Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan BIOSECURE Act, a bill to ensure American patient data and taxpayer dollars do not fall into the hands of foreign adversaries' biotechnology companies of concern by prohibiting Federal contracting with these companies. This legislation builds on earlier efforts in the 118th Congress.

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) national security laws require all Chinese firms to share any requested data with the CCP, including biotechnology companies that collect, test, and store American genomic data. Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), a company in the People's Republic of China (PRC), has collected DNA from millions around the world and used that data without consent on genomic projects conducted by the Chinese military. Chinese company WuXi AppTec has sponsored events with China's military, reportedly stolen U.S. IP, and jointly operated genetic collection sites with China's military. Chinese biotechnology companies also have alarming ties to the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.

Why BIOSECURE Matters Now:

1. Wuxi AppTec makes over 60% of their revenue from the U.S. market, meaning U.S. consumers are directly facilitating the success of a company that poses a risk to our national security. 
2. BGI operates over 100 genetic collection laboratories in over 20 countries, infrastructure that the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission declared was providing "genetic data to serve PRC ambitions to dominate biotech."
3. BGI used a pre-natal test to harvest the genetic data of over 8 million pregnant women in Europe, without notifying them their data was going to the PRC. This data would later be used to conduct research with the People’s Liberation Army.

Original co-sponsors include: Reps. John Moolenaar (R-MI), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Don Davis (D-NC).

"As a physician, retired Army Reserve colonel, and member of the Intelligence Committee, I believe it is incredibly important we protect American patients, hospital systems, and the U.S. biotechnology industry from exploitation by foreign adversaries like China. This is particularly important in light of China's publicly stated desire to dominate the global biotechnology market by 2035 and the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing denial and coverup on the origins of the COVID-19 virus in Wuhan. For too long, U.S. policy failed to recognize the twin economic and national security threats posed by China's domination of particular markets and supply chains, all too clearly highlighted during the pandemic," said Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. "U.S. supply chains must break free from our dependency on foreign adversaries – American patients cannot be in a position where we rely on China for genomic testing or basic pharmaceutical ingredients. The BIOSECURE Act is the first step in what I hope will be a multi-faceted approach this Congress to fortify our national health security. I look forward to working with my colleagues to bolster American medical manufacturing capacity and ensure our supply chains are free of interference and manipulation by countries that wish to do us harm."

“As Americans have their blood drawn or take other medical tests each day, few have any idea that their personal genetic information could be going to biotech companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and other adversaries that would weaponize our own genomes against us,” said House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi. “From DNA testing to a range of other diagnostic tools, biotechnology is only growing in importance, but it is essential that Americans reap those health benefits without our country’s adversaries harvesting our genetic information for their own ends. Our bipartisan legislation would reduce this threat by preventing the flow of taxpayer dollars to biotech entities controlled by foreign adversaries, protecting the personal genetic information of Americans along with our national security.”

“For the last year, the Select Committee has worked across Congress to produce solutions that protect our nation’s pharmaceutical supply chains and Americans’ personal health data from Chinese Communist Party exploitation. I am proud to support the BIOSECURE Act and thank Congressman Wenstrup and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi for their leadership in ensuring America’s advantage in health care innovation," said House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar.

Background:

Beijing Genomics Institute, now known as “BGI” is a PRC “national champion” biotechnology company that collects, stores, and analyzes DNA and other genomic information from people in the United States and around the world. BGI has engaged in the illicit collection of pregnant women’s DNA and conducted research with the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) People’s Liberation Army. The U.S. government has placed export control restrictions on BGI for its involvement in the genetic tracking of ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region where the CCP is conducting genocide against the Uyghur people. Beijing uses BGI as a strategic and diplomatic tool overseas, recruit foreign talent, and amass foreign genomic data. BGI is rapidly making inroads in the U.S. market after gaining access in August 2022, after years of litigation over theft of U.S intellectual property.

The text of BIOSECURE Act as introduced can be found here.

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