House Republican leaders are preparing to hold votes early next month on a series of legislative measures aimed at curbing business engagements with Chinese companies, including a major proposal that would prohibit federal contractors from doing business with five prominent Chinese biotechnology firms, Bloomberg reports.
In an email sent to Republican congressional offices Thursday, party leadership indicated that lawmakers should anticipate House votes on the Biosecure Act and other related legislation upon their return from summer recess on September 9.
In a speech last month, Speaker Mike Johnson underscored the potential risks associated with business relationships between federal contractors and Chinese biotech companies, stating that such ties could leave contractors “beholden” to a US adversary and endanger the health care data of American citizens.
Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed growing concerns about the economic and national security threats posed by China, culminating in bipartisan support for the Biosecure Act. The legislation passed the House Oversight Committee with an overwhelming vote of 40-1 in May and initially targets five companies: BGI Group, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, and WuXi Biologics. Bloomberg Intelligence has rated the outlook for the bill’s passage as high, given the strong backing it receives in both the House and Senate.
However, Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, has indicated that he may obstruct the fast-tracking of the legislation, stating he would block its quick passage. His opposition could delay or complicate efforts to approve the measure, unless Senate Democrats prioritize it and allocate significant floor time to the debate. There are discussions about attaching the bill to the Senate’s annual defense policy legislation as a potential strategy to ensure its passage.
Supporters of the Biosecure Act argue that Chinese companies could dominate the biotech industry, raising concerns over both national security and economic stability, and assert that American taxpayer dollars should not contribute to the growth of Chinese technology firms.
In contrast, the targeted companies maintain that they pose no national security risk and are dedicated to advancing health innovation.
Additionally, lawmakers were informed to expect votes on other proposals restricting business engagements with Chinese companies, including those addressing the supply chain for electric vehicles.
Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation that was signed into law by President Joe Biden, which bans TikTok unless its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance Ltd., divests from the platform.
