Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) Friday announced the reintroduction of the Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act, a bill aimed at reinstating President Trump’s Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Initiative under the Department of Justice.
The legislation seeks to counter espionage efforts targeting U.S. intellectual property, academic institutions, and critical infrastructure, and to safeguard American trade secrets and supply chains from foreign interference.
Scott criticized the Biden administration for rolling back measures designed to protect U.S. interests from Chinese espionage.
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“The Chinese Communist Party is one of the greatest threats to America’s national security and way of life as it seeks global domination by any means necessary,” Scott said. “President Joe Biden recklessly ended the China Initiative that President Trump established during his first term, turning a blind eye as Communist China committed at least 60 known cases of espionage on the United States and our citizens. Now, President Trump is back in action to hold Communist China fully accountable for its exploitation of the United States. Our bill will bring back the successful CCP Initiative to help President Trump face this threat head-on and Make America Safe Again.”
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What the Bill Does
Establishment of the CCP Initiative: The bill directs the Department of Justice’s National Security Division to create a dedicated CCP Initiative to counter threats posed by Chinese espionage and interference.
Enhanced Enforcement: The initiative will target trade secret theft, economic espionage, and cyberattacks perpetrated by CCP-affiliated entities, including Chinese companies engaging in unfair competition, while also scrutinizing their investments in the United States.
Strengthened Regulatory Oversight: The legislation aims to bolster the enforcement of Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regulations, particularly concerning Chinese investments, by working in tandem with the Department of Transportation to implement amendments from the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act.
Interagency Coordination: The bill mandates close collaboration among the DOJ, the FBI, and other federal agencies to ensure a unified effort in protecting American infrastructure, technology, and supply chains from foreign threats.
Dedicated Resources and Independence: The CCP Initiative will operate with its own dedicated resources and remain distinct from other national security programs within the DOJ, allowing for a specialized focus on CCP-related risks.
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Congressman Lance Gooden (R-Texas) also voiced strong support for the bill. “The CCP has stolen from our businesses, infiltrated our institutions, and undermined our economy for far too long. This bill will ensure the U.S. government has the resources to expose, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to weaken America. We must act now to defend our economy and national security from China’s aggression,” Gooden said.
The reintroduction of the bill marks a renewed effort by conservative lawmakers to reassert a hardline stance on Chinese espionage and safeguard the nation’s economic and national security interests.
The CCP Initiative’s revival marks a move in Washington’s ongoing chess match with Beijing—one where the stakes, both sides agree, couldn’t be higher.
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