WASHINGTON—Heritage Action, a conservative grassroots organization with two million activists nationwide, today announced the launch of a new website and resource bank to give elected officials, activists, and all Americans tools to combat the growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The website, CounterTheCCP.com, has model legislation for lawmakers to push back against China’s dangerous influence and information from leading experts to help all Americans fight back.
Heritage Action Executive Vice President Ryan Walker released the following statement commending the novel effort:
“To win the new cold war with China, the United States needs a comprehensive strategy. We must defend American investments, data, and supply chains and protect the economic and technological advances that drive our global advantage. CounterTheCCP.com gives lawmakers and all Americans a menu of resources to thwart the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and protect our national and economic security.
“Heritage Action has sounded the alarm on the China threat for years, and we are proud to continue leading this fight alongside grassroots conservatives across the country. We urge elected officials at every level of government to do what it takes to keep Americans safe from our top adversary.”
Jeff M. Smith, the director of the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation, said:
“The Chinese Communist Party has been conducting malign operations inside the U.S. for far too long. The CCP knows there are particular vulnerabilities at the state level and has been working overtime to exploit them. It's great to see Heritage Action mobilize the resources to fight back, offering state lawmakers the resources to evict the CCP from their states and defend the prosperity and security of their citizens.”
China is an existential threat to American jobs, data, farmland energy, and infrastructure. First reported by The Daily Signal, CounterTheCCP.com focuses on three key pillars in the fight against the CCP: Protect American prosperity, defend American privacy, and reduce CCP influence.
Research previously conducted by Heritage Action and The Heritage Foundation Oversight Project revealed a CCP-tied firm, known as Cnano Technology USA Inc., was planning to operate a large manufacturing facility in Johnson County, Kansas near sensitive military sites. Less than a week after the investigation exposed Cnano Technology USA’s CCP ties, the company scrubbed its website of any information relating to them.
States have already begun to restrict CCP influence. Earlier this year, the Utah State Legislature passed HB 404, legislation that protects state technology, systems, and networks from companies affiliated with the CCP. The Arkansas General Assembly passed a similar bill (HB 1789) last year with the help of Heritage Action grassroots. Heritage Action’s lobbying presence in 30 states will continue to focus on legislation designed to protect Americans from the CCP.
In March, both chambers of Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (H.R. 7521) following Heritage Action’s Key Vote in support. This important legislation would make it illegal for an application store or web hosting services to distribute and/or host a foreign-adversary-controlled covered application in the U.S., a crucial step toward limiting the CCP’s influence over American consumers and technology.
In January, Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) introduced the Countering Communist China Act, legislation Heritage Action hailed as necessary to fight back against malign Chinese influence. The legislation has not been considered by the House of Representatives.
BACKGROUND:
Heritage Action: CountertheCCP.com
The Heritage Foundation: China Transparency Report
The Heritage Foundation: Why State Legislatures Must Confront Chinese Infiltration
The Heritage Foundation: Winning the New Cold War: A Plan for Countering China