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Mar 18, 2024
Blog

Chair Rodgers Joins the Fox News Rundown

This weekend, Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined the Fox News Rundown to discuss House passage of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. Highlights and excerpts from the interview: “The choice is TikTok’s. They can either choose to continue to operate under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, because they are owned by ByteDance, or they can choose to divest from ByteDance and the Chinese Communist Party and continue to operate in the United States of America and businesses and individual users can continue to use the app the way that they always have.” “This bill only applies to applications that are subject to the control of specific adversaries that are listed in the bill. We list these foreign adversaries as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.” “TikTok has repeatedly been caught in this lie that it doesn’t answer to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance. We know that TikTok has been used to spy on American journalists. We know that TikTok has been used to surveil American user data.” “[China] has the potential to manipulate people for their own gain.” “Even internal TikTok employee recordings have revealed ‘everything is seen in China.’ We know that we cannot trust China to safeguard our data.” “We have grave concerns about TikTok being owned by a foreign adversary and having this access and what that means to our national security. We’ve been briefed by our national intelligence agencies, and they have impressed upon us that this is a very real threat.” “Immediately after the bill passed, the [leaders] of the [Senate] Intelligence Committee, Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Marco Rubio issued a statement in support [of the bill]. There’s other Senators that are voicing support for the bill and for us taking action.”



Mar 15, 2024
Blog

In the News: E&C Members Lead on Protecting Americans’ Data and National Security

After a unanimous vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee, H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 352 – 65. Following the strong, bipartisan vote, Energy and Commerce Republicans touted the bill’s widespread support. Highlights and excerpt from the interviews: Rep. Latta on NewsNation: “This is something that the House has been working on for over a year. When Mr. Chew [CEO of TikTok] appeared before us in Committee, I asked him if anyone in Communist China could see this data from Americans users of the app. ‘Yes it could be,’ was his response. We’ve also had security briefings. That’s one of the other big concerns here is the national security of the United States and making sure we protect our citizens from the Communist Chinese accessing their information.” […] “TikTok is owned by ByteDance, and under Communist Chinese law, anything that the government wants, if you’re a Chinese company, you have to give it to the government. What we’re saying in the legislation is if ByteDance, which is the parent [company], divests themselves of TikTok, TikTok can still be used here in the United States.” Rep. Walberg on Scripps News: “We’re not attempting to ban TikTok. […] That’s what TikTok wants its users and subscribers to think we’re doing, but it's not true. We have said that TikTok can remain as long as it's not connected to an adversarial country—China, Russia, North Korea, Iran.” […] “For the purposes of national security, we don’t want something like TikTok, with 170 million users, to have access opportunity from the CCP. That’s a dangerous setting. So, we have said we’re not banning. It can continue on, but it cannot be owned by any company that is controlled by the CCP and that’s ByteDance. It is wholly responsible to the CCP and that’s a dangerous thing. Rep. Cammack on America’s Newsroom: “The thing that’s really concerning is that the CCP has come out and said they would rather see us ‘ban’ TikTok than divest. [ByteDance] stands to make billions of dollars through divestment, but instead the Chinese government is more concerned with having unfettered access [to U.S. data].” […] “Just this time last year, the CEO of TikTok told my Committee that they didn’t have access to geolocation data. But, it turns out, they tapped into the geolocation data of their users, and if you were in an Energy and Commerce Committee Member’s district, you couldn’t use the app until you actually called through the app. They say that they don’t [surveil Americans], but we know that they do.” Rep. Pfluger on Yahoo Finance: “The goal here is we want to make sure Americans are safe. We want to make sure that data is safe. We want to make sure that a foreign adversary is not taking advantage of an application and using Americans and our privacy to their advantage.” […] “This is not about content. It’s about conduct. In fact, we hope that the application can actually continue, but it needs to happen with a trusted purchase, and so far the Chinese Communist Party has a direct tie to ByteDance. It’s about the link to a foreign adversary that has control over it. […] It’s about divesting and putting that company and the application in the hands of trusted agents which are either American businesses or friendly countries.” Rep. Carter on The Claman Countdown: “The House of Representatives has spoken. They have said we’re not going to shun our responsibility of protecting our homeland and our citizens. Instead, we’re not going to let a Chinese Communist Party-owned app operate here in America. Now, if they want to divest themselves and sell their company, […] that’s fine.” […] “This is a decision TikTok’s got to make. If they will divest themselves, then TikTok continues on and people will continue to enjoy it and continue to watch it.” […] “[The vote] was overwhelming in the House— 352 votes. I think that sends a strong message to the Senate. […] The Senate needs to take up this bill and they need to pass this bill. The White House has already said that they would sign it.” Rep. Crenshaw on the Brian Kilmeade Show: "If you're a company in China, you have to do whatever [the CCP] tells you, and you have to spy on whoever [the CCP] tells you to spy on." [...] "[They] can weaponize that kind of tool, and the Chinese have already been shown to have weaponized it. I don't want a situation where we're in an adversarial relationship with the Chinese Communist Party, and they have the ability to manipulate the minds and opinions of tens of millions of Americans."



