Washington DC – Today’s Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) He led the House Energy and Commerce Committee in unanimously passing two bills to protect America’s data and national security from foreign adversaries:
- of Act to protect Americans from regulatory applications by foreign adversaries (HR 7521) This will protect Americans and prevent foreign adversaries like China from targeting, monitoring, and manipulating American citizens through online applications like TikTok.
- of Laws that protect Americans’ data from foreign adversaries (HR 7520) was led by Chairman Rogers with Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) to limit how data brokers can share sensitive information about Americans abroad.
Note: Both the Biden administration and House Speaker Mike Johnson have expressed support for HR7521, and the bipartisan bill will be voted on in the House at a date to be announced.
During today’s full committee markup, Chairman Rogers made the following prepared remarks:
“Earlier today, we heard from members of the intelligence community about the dangers posed by applications like TikTok that are controlled by foreign adversaries and determined to exploit and weaponize Americans’ data. I did.
“We also witnessed firsthand in real time how the Chinese Communist Party can weaponize platforms like TikTok to manipulate the American people.
“This morning, ahead of our hearing, TikTok used its influence and power to force users to contact their representatives if they wish to continue using TikTok. These are just some of the ways they can weaponize the applications they control and manipulate tens of millions of people to further their agenda.
“These applications pose a clear national security threat to the United States and require decisive action that we must take today.
“First, we will consider HR 7521, the Protecting Americans from Applications Controlled by a Foreign Adversary. Ban applications that pose security risks.
“We also supported the Protection of Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024, led by Ranking Member Frank Pallone, which would prevent data brokers from sharing Americans’ sensitive information with foreign adversaries. We will also consider certain HR 7520.”
Apps controlled by foreign adversaries
“Foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party pose the greatest national security threat of our time. Our adversaries are actively working to undermine America’s global leadership.
“The core of HR 7521 is to prohibit foreign adversaries such as China from targeting, monitoring, and manipulating American citizens through apps like TikTok.
“This bill takes a two-pronged approach. First, it requires ByteDance to sell TikTok and other applications it controls within 180 days of enactment, or Those applications would be banned in the US.
“Second, this bill creates a narrow process that allows the executive branch to prohibit access to applications owned by foreign adversaries if they pose a threat to national security.
“This is not a blank check for the Biden administration, or any future administration, to ban any app they want.
“National security agencies and executive branch agencies, including the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, must agree that applications controlled by foreign adversaries pose a threat to national security.
“Threats to national security must be well documented. The public must be notified. And that information must be submitted to Congress, at which point the president It could decide to sell applications controlled by an adversary or face a U.S. ban.
“This ban applies only to applications controlled by ‘foreign adversaries,’ which the bill defines as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.”
divestment
“In all of these cases, there is an option that a divestment occurs. If ByteDance sells TikTok, meaning the Chinese Communist Party no longer controls the application, TikTok could continue to operate in the United States.
“Chinese Communist Party-controlled TikTok claimed the bill was a “total ban.”
“it’s not.
“We gave TikTok a clear choice: continue operating in the United States, separated from its parent company, which is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party, or stand with the Chinese Communist Party and face a ban.
“The choice is theirs.”
data broker
“Today, we will also consider HR 7520, the Americans’ Data Protection from Foreign Enemies Act of 2024.
“Data brokers collect an astonishing amount of sensitive information and data about Americans, from people’s physical and mental health to when and where they travel. Once this sensitive information is collected, will be sold to the highest bidder, including foreign adversaries such as
“We appreciate Ranking Member Pallone’s leadership on this bill that would prevent data brokers from sharing Americans’ sensitive information with foreign adversaries and the companies they control.
“This complements our continued efforts to establish comprehensive data privacy standards to effectively police the misuse of Americans’ personal information.”
american values
“Today, we are taking long-overdue steps to protect Americans from the threats posed by apps controlled by our adversaries and to send a very clear message that America will always defend our values and freedoms. This will be the first step in enacting the new law.
“We will not allow the continued targeting, surveillance, and manipulation of American citizens through applications controlled by foreign adversaries.
“To everyone who worked in a bipartisan manner to get us here today, including Senior Commissioner Pallone, Chairman of the Communist Party of China Select Committee on China Mike Gallagher, and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthy. appreciate.”
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