Senators Fetterman, Cornyn, Lankford, Gallego Introduce Legislation to Address Threats from Chinese Communist Party

Washington, D.C.– This week, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), John Cornyn (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced theSHIELD 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).
“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 Senator Fetterman.“I’m teaming up with Senators Cornyn, Gallego, and Lankford on theSHIELD Against CCP Actto make sure DHS has the muscle to punch back and keep our people safe.”
“To effectively counter China, the U.S. must target them from all angles and through all agencies,”said Senator 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 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 Senator Lankford.“TheSHIELD Against CCP Actprovides 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 Senator 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 (R-AL-05) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives 409-4.
Background:

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 Actis 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).