Mar 14, 2024
Blog

ICYMI: Chair Rodgers Discusses House Passage of H.R. 7521 on Fox News’s America Reports

“TikTok is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party” House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Fox News to discuss House passage of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. Highlights and excerpts from the interview: “We know that TikTok has repeatedly been caught in this lie that it is not beholden to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance, and yet we have internal recording from employees that have said ‘everything is seen by China.’  “We know that China surveils its own citizens. We know that the Chinese Communist Party cannot be trusted with American user data. “We cannot trust them to protect American values like freedom. That’s why the House voted overwhelmingly [today] […] 352 yes votes to force TikTok to break away from ByteDance.” […] “TikTok really has the choice to make. This is not a ban. This is TikTok deciding whether or not it remains with its current ownership structure, ByteDance, and ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, or if divests. “If it breaks away from ByteDance, it will continue to operate in the United States of America. “That’s why the bill does—it’s a very narrow, specific legislation that we’ve working on for months to take into account the national security concerns.” […] “This is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party, and we need to be taking action to protect American user data.” [...] “The legislation is focused on the national security threat. This is about data that would be controlled by foreign adversaries. We are not getting into content at all—I think that’s a very important note to make." […] “This bill is unique in that its targeting foreign adversaries. We’re working separately on legislation for privacy, data security, and believe that a national data privacy and security bill is very important for protecting Americans and protecting Americans—as well as our kids—online.” CLICK HERE to read Chair Rodgers’ statement on H.R. 7521. CLICK HERE to for what top conservative voices are saying.



Mar 12, 2024
Big Tech

Fact Check: The Truth about H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act

