Should Congress revoke funding from entities working with Chinese biotechnology companies?
The bill prohibits entities that receive federal funds from using biotechnology products or services from biotechnology companies of concern linked to foreign adversaries. A biotechnology company of concern is defined as an entity that is under the control of a foreign adversary and that poses a risk to national security based on its research or data collection, or is one of the following five companies: BGI, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, and WuXi Biologics. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in coordination with the Department of Defense (DOD), must compile a list of prohibited companies. Waivers may be granted for up to one year with a possible extension. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence must report on the risks posed by biotechnology companies and foreign adversaries collecting data. Sponsor: Rep. Brad Wenstrup (Republican, Ohio, District 2)
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Opponents say
• "First, naming specific companies will create a “whack-a-mole” situation where entities can change their name and reincorporate to evade sanctions. Second, it’s totally wrong to call out specific companies without any formal investigation or interagency process—that might be how they do things in the PRC, but this is the United States of America where we ought to have a thorough, independent investigation. Finally, a bill of this magnitude should have gone through the Rules Committee, where we could have worked to amend it to fix these problems and make it a better bill." Rep. Jim McGovern (Democrat, Massachusetts, District 2)
• "BGI fully embraces the bill's premise of protecting Americans' personal data. Unfortunately, this legislation will succeed only in driving BGI out of the US and will not accomplish its stated goal. Rather, the bill will further strengthen the effective market monopoly held by one company that controls more than 90 percent of the market, resulting in increased healthcare costs and limited access to technologies and services." Source: BGI Group, Chinese genomics company
• "This seems more like politics rather than about a security threat. We just came out of pandemic nightmare, healthcare costs are becoming unbearable to both government and public alike. My position is if you want to play politics, play politics in other industries like the automotive, electronics or telecommunications industries. Don’t play politics in healthcare where so many people are in dire need. Let science evolve and advance - wherever it comes from." Source: Umar Hayat, Chief Technology Officer of US company Gladius Therapeutics
Proponents say
• "As a physician, retired Army Reserve colonel, and member of the Intelligence Committee, I believe it is incredibly important we protect American patients, hospital systems, and the U.S. biotechnology industry from exploitation by foreign adversaries like China. This is particularly important in light of China's publicly stated desire to dominate the global biotechnology market by 2035 and the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing denial and coverup on the origins of the COVID-19 virus in Wuhan. For too long, U.S. policy failed to recognize the twin economic and national security threats posed by China's domination of particular markets and supply chains, all too clearly highlighted during the pandemic. U.S. supply chains must break free from our dependency on foreign adversaries – American patients cannot be in a position where we rely on China for genomic testing or basic pharmaceutical ingredients." Source: Rep. Brad Wenstrup (Republican, Ohio, District 2), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic
• "As Americans have their blood drawn or take other medical tests each day, few have any idea that their personal genetic information could be going to biotech companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and other adversaries that would weaponize our own genomes against us. From DNA testing to a range of other diagnostic tools, biotechnology is only growing in importance, but it is essential that Americans reap those health benefits without our country’s adversaries harvesting our genetic information for their own ends. Our bipartisan legislation would reduce this threat by preventing the flow of taxpayer dollars to biotech entities controlled by foreign adversaries, protecting the personal genetic information of Americans along with our national security." Source: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat, Illinois, District 8), House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Ranking Member
• "For the last year, the Select Committee has worked across Congress to produce solutions that protect our nation’s pharmaceutical supply chains and Americans’ personal health data from Chinese Communist Party exploitation. I am proud to support the BIOSECURE Act and thank Congressman Wenstrup and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi for their leadership in ensuring America’s advantage in health care innovation." Source: Rep. John Moolenaar (Republican, Michigan, District 2), House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Chairman
