EXCLUSIVE — A group of Republican senators is set to introduce a bill seeking to crack down on espionage in the United States by increasing the reporting requirements of foreign government officials conducting business in the country.
The Countering Corrupt Political Influence Act, led by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), would specifically seek to increase the transparency of Chinese Communist Party officials working inside the country by mandating the Chinese Embassy and other related consulates to notify the State Department in advance of meetings, according to a copy of the bill first obtained by the Washington Examiner.
This includes meetings with state officials, meetings with local and municipal leaders, visits to educational institutions, and trips to research facilities.
“For too long, the U.S. has allowed our adversaries like Communist China to operate and benefit from a complete lack of transparency when conducting business on U.S. soil,” Scott said in a statement. “As individuals and entities tied to the evil government of Communist China continue to buy American farmland, infiltrate our universities, and attempt to persuade the decisions of local and state governments, we must take action to protect U.S. interests.”
The bill builds on efforts from the Trump administration to crack down on foreign meetings being held inside the U.S. by requiring agents to report the date and location of the meeting, as well as the purpose of the visit. The legislation would also require the secretary of state to submit a monthly report to Congress and the president detailing all meetings and visits that were disclosed by foreign agents.
“To effectively counter growing threats from the CCP, we must know how, when, and with whom Chinese diplomats engage on American soil,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who is co-sponsoring the bill. “This legislation would require adversaries like China to disclose their diplomatic activity to the State Department, and I’m glad to support it.”
The requirements would not only apply to the Chinese government but would also extend to foreign agents acting on behalf of Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan while under the control of the Taliban.
The bill comes just one day after the Justice Department announced charges against a former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia but stands accused of serving as a mole for Cuba’s intelligence services for several decades. Officials allege the diplomat engaged in “clandestine activity” by regularly meeting with Cuban intelligence officials and providing false information to U.S. government officials about his visits.
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Under the legislation, government officials would be required to compile a comprehensive report detailing a threat assessment for each of the countries that have conducted business inside the country, as well as any recommendations for policy changes. Those reports must be jointly submitted by the secretary of state, the director of national intelligence, the secretary of defense, the attorney general, and the secretary of homeland security.
The bill is set to be introduced on Tuesday and is also co-sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Todd Young (R-IN).