Ahead of the House’s expected consideration of H.R. 7521 tomorrow, here’s the truth about how the bill protects Americans from the national security threat posed by applications controlled by foreign adversaries:  Claim: H.R. 7521 bans TikTok in the United States.  Rating: FALSE.   As long as TikTok divests from its parent company ByteDance, which is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), TikTok can continue to operate in the United States without interruption. TikTok can choose to protect their American users, or they can side with the CCP. The choice to end Americans use of its platform is strictly TikTok’s.  Claim: H.R. 7521 is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment.  Rating: FALSE.   The bill does not regulate speech. It is focused entirely on the ownership of an application by a foreign adversary country—not the content of speech it hosts. The bill provides a clear path for TikTok to continue its operations as long as it resolves the national security risks posed by its ownership structure.  Claim: H.R. 7521 violates the Constitution’s Bill of Attainder Clause.  Rating: FALSE.   The bill does not run afoul of the Constitution’s Bill of Attainder Clause. The case law here is clear. H.R. 7521 takes an appropriate step to protect America’s national security interests in a forward looking and ongoing way. Further, this bill does not apply solely to TikTok—it applies to other applications that are controlled by a foreign adversary of the United States, now and in the future. Claim: TikTok is not controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.   Rating: FALSE.   The People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Intelligence Law of 2017 requires PRC individuals and entities to support PRC intelligence services. Beijing Bytedance Technology is a Chinese internet technology company headquartered in Beijing. It is operating in the United States through a holding company, Bytedance Ltd, which is the parent company of TikTok. TikTok was used to spy on American journalists and surveil American user data. Internal TikTok recordings revealed, “everything is seen in China.” Former TikTok employees have attested ByteDance is closely involved in the company’s decision-making and product development.  Claim: TikTok is no different than any other social media app.  Rating: FALSE.   TikTok is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party through its parent company, ByteDance. A recent Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) report showed that the CCP was using TikTok to target political candidates and influence the 2022 election cycle. Internal TikTok recordings have revealed “everything is seen in China” and the CCP “maintained supreme access” to TikTok’s data. If nations that want to undermine America can access and manipulate Americans’ data through a specific app, that poses a unique threat and requires a narrow and targeted response. Claim: This will allow the President to prohibit any app for any reason.  Rating: FALSE.   This bill DOES NOT empower the Executive Branch to define “foreign adversary” and prohibit any apps owned by its own definition of “foreign adversary.” The bill defines a foreign adversary-controlled application as subject to the control of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. Only Congress can change the definition used in this bill. This is not a blank check for the Biden administration, or future administrations, to restrict whatever apps it wants.  Claim: TikTok is already separating itself from China through Project Texas.  Rating: FALSE.   TikTok’s “Project Texas” would continue to allow personnel in Beijing to access U.S. user data. After promising to wall off American users’ data, this data continues to be accessible from inside China. TikTok personnel have thrown cold water on the idea that U.S. users’ data will be adequately protected under any new arrangement. TikTok’s own Project Texas employees say ByteDance managers continue to request U.S. data. Many of the Project Texas data protections have devolved into what one employee called “a wink and a nod.”  Claim: This bill will hurt small businesses and content creators.  Rating: FALSE.   If TikTok is not divested from ByteDance, TikTok must allow its creators and users to extract all of their account data. This ensures that creators and users retain their content and can move to a different platform. Furthermore, if TikTok actually cared about small businesses and content creators on its platform like they claim, they would divest and remain operational in the United States.  Claim: H.R. 7521 applies to all social media companies or websites.  Rating: FALSE.   The bill does NOT apply to all websites. It only applies to applications and websites controlled by a foreign adversary—China, Russia, Iran, North Korea—that pose a clear national security threat.



Mar 12, 2024
Blog

Chair Rodgers in the News: TikTok Must Separate From CCP-Control

Highlights from Interviews with Fox Business, Scripps News, and Newsmax House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) joined Fox Business, Scripps News, and Newsmax this morning to highlight the need to pass H.R. 7521, the  Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act . Applications controlled by foreign adversaries, like TikTok, are exploiting and weaponizing Americans’ data. These applications are a  national security threat  to the American people. H.R. 7521 is bipartisan legislation that will protect Americans by preventing foreign adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating the American people through applications, like TikTok. We have given TikTok a clear choice through this legislation: Divest from your parent company ByteDance—which is beholden to the CCP—and remain operational in the United States, OR side with the CCP and be prohibited in the U.S. The choice is TikTok’s. Here are highlights and top moments from Chair Rodgers’ interviews: Chair Rodgers on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo: “ We had a very strong vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, 50–0, a unanimous vote which only underscores how strong the bill is and how members believe this action needs to be taken.” […] “The bill is narrow. It is targeted to address the national security threat that we believe these apps, like TikTok, pose to the United States because of its ownership by a foreign adversary.” Chair Rodgers on Scripps News’ Morning Rush: “TikTok has repeatedly been caught in a lie that it is not beholden to the Chinese Communist Party through ByteDance, its parent company, and we know that we cannot trust the Chinese Communist Party. They’re collecting a massive amount of data so they can target, manipulate, surveil, and, in essence, control what Americans see on TikTok.” […] “This is a national security threat. This is a destructive tool that is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. “This bill will force TikTok to make a choice. TikTok will either have to choose if it wants to maintain the current relationship it has with ByteDance and ultimately be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, or […] divest, which means it would have to sell and break away from ByteDance in order to remain operating in the United States of America. It’s TikTok’s choice to make.” Chair Rodgers on Newsmax’s National Report: “[This bill] does not address content on the platform. This is in response to national security concerns raised by these apps being controlled by foreign adversaries.” […] “We have evidence that TikTok has spied on American journalists through its parent company ByteDance. Those cases are before the Justice Department now. We know that they are collecting data for purposes of targeting, surveilling, and manipulating 170 million users.”



