Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher expressed cautious optimism about passing legislation targeting Chinese biotech companies. The bill, introduced by a congressional committee focused on China, aims to limit federally funded medical providers’ sharing of genetic information with firms like BGI Group and WuXi Apptec.
While Gallagher acknowledged potential revisions to narrow the bill’s scope, he emphasized the primary concern regarding BGI and secondary regarding WuXi.
Accompanying Gallagher, Democratic committee member Raja Krishnamoorthi noted the bill’s broader application beyond specific companies. Concerns extend to foreign adversary-controlled biotech firms collecting data on Americans, potentially funneling it to Chinese Communist Party databases.
Gallagher, not seeking re-election, emphasized the urgency of passing the legislation before his term concludes. However, a companion bill in the U.S. Senate faced delays, raising uncertainties about the timeline for enactment.
Both BGI and WuXi have responded to the proposed legislation. WuXi refuted claims of being a national security risk and denied collecting human genomic data. Conversely, BGI expressed support for data protection while cautioning that the bill could force its exit from the U.S. market.
Notably, units of BGI Group are listed on the U.S. Department of Commerce export control list due to concerns over contributing to Chinese government surveillance. Reports have also surfaced about BGI’s collaboration with China’s military and its extensive genetic data collection efforts.
Despite challenges and debates surrounding the bill’s scope and implications, bipartisan efforts persist to address national security risks associated with Chinese biotech firms’ access to sensitive genetic information.
