House Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) (Getty Images)

(CNSNews.com) -- House Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has introduced legislation, the "No CHINA Act," which would prevent coronavirus relief funds from being funneled to businesses that are owned by the Communist Chinese government. Some businesses could be waived from the legislation, if the president deems it is vital to U.S. national security.

The “No CHINA (Chinese Handouts In National Assistance) Act” would "ensure that American taxpayer dollars used in any COVID-19 funding package do not support the communist regime in China, or businesses owned by the Chinese government," reads a March 24 statement from Rep. Gaetz's office.

A Chinese paramilitary policeman stands guard on Tiananmen Square in front of the portrait of China's late communist leader Mao Zedong in Beijing on November 8, 2017. (Getty Images)

The legislation says, "None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available in appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2020 may be obligated or expended for the benefit of any United States or foreign person subject to the control (as such term is defined in section 721(a)(3) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4565(a)(3))) of the People’s Republic of China, including any person of the People’s Republic of China: Provided, That Taiwan, any national of Taiwan who is an institutional investor, or any public or private entity of Taiwan, is wholly excluded from this restriction.





(b) WAIVER.—The President, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may waive the restriction under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis if the President determines it is in the national security interests of the United States to do so."

Commenting on his bill, Rep. Gaetz said, “Every single American worker displaced by COVID-19 should be fully compensated before one nickel from our treasury goes to Chinese-owned corporations operating here in the United States."

“The global coronavirus pandemic has been exacerbated by the Chinese government’s malicious misinformation and propaganda campaign against the United States and its citizens," said Gaetz. "Allowing American taxpayers’ money to go to companies owned by the Communist Chinese government is antithetical to our ‘America First’ agenda."

(Getty Images)

“I’m proud to introduce the 'No CHINA Act' today, which prevents appropriated money, including coronavirus relief funds, from being disbursed to businesses owned by the Chinese government," said the congressman. "Chinese corporations operating in America should not be eligible for the upcoming trillion-dollar bailout, now or ever."

The U.S. Senate reportedly has agreed to an estimated $2 trillion relief package and is expected to vote on the deal today, March 25.



