New legislation introduced in Congress hopes to stop an ongoing communist Chinese plan to influence and control U.S. policy by paying former American political appointees to lobby on their behalf.
The Cutting-off Communist Profiteers (CCP) Act (S. 442), introduced by U.S. Senators John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Mike Braun, R-Ind., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn. and Katie Britt, R-Ala., prohibits any U.S. political appointees from “knowingly representing, aiding, or advising” the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese military companies or any entity knowingly receiving any assistance from the Government of China or the Chinese Communist Party.”
Violations of the act could be punished with one to five years of imprisonment and civil penalties of as much as $50,000 for each violation.
As part of its lobbying efforts, communist China and communist Chinese companies have paid American lobbying firms millions of dollars to represent their interests before Congress. Many of these paid lobbyists are former U.S. government officials and political appointees.
Such representation is legal under the 1938 Foreign Agents Registration Act, provided those representing foreign interests register and disclose their lobbying. Such disclosures, which list the foreign interest represented and the amount paid, are publicly-available through the Justice Department.
“China has proven time and time again that it will stop at nothing to be the dominant world power. This includes using former American government officials as pawns to advance the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). At a time when the CCP is more emboldened than ever, we must do everything possible to protect our national security,” said Barrasso. “American political appointees should not be allowed to cash in their government secrets for a job with a Chinese company. The CCP Act will safeguard our national security by banning these government workers from going to work for Chinese companies.”
“If the American people have learned anything during the last week, it’s that the Chinese Communist Party cannot be trusted. Political appointees serving in presidential administrations have access to some of the most sensitive information and should never work on behalf of our adversaries,” said Lummis. “I’m proud to join my friend Senator Barrasso in introducing this commonsense bill to prevent appointees from knowingly representing or aiding the CCP.”
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the Chinese Communist Party is the greatest international threat to American sovereignty,” said Braun. “No American political appointee should ever be compromised by China — which is why I’m proud to support this bill that will help protect our nation from the influence of the CCP.”
“Far too often, political appointees misuse their previous U.S. government service to the American people to turn around and lobby for the Chinese Communist Party,” said Hagerty. “That’s why I am pleased to join Senator Barrasso’s principled legislation to put an end to this practice for good.”
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
READ NEXT: Video Shows Nancy Pelosi’s Daughter Downplaying Jan. 6 Riot to Defendant
Oh, come on, what a lame story, not only is the CCP bribing former federal officials, but they are also bribing the current criminal president and congress members! And the corrupted DOJ & FBI know it. How many whistle blowers have to come forward and why isn’t the Hunter Biden laptop information headline news?
The citizens of this nation are in deep trouble, and all with the court’s blessings! Hide your children from this government!
All of DC is in Chinas pocket
Ni hao ma, Chao Bai Deng (Brandon)?
All for this legislation. Make sure it has teeth.
Lobbying is a racket and should have been banned long ago. As for foreign companies why are they influencing congress at all? This law should ban all of them!! If I recall Ukraine did some paying off to the V.P.’s son and no one did anything so ….look how that’s ended up.