Dhs Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. CROCKETT. Mr. Chair, my amendment today seeks to protect the bedrock of our democracy, free and fair elections, from attacks by foreign actors.

While I have great concerns about the underlying bill today, given its overly broad language and its impact for universities in need of DHS funding, whether it be for disaster relief or campus hardening or threat protection, the issue of election interference is one that cannot be ignored.

We know that our democratic processes are under attack by foreign countries. Last week, the Department of Justice issued indictments outlining efforts from the Russian Government to influence the 2024 Presidential election by funding and promoting divisive, inflammatory rhetoric and disinformation campaigns in the media and on online platforms.

These efforts have been surprisingly effective in infiltrating the platforms of far-right influencers, conservative media, and even some of my fellow lawmakers, who have repeated some of this Russian propaganda right here on the House floor.

The concerns about the PRC doing the same are not new. Last December, the National Intelligence Council detailed how the intelligence community assessed that ``China tacitly approved efforts to try to influence a handful of midterm races involving members of both U.S. political parties.''

Just last Friday, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a report titled ``60 Days Until Election 2024,'' which stated the intelligence community ``is aware of PRC attempts to influence U.S. down-ballot races by focusing on candidates it views as particularly threatening to core PRC security interests.''

Make no mistake, preventing such influence and interference in our democratic processes is vital to maintaining our national security and international security in the Indo-Pacific region. It also preserves the United States' free and fair elections, thereby legitimizing our electoral process and reinforcing the principles of democracy.

This is not the first time congressional Republicans put a bill on the floor defining a foreign entity of concern or foreign adversary, and it will not be the last.

Strangely enough, I am starting to see a pattern. Attempts at election interference through mis- and disinformation is a problem.

Mr. Chair, I am asking for support of my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. CROCKETT. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the remarks of the gentleman. I have had an opportunity to travel to various portions of Asia since I have been here. In fact, I don't think that there is any place that I have traveled to more.

I must say that as I have consistently traveled the world, a lot of times with a number of my Republican colleagues, the one thing that I can say has been very bipartisan all term long has been our concerns about the rising threat of the PRC.

I appreciate the gentleman's remarks. I appreciate us standing together. That is standing against anyone that is a threat to our elections, as they are what makes America truly great.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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