WASHINGTON — A pair of bills introduced by U.S. Rep. Dale Strong to strengthen homeland security practices were passed unanimously Monday by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The legislation was the SHIELD Against CCP Act and the Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act.
The SHIELD Act would create a dedicated DHS working group to address threats from China, Strong said in a news release. The group would be responsible for examining, assessing, and reporting on the range of nontraditional tactics used by China and DHS’s efforts to counter these activities.
“China is one of the biggest threats to our country, taking every opportunity over the last 4 years to exploit Biden’s open borders,” said Strong (R-Monrovia), who serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security. “This bill will ensure that DHS has a dedicated team actively working to combat this threat.”
The Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act would require the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to establish a process for safeguarding sensitive information in research and development projects, preventing unauthorized access and disclosure, the news release said. It would also require the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on DHS’s compliance with governmentwide policies to safeguard research and development.
“Chinese espionage is one of our country’s greatest threats,” Strong said. “Preserving the integrity of DHS research and safeguarding innovation are essential to national security. This legislation strengthens protections against unauthorized access to sensitive information, ensuring the security of our nation’s research and development efforts.”
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