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Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA) said he believes the Countering Communist China Act that he cosponsored is an effective measure to hold China accountable for its theft of intellectual property, human rights abuses, and attempts to infiltrate Western institutions.

“For far too long, the Chinese Communist Party has used its malign influence to undermine the innovation and hard work of the American people. China’s abhorrent record of human rights violations, incessant theft of American intellectual property, and efforts to infiltrate Western institutions of higher education all point to the urgency that Congress must hold the CCP accountable,” Allen said in a statement provided to State Newswire. “I am proud to co-sponsor the Countering Communist China Act, which incorporates my legislation, the American Science First Act, which would prevent China from accessing research funds provided by American taxpayers.”

He also highlighted the importance of relocating supply chains out of China and investigating China's role in the origin of Covid-19, which are addressed in the Countering Communist China Act, the statement said.

“Moreover, the Countering Communist China Act also establishes new sanctions on Chinese companies that steal American intellectual property, brings our supply chain home, and authorizes a formal investigation into the origins of COVID-19. While Congressional Democrats are content in allowing China to take advantage of the United States, Republicans know the time to hold China accountable is now.”

The Countering Communist China Act recognizes China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as the nation’s top national security threat and aims to counter China's malign influence and intellectual property theft. It requires the declassification of information related to COVID-19’s origin, determining whether China’s role constitutes use of a biological weapon, and seeks reimbursement from China for pandemic costs, according to the bill text.

The legislation aims to protect American institutions from CCP influence and theft, restricts foreign funding of educational institutions and limits partnerships with the People’s Republic of China, according to the text. It would prohibit undermining the U.S.’s policy regarding Taiwan, and seeks a free trade agreement with Taiwan. The legislation addresses the genocide in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a China Initiative to counter CCP theft of U.S. intellectual property, NPR reported. The department ended the program earlier this year, citing complaints from activist groups. In January, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the bureau opens a new China-related case every 12 hours.

Allen introduced the American Science First Act in 2021 to close loopholes that China could exploit to access research funding to ensure the National Science Foundation prioritizes American research, Allen stated on his website at the time. 

A report from the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) warns that failure to confront China could result in the loss of trillions of dollars’ worth of economic growth, according to an Axios article published Sept. 12.

“Imagine a world where China controls the global digital infrastructure, has the dominant position in tech platforms, controls the production of critical tech, and is harnessing biotech and new energy to transform its society, economy, and military,” the statement to Axios said.

Allen has represented Georgia's 12th Congressional District since 2014, according to his website.