Senate Homeland Security Advances Bills Targeting Chinese Threats

The Senate Homeland Security Committee advanced two bills by voice vote Wednesday targeting tech threats from China. One seeks to address Chinese theft of American research and intellectual property, and the other would ban federal employees from using the social media app TikTok on government-issued devices.

Senate Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and ranking member Tom Carper, D-Del., led introduction of the Safeguarding American Innovation Act. S-3997 seeks to punish groups and individuals “who intentionally fail to disclose foreign support on federal grant applications” with fines and imprisonment. It would amend State Department authorities and student exchange programs to safeguard against unauthorized access to sensitive technologies and research.

The subcommittee led a yearlong investigation and released a report about Chinese research theft, which led to several arrests of individuals who worked at American universities and institutions. The bill targets individuals who receive American taxpayer research dollars and use it for China’s benefit, Portman said. The U.S. has been blind to Chinese theft inside American universities and research institutions for some 20 years, said Portman: “It’s helped fuel the rise of the Chinese military. ... Our research institutions are not just naive about this. They sometimes want to look the other way.”

The bill is meant to slow and stop research theft, Carper said, noting the legislation isn’t a perfect solution. Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., credited the subcommittee for its work on a “really big problem that needs to be addressed.”

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., applauded passage, saying it will “ensure there is adequate transparency and reporting requirements for academic research funded by foreign entities.” Congress "must take action to address the Chinese government and Communist Party’s ongoing efforts to undermine American industry and technological advancement with their systematic attempts to steal U.S. intellectual property and trade secrets,” Rubio said.

The committee advanced the No Tik Tok on Government Devices Act. Introduced by Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., S-3455 would prohibit federal employees from using the social media video application TikTok on government-issued devices. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo. introduced companion legislation, which the House voted in favor of as a National Defense Authorization Act amendment. Discussion at Wednesday’s markup focused on the Safeguarding American Innovation Act and other matters.