Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced a resolution to remove a Health and Human Services (HHS) Department rule that would make it harder for faith-based organizations and families to provide homes for foster children. HHS finalized its rule in April.

Congressman Jim Banks (Indiana-03) introduced the resolution in the House.

“Faith-based groups lead the effort in Arkansas to provide safe foster homes. The Biden administration’s rule will only hurt children that need a home and the religious organizations that provide this incredibly important work,” said Senator Cotton.

“Despite a nationwide shortage of foster families, the Biden administration’s rule discards well-established, faith-based care providers as second-class placement services, forcing states to invest time and resources into recruiting so-called gender-affirming providers. This is an attack on religious liberty and common sense, and worst of all, it is the children in need of a safe and loving home who will suffer most from this administration’s radical agenda,” said Congressman Banks.

Text of the resolution may be found here.

Washington, D.C. – Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Countering Chinese Political Warfare Act, legislation that would sanction any individual or group that conducts political warfare on behalf of a foreign government against the United States. The legislation also requires the Secretary of State to determine if the United Front Work Department (UFWD)—an overseas influence arm of the Chinese Communist Party—qualifies for sanctions. Representative Jim Banks (Indiana-03) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“The Chinese Communist Party has proven that it will spread disinformation and lie any way it can—from the oppression of Uyghurs, to the origins of COVID-19, to it accessing the data of Americans who use TikTok. Any person or group who spread the Chinese Communists’ propaganda, like UFWD, should face sanctions,” said Senator Cotton.

“The United Front Work Department has targeted our universities, state and local lawmakers, business associations and even Congress. This bill gives America the necessary tools to strike back against malign Communist Party influence on US soil,” said Congressman Banks.

Text of the bill may be found here.

The Countering Chinese Political Warfare would:

Create a new sanctions authority against state backed political warfare networks.
Require the Secretary of State to examine whether or not the United Front Work Department meets the criteria to be sanctioned under this new authority.

Background:

On December 2, 2020 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took the historic step of imposing visa sanctions on individuals active in the UFWD.
Chairman Xi has described the United Front as a “magic weapon” that will help bring about “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
The United Front has led aggressive campaigns of subversