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The genomic data of American citizens has been aggressively sought after by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through both legal and illegal means. The U.S. must advance its security in order to avoid risking any data being vulnerable to international influence. 

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and John Cornyn (R-TX) reintroduced the Genomics Expenditures and National Security Enhancement (GENE) Act to counter the growing threat caused by the CCP.

• “There is no reason for our lack of oversight on access to American citizens’ genomic data. It’s imperative that Congress has a seat at the table to confront this growing national security and privacy threat.” – Senator Rubio

• “For too long, the People’s Republic of China has collected Americans’ healthcare data without anywhere near sufficient scrutiny. This legislation would confront this growing national security threat and ensure private genetic information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.” – Senator Cornyn

Specifically, this bill:

• Increases congressional oversight by requiring the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to include the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in its briefings. 

• Directs CFIUS to rewrite its regulations to require mandatory filing for any deal that involves a company working with genetic information. 

• Requires that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) be consulted on any deal that involves a genetic data transaction, to increase cross-agency awareness of transactions of concern.

Want more information?

• May 2021: Rubio Introduces Bills to Counter Growing Threat of China’s Collection of American’s Genomic Data

• May 2019: ICYMI: Rubio: China is Targeting America’s Biomed Industry