairman Vern Buchanan of the Fundraising Committee.
Chairman Green expressed satisfaction with the bipartisan recognition of the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to national security, emphasizing the importance of the “SHIELD Against CCP Act” in ensuring the Department of Homeland Security proactively tackles these threats.
Representative Strong highlighted that China has been one of the biggest threats to the country, taking advantage of the loopholes in the Biden administration’s open-border policies in the past four years. He emphasized the necessity of a specialized team within the Department of Homeland Security to combat this threat effectively.
Representative Suozzi noted that China’s attempts to weaken democratic systems, target critical infrastructure, and interfere in elections have prompted a strong bipartisan response in Congress to protect the U.S. from Chinese aggression. He commended Representative Strong for initiating the bill.
Introduced by Representative Strong in September of this year, the bill unanimously passed through the House Committee on Homeland Security.
According to the legislation, the newly established task force within the Department of Homeland Security will be responsible for reviewing, assessing, and reporting on the department’s efforts to counter the threats posed by China.
These threats include non-traditional strategies employed by the Chinese Communist regime through identity theft, immigration and non-immigrant visa procedures, illegal border crossings, predatory economic practices, and actions aimed at undermining the U.S. immigration system.
The bill also mandates the task force to submit an annual report and briefing to Congress for the next five years, evaluating these threats and identifying policy loopholes to enhance inter-agency collaboration for more effective responses to Chinese threats to national security.
In a speech before the vote on Tuesday evening, Representative Strong emphasized the imperative to ensure the safety and well-being of the nation, chastising the increasing aggressiveness and influence of China on the global stage.
Representative Suozzi remarked that China’s efforts to stoke extreme partisanship in cultural and political debates across the U.S. have been instrumental in dividing American society, underscoring the importance of bipartisan legislation as a robust response to such tactics.
Before the vote, Representative Brian Mast, speaking to New Tang Dynasty Television (NTD), articulated that the Chinese regime’s relentless efforts to undermine the U.S. necessitate the “SHIELD Against CCP Act” as critical guidance for enhancing national security. Mast highlighted China’s ambitions to export their communist ideology globally to advance their interests at any cost.