Mar 12, 2024
Blog

Health Subcommittee Markup Recap: E&C Advances Bills to Improve Health for Patients

Washington D.C. — The Energy and Commerce Committee advanced proposals today to improve health for patients. In a Subcommittee markup , the Health Subcommittee forwarded to the Full Committee 19 pieces of legislation.  As Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said : “Many of the bills before us today reauthorize important programs that are due to expire September 30, and I am hopeful we can renew them in advance of that deadline, through regular order.   “This Committee has a rich history of plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate, including our bipartisan work to ensure we are moving forward timely reauthorizations, as well as new efforts—like the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act.    “I look forward to seeing all of these important initiatives be signed into law.”  Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) also added : “The legislation before us today will help to detect, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases and health conditions at earlier stages, improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families, help ensure Americans in rural communities have access to life-saving care, and provide additional resources to assist in the development of cutting-edge innovation.  Legislative vote summary:  H.R. 619 , the NAPA Reauthorization Act, led by Reps. Tonko, C. Smith, and Waters, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 26-0.  H.R. 620 , the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act , led by Reps. C. Smith, Tonko, and Waters, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 26-0.  H.R. 7218 , the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act of 2024 , led by Reps. Guthrie, Tonko, C. Smith, and Waters, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 4581 , the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2023 , led by Reps. Hinson and Adams, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 4646 , the SIREN Reauthorization Act , led by Reps. D. Joyce and Dingell, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 6160 , To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a lifespan respite care program , led by Reps. Molinaro and Cárdenas, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 6960 , the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024 , led by Reps. Carter and Castor, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 23-0.  H.R. 7153 , the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act , led by Reps. Wild and Kiggans, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 25-0.  H.R. 7251 , the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Chavez-DeRemer, Joyce, Davis, and Cherfilus-McCormick, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 23-0.  H.R. 7224 , To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program, led by Reps. Cohen, Wagner, Cárdenas, and Carter, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 6829 , the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act of 2023, led by Reps. Pallone and A. Kim, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 7189 , the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Bilirakis, Soto, Carter, Schiff, Salazar, and Cárdenas, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 3916 , the SCREENS for Cancer Act of 2023, led by Reps. Morelle and Fitzpatrick, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 24-0.  H.R. 5074 , the Kidney PATIENT Act, led by Reps. Carter and Kuster, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 16-10.  H.R. 5526 , Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2023, led by Reps. Harshbarger, Wasserman Schultz, and Davis, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 19-6.  H.R. 2706 , the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, led by Reps. Cammack and Dingell, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 5012 , the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023, led by Reps. Y. Kim and Castor, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 7208 , the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024, led by Reps. Pascrell and Bacon, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote.  H.R. 7406 , the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024, led by Reps. McMorris Rodgers, DeGette, Cole, and Holmes Norton, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by voice vote. 



Mar 12, 2024
Big Tech

WSJ Editorial Board: Tackling the TikTok Threat

“Break up with the Chinese Communist Party, or break up with the U.S.” The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board is out with a new piece on why Congress must pass H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which protects Americans from the national security threats posed by CCP-controlled TikTok . Check out excerpts and highlights below:  The House on Wednesday is expected to vote on a bill that would give popular social-media app TikTok an ultimatum: Break up with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or break up with the U.S. It didn’t need to come to this, but Beijing and TikTok’s Chinese-owner ByteDance left Washington with no choice. […] Donald Trump tried in 2020 to force ByteDance to divest TikTok, but his executive order was blocked in court, partly because the President lacked clear authority from Congress. Legislation by Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher and Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi aims to overcome the legal obstacles.   Their bill would ban TikTok from app stores and web-hosting services in the U.S. if the company doesn’t divest from ByteDance. It also establishes a process by which the President can prohibit other social-media apps that are “controlled by a foreign adversary.” The bill is narrowly tailored while giving the President tools to combat future threats.   Banning TikTok should be a last resort, but ByteDance and Beijing have demonstrated that they can’t be trusted. Reams of evidence show how the Chinese government can use the platform for cyber-espionage and political influence campaigns in the U.S.   […]   TikTok’s other major security risk is cyber-espionage. The app vacuums up sensitive American user information, including searches, browsing histories and locations. This data can and does flow back to China. “Everything is seen in China,” a TikTok official said in a leaked internal recording reported by Buzzfeed.   ByteDance employees tried to uncover internal leakers by spying on American journalists. After this surveillance was reported, ByteDance blamed “misconduct of certain individuals” who were no longer employed. But there’s nothing to stop CCP puppets in ByteDance back-offices from spying on Americans.   […]   Chinese law requires ByteDance to comply with Beijing’s surveillance demands. This is why there’s no way to mitigate TikTok’s security risks besides a forced divestment. U.S. investors have expressed interest in buying TikTok, though a Chinese government official last year said it would block a sale. If TikTok is banned, users can blame Beijing.   […]   In any case, the House bill doesn’t restrict First Amendment rights. It regulates national security. It also has ample precedent since U.S. law restricts foreign ownership of broadcast stations. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States forced the Chinese owners of Grindr, the gay dating app, to give up control of the company.   China has blocked U.S. social-media companies that don’t comply with its censorship regime, and the House bill would prevent Beijing from applying its political speech controls and surveillance in the U.S. Despite America’s political divisions, this ought to be a shared goal.   CLICK HERE to read the full piece from the WSJ Editorial Board.  CLICK HERE to learn more about H.R. 7521. CLICK HERE to read what experts and top voices are saying.



