Foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continue to wage a war against the United States. Their current methods don’t look like ones we’re used to reading about in our history books. The battles waged play out through the economy, supply chains, technology, and political persuasion.
The CCP and other hostile regimes are using our own system of democracy to kill legislation that protects Americans from foreign influence. Instead of representing companies, policy organizations, or trade associations, some lobbyists are representing our enemies and working to expose vulnerabilities inside our state governments.
While lobbyists representing foreign governments typically must register under federal law, there is no clear, consistent state-level requirement in Alabama, leaving lawmakers and taxpayers in the dark. Currently, lobbyists employed by foreign adversaries can be lobbying state lawmakers, and those lawmakers may have no idea whose interests are truly behind the message. Foreign agent registration is not a radical idea; it is a basic transparency rule letting lawmakers and taxpayers see who is trying to shape their laws and regulations.
These foreign agents are simply one tactic in a much larger strategy. State capitals are now frontline battlegrounds, and state leaders must be equipped to defend their institutions from hostile foreign adversaries – especially the CCP.
The threat is immense. Beyond foreign agents, China’s government and military have used their influence over companies based in or controlled by China to build “back doors” into technology products sold in the United States, allowing Chinese authorities to use these products for espionage and to terminate access on demand. To advance these efforts, China has heavily subsidized certain industries to drive out manufacturing based in free-market economies so that Chinese products – many with built-in vulnerabilities – become the only option.
We’ve seen this pattern with electrical grid systems, drones, vehicles, port equipment, and other devices often purchased by governments. As a result, there is a compelling state interest in limiting the influence of individuals, companies, and other entities under the control of China or its autocratic allies.
In 2017, China passed a law mandating its citizens and businesses assist the government in its espionage activities. Thus, if a Chinese company has proprietary information it obtained through its U.S. operations and the government wants it, there is little to no opportunity to say “no.” Additionally, entities with CCP connections are buying land near critical infrastructure, opening schools, and swaying college curricula.
We cannot control every risk. But we can control what happens in Montgomery. Demanding that foreign agents register with the state is common sense – and one successfully implemented by other states.
Alabama HB358 does the job. The bill does not ban speech, nor does it prohibit lawful advocacy. It simply requires disclosure so that state officials and policymakers know when they are dealing with a business or representative that may be under Chinese or other hostile foreign control. Transparency is the minimum standard. HB358 does not silence anyone; it simply asks those acting on behalf of foreign powers to say so upfront, the same way campaign donors and political committees disclose their interests.
It’s critical to ensure that legislators know if a lobbyist is speaking on behalf of a company controlled by the Chinese government or another hostile regime. When lobbyists conceal ties to foreign governments, they deny our elected officials the information needed to judge the motives behind a policy proposal. Lobbying by companies, individuals, and other entities controlled by China and other autocratic governments is not “business as usual.”
If Alabama lobbyists want to represent our enemies, they can hold their noses and do so. But legislators and taxpayers deserve to know who is pushing policy and whose interests are truly at stake. When foreign-controlled entities seek to influence state policy, lawmakers should know who is ultimately behind the message. Sunlight will not stop every threat, but it will make it far harder for hostile regimes to quietly rent a voice in Alabama’s State House.
The bill has already passed the Alabama House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee – an important step forward. Alabama lawmakers should ultimately pass HB358 and ensure that hostile foreign adversaries cannot operate in the shadows.
Joe Gebbia, Sr. is founder and CEO of State Shield, a non-partisan organization that helps state and local leaders counter hostile foreign influence threatening America’s security, supply chains and core values.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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