The House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the SHIELD Against CCP Act in a vote on December 10th. The bill, available for viewing here, establishes a new working group within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to monitor national security threats linked to the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Known as the “Strategic Homeland Intelligence and Enforcement Legislation to Defend Against the CCP Act,” the bill mandates the DHS working group to analyze how the CCP might exploit vulnerabilities in U.S. border security, ports, transportation, and cyber infrastructure. Additionally, the group will investigate how the CCP leverages economic and trade policies to undermine the United States.
In addition to pinpointing vulnerabilities, the bill assigns the working group the task of identifying policy gaps and promoting inter-department collaboration to enhance the DHS’s ability to counter the threats posed by the CCP to U.S. national security.
With a vote of 409–4, House lawmakers suspended the House rules to pass the bill, requiring a two-thirds majority for approval. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Ala.), the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the importance of safeguarding the nation against China’s growing influence and aggression in a speech preceding the vote.
Collaborating with Strong on the bill, Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) highlighted that the bipartisan effort signifies a crucial rejection of the CCP. Suozzi noted that the CCP exacerbates divisions in the U.S. by exploiting cultural and political differences, making bipartisan legislation a vital response.
Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) stressed that China’s communist regime aims to weaken the U.S. through any means possible, underscoring the bill’s value in enhancing national security. Mast warned of China’s global ambitions to spread communism and expressed concerns about alliances with nations like Iran working against U.S. interests.
Some lawmakers criticized the bill for proposing a working group that the DHS should have established already. Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) highlighted that the focus on CCP threats is appropriate for the DHS but should have been initiated independently of legislative action.
The bill’s passage in the House occurred close to the end of the legislative calendar, with uncertainty surrounding the government funding expiration on December 20. It remains to be seen if the Senate will have the opportunity to pass the SHIELD Against CCP Act before the current session of Congress concludes on January 3, 2025.
Melina Wisecup provided contributions to this report. Please rewrite the following sentence:
“The dog ran quickly through the park.”
“The speedy dog dashed through the park.”
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