Mar 12, 2024
Blog

C&T Subcommittee Markup Recap: E&C Advances Four Bills to Secure American Communications Networks from Foreign Adversaries

Washington, D.C. — The Energy and Commerce Committee advanced proposals today that will enhance the security of American networks and protect our vital infrastructure from relying on equipment sourced from our adversaries. In a Subcommittee markup, the Communications and Technology Subcommittee forwarded to the Full Committee four pieces of legislation.  As Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said : “Failure to address these challenges not only jeopardizes our economic competitiveness and national security but also risks ceding ground to an adversarial power intent on reshaping the global order in its favor.  “That’s why I’m proud of the impressive bills on today’s agenda, which address these issues and continue the bipartisan tradition of the Energy and Commerce Committee.”  Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) also added : “China is aggressively trying to overtake the United States as the global leader in communications and technology.  “They export their heavily subsidized equipment to developing countries, try to dominate international standards forums, and can exploit security vulnerabilities in equipment to spy on Americans and disrupt our networks.  “As Americans increasingly rely on connectivity in everyday life, the security of the equipment they use becomes paramount.  “Given the known vulnerabilities in many technologies produced by companies with ties to the CCP, it is imperative to take steps to mitigate the widespread availability of this equipment."  Legislative vote summary:  H.R. 2864 , the Countering CCP Drones Act , led by Rep. Stefanik, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 21 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 820 , the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act, led by Rep. Stefanik, was forwarded, as amended, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 22 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 1513 , the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhancing Networks (FUTURE) Networks Act , led by Rep. Matsui, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 23 Yeas to 0 Nays.  H.R. 7589 , Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security (ROUTERS) Act, led by Rep. Latta, was forwarded, without amendment, to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 23 Yeas to 0 Nays. 



Mar 12, 2024
Blog

Leading Conservatives Agree: We Must Stop the CCP from Targeting, Surveilling, and Manipulating Americans through TikTok

