WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), John Fetterman (D-PA), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the SHIELD Against CCP Act, which would create a dedicated working group at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP):

“To effectively counter China, the U.S. must target them from all angles and through all agencies,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This widely supported, commonsense legislation would allow the Department of Homeland Security to arm itself with the tools to protect our sovereignty against the CCP’s malign influence.”

“The CCP controls everything that happens in China and they will cheat, steal, and poison our communities if it helps them get ahead. They supply the chemicals behind the fentanyl claiming Pennsylvanian lives, rig our immigration rules, and rip off ideas from American companies. Enough is enough,” said Sen. Fetterman. “I’m teaming up with Senators Cornyn, Gallego, and Lankford on the SHIELD Against CCP Act to make sure DHS has the muscle to punch back and keep our people safe.”

“The Chinese Communist Party threatens our sovereignty—whether it’s flooding our border with illegal immigrants, launching cyberattacks, or pushing deadly fentanyl into our communities,” said Sen. Lankford. “The SHIELD Against CCP Act provides the Department of Homeland Security with the necessary tools to address these challenges directly, safeguard our borders, and protect the American people.”

“Fentanyl has devastated communities across Arizona for too long, and we need to use every tool available to stop the flow of this deadly drug into our country,” said Sen. Gallego. “This bipartisan bill will help DHS understand how the Chinese Communist Party is exploiting our border and fueling fentanyl trafficking, so we can close those gaps and keep our communities safe.”

Companion legislation, led by Congressmen Dale Strong (AL-05) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03), overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives 409-4.

Background:

The SHIELD Against CCP Act would establish a working group within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to:

• Examine, assess, and report on efforts by DHS to counter terrorist, cybersecurity, border and port security, and transportation security threats posed to the U.S. by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including:
  • Exploitation of the U.S. immigration system through identify theft, visa processes, unlawful border crossings, human smuggling, and human trafficking;
  • Predatory economic and trade practices, including trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods, use of forced labor, customs fraud, and IP theft;
  • Direct or indirect support of Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) trafficking fentanyl, illicit drug precursors, and other controlled substances through the US border, international mail shipments, or express consignment operations;
  • And support for illicit financial activity by Chinese Money Laundering Organizations.
• Review information gathered by federal, state, and local law enforcement relating to threats, and disseminate such information to relevant authorities;
• Submit an annual report on its activities to the Homeland Security, Finance, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, and Banking Committees;
• And sunset seven years post-establishment.

The bill would also require DHS Science and Technology Directorate to research technologies and techniques to enhance DHS’s security and situational awareness related to countering threats posed to the U.S. by the CCP.

The SHIELD Against CCP Act is endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), National Border Patrol Council, National Fusion Center Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, and National HIDTA Director’s Association (NHDA).