Newly elected Congressman Abe Hamadeh has introduced his first piece of legislation, targeting the presence of Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-backed publications within the U.S. House of Representatives. The Arizona Republican's bill aims to prohibit publications like China Daily from being distributed within House facilities.
Hamadeh expressed his surprise at finding China Daily among the newspapers delivered to his office. He highlighted the publication's status as a registered foreign agent owned by the CCP, raising concerns about the spread of propaganda within Congress. The freshman representative emphasized that using the House's internal mail system and taxpayer resources to distribute such materials is unacceptable.
The proposed legislation directs the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to halt the distribution of CCP-controlled media and restrict its dissemination through House email. However, it would still permit individual members to access these publications privately if they choose.
Hamadeh argued that the CCP utilizes these publications to influence members of Congress and their staff, particularly younger, less experienced staffers who might be unaware of the publication's ownership and agenda. He characterized this as "information warfare" and "psychological operations" designed to sway the U.S. government.
China Daily has faced criticism from conservatives in recent years, with some calling for U.S. media outlets to sever ties with the publication. Critics argue that the newspaper aims to promote the CCP's agenda and has published articles disputing reports on the persecution of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
Hamadeh hopes for bipartisan support for his bill, emphasizing that while individuals can choose to read China Daily privately, using taxpayer funds and House resources for its distribution is inappropriate. He drew a comparison to President Biden's reported removal of the New York Post from the White House, arguing that allowing China Daily to circulate in Congress is hypocritical.
The congressman views the bill as a starting point in addressing the broader issue of Chinese influence, citing concerns about Chinese companies acquiring U.S. farmland and land near military bases. He believes this legislation is a common-sense measure that should garner widespread support.
