Polk Times

On May 16, 2024, an initiative led by Florida U.S. Representatives Scott Franklin (FL-18), Bill Posey (FL-08), and Dan Webster (FL-11) to block Communist China from benefiting from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) research and development programs was signed into law by President Biden.

“The Chinese Communist Party will stop at nothing to undermine U.S. global leadership, and that includes intellectual property theft,” said Congressman Franklin. “Our provision will safeguard the important R&D included in the FAA reauthorization bill from malign CCP influence. I’m pleased this commonsense measure passed the House, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Posey, for his consistent leadership on American research security.”

“The CCP has been successful at portraying itself as a benevolent and benign presence in the world community,” said Congressman Posey. “In reality, China is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. China views all of its entities through a military lens and works quietly to gain influence all over the world.”

“The CCP is a threat to America’s national and economic security,” said Congressman Webster. “As the FAA Reauthorization Act includes important investments into research and development that will streamline FAA operations, I’m pleased that our proposal was included to ensure federal dollars aren’t being awarded to entities under Communist China’s influence.”

Franklin, Posey, and Webster collaborated with the House Science, Space and Technology Committee to incorporate security language in the research and development portion of the FAA reauthorization bill passed by both chambers of Congress.

Permalink: https://franklin.house.gov/2024/5/house-approves-posey-webster-franklin-initiative-to-block-faa-research-collaboration-with-communist-china