H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, is a targeted approach to protect Americans from applications controlled by foreign adversaries, like TikTok. We know these applications are exploiting and weaponizing Americans’ data—posing a national security threat to the American people. Don’t miss what top conservative voices are saying about the bill: Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner:    “The fact is that we live in a world where Americans’ phones are being weaponized against them by a foreign adversary, and we cannot sit back and let that happen. We would never want the U.S. federal government to have the power to censor, surveil, and manipulate Americans—we absolutely should not permit that abuse of power by the Chinese government through TikTok.” Heritage Action Executive Vice President Ryan Walker: “Heritage Action is glad to see members of Congress from both sides of the aisle recognize the very real national security threat of apps controlled by our adversaries like China. TikTok is a dangerous tool used by the CCP to spy on, exploit, and mislead the American people. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act is an important step toward addressing the root problem and getting the CCP out of the pockets of hundreds of millions of Americans.”    Heritage Foundation Tech Policy Center Director Kara Frederick:    “The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act is a crucial step forward in this fight and will be a powerful tool in our arsenal to put an end to this noxious, CCP-beholden surveillance platform once and for all.”   Director of the America First Policy Institute’s China Policy Initiative Adam Savit:   “TikTok is a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) controlled app that acts as a data-harvesting weapon disguised as a social media platform. It has become a dominant force in American youth culture, exposing private information to the CCP without the end-user’s knowledge. It would become a potent weapon of information warfare in the event of war with our adversaries. TikTok must be required to divest from its CCP parent company ByteDance to remain in the U.S. This act would neutralize the threat of CCP exploitation while still preserving our cherished freedom of speech.” Independent Women’s Forum Senior Fellow Meaghan Mobbs: "IW has repeatedly raised alarms about the potential harms of social media on both children and national well-being, singling out TikTok as a particularly perilous platform because of its ownership (ByteDance) and its pernicious algorithms. The former greenlights the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to collect and weaponize data collection against our citizens. The latter, purposefully engineered, identifies personal vulnerabilities and exploits them — not to offer caution, but to hook the user further. Taken together it is clear TikTok is a uniquely malevolent tool used by the CCP to undermine American societal values and destabilize the nation. The precise and targeted effort to remove the rot at the core by eliminating CCP control is desperately needed and long overdue." Former Vice President and Advancing American Freedom Founder Mike Pence:   “TikTok has been banned on all US government devices because it is a national security threat and acts as the puppet strings of Communist China to push their propaganda on the American people, and it cannot be allowed to continue to operate in our country unchecked. The tensions with Communist China continue to mount and the United States must take the necessary steps to protect our country. This legislation is one of those necessary steps, and Advancing American Freedom urges Congress to move this legislation quickly through the markup process and bring it to the House floor for a vote.” Former National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien: “National Security officials all agree on one thing: TikTok poses a clear and present threat to America. We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party, our chief adversary and an organization notoriously devoted to propaganda and censorship, to control the platform that America’s youth overwhelmingly relies on for news. To do so would be akin to allowing Soviet control of several major American newspapers and TV channels during the Cold War. Congress must pass this bill and finish the job the Trump Administration started in 2020: force a sale of TikTok to remove it from CCP control, or prohibit its operation in the United States.” American Compass Executive Director Oren Cass : “Washington has finally awakened to an unavoidable reality: taking a hands-off approach to China is an invitation to the Chinese Communist Party to subvert our nation's economy, culture, and politics via companies it effectively controls. Supporting the American free market does not prevent us from resisting the CCP’s malign influence, it requires us to stand by our principles and act. Chairman Gallagher and Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi are providing invaluable leadership on this issue, tackling the challenge of TikTok head on. All members of Congress should support them in their effort." American Principles Project (APP) Policy Director Jon Schweppe : “We applaud the House Energy and Commerce Committee for unanimously passing this bill. We should all be supportive of efforts to protect kids online. The danger of TikTok is obvious—we cannot give the Chinese Communist Party unfettered access to our kids. Moreover, as has become abundantly clear in recent years, the CCP has been more than happy to facilitate the socially destructive forces unleashed by this platform. The TikTok algorithm in America is actively stifling family formation, promoting unhealthy relationships and interactions, and stoking ideological division, even as the Chinese version of the app carefully moderates such content. That we have allowed this to go on for so long is a travesty. We cannot afford to allow the CCP such a continued, significant influence in our country. That’s why APP is urging the full House and Senate to pass this legislation as soon as possible.”   Parents Defending Education Action: "Whether it involves China's attempt to infiltrate K-12 classrooms or harvest children's data via TikTok, the Chinese Communist Party should not be granted unfettered access to influence the minds of the next generation of Americans.   "Parents share this grave concern. A recent poll showed an overwhelming majority of parents worry about the risks of foreign influence targeting their children.   "Leaders at every level of government have a moral responsibility to protect students from this dangerous security threat. We are encouraged by the strong, bipartisan committee vote last week in support of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, and encourage members to vote for this pro-America, pro-student measure when it comes to the   House floor later this week." America2100 Executive Director Mike Needham: “China’s fingerprints are all over many of the most pressing challenges facing our country. It is unfathomable we allow a propaganda tool they control to burrow its way deeper and deeper into our society. The House must pass the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act immediately.”   FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr: “TikTok’s own conduct makes clear that it is beholden to the CCP and presents an unacceptable threat to U.S. national security. I applaud this strong bipartisan bill, which would definitely resolve this threat.”