BIOSECURE CHECK-IN — Legislation that would curtail Chinese biotechnology companies’ ability to do business in the U.S. has significant bipartisan backing, but division among key GOP members is complicating its path forward. A major reason for questions about its future is Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the incoming chair of the Homeland Security Committee, who has steadfastly opposed the legislation. Lawmakers — including House Speaker Mike Johnson and retiring Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) — are preparing a last-ditch effort to get the BIOSECURE Act signed into law with weeks left in this Congress. The bill, which passed the House overwhelmingly in September, would halt federal contracts for companies partnering with named Chinese biotech companies. Wenstrup and other supporters warn that Beijing could use some named firms in the bill to obtain sensitive information like Americans’ genomic data due to China’s intelligence laws regarding private business. Although the legislation has strong support, congressional tradition typically requires approval from the chairs and ranking members of the relevant committees to get provisions attached to a must-pass bill. Paul was the only member of the Homeland Security Committee, currently chaired by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), to vote against the bill earlier this year. “There’s no love lost for some of these companies,” Paul said earlier this year. “I do worry, though, that … by banning certain companies, we’re advantaging certain other companies.”
He’s seemingly pointing to genomics firm Illumina, which could stand to benefit from the bill given its significant market share. A company spokesperson said the firm backs policies that “advance the use of genomics to improve human health globally while maintaining the privacy and security of genomic data.” His intransigence frustrates members of his own party, who say the legislation is necessary to protect American national security interests. “I just don’t know that he understands this, and I don't know why he thinks it behooves the American taxpayer for us to give grant money to a Chinese biologic company,” Wenstrup recently told POLITICO. The companies have pushed back, saying they’ve been falsely accused of security risks and that the legislation could hurt U.S. biotech innovation. The fissures extend beyond Paul and the GOP. More than a third of House Democrats voted against the bill after Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) panned the legislation, saying there isn’t sufficient due process for the named companies. Wenstrup dismissed McGovern’s opposition as tied to his district, which McGovern denies. WuXi Biologics announced plans in January to build a manufacturing facility in Worcester, a city in McGovern’s district, but those plans are now on hold. One of the most likely paths forward for the legislation is attaching it to the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual must-pass defense policy legislation. It’s part of a broader raft of more than 70 China and artificial intelligence-related bills in the mix. “NDAA is an appropriate vehicle to get this over the finish line, and Chairman Peters supports adding it as an amendment to this year’s NDAA,” an aide to Peters said. WELCOME TO FRIDAY PULSE. The Senate designated Thursday as National Rural Health Day. Send your tips, scoops and feedback to bleonard@politico.com and ccirruzzo@politico.com and follow along @_BenLeonard_ and @ChelseaCirruzzo.
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