Florida Senator Rick Scott says it’s time for the U.S. to stop looking the other way when it comes to China. He’s pushing a new bill to bring back a government program that cracks down on Chinese spying, hacking, and economic influence in America.
The bill, called the “Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from CCP Act,” would revive a Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative that originally started under Trump but was later shut down by the Biden administration. Scott says that was a big mistake.
Why Does Scott Think This Is a Problem?
Scott believes China is stealing U.S. technology, hacking American businesses, and gaining influence over key industries—and that the U.S. isn’t doing enough to stop it. He argues that when the original initiative was canceled, it left the country wide open to these threats. His bill is meant to put the focus back on keeping China from taking advantage of America.
What Would This Bill Actually Do?
- Restart a DOJ task force dedicated to tracking and stopping Chinese espionage
- Crack down on cyberattacks and theft of American trade secrets
- Increase government oversight of Chinese investments in U.S. businesses
- Strengthen coordination between the DOJ, FBI, and other agencies to protect national security
Scott says the goal is simple: protect American innovation and make sure China doesn’t win by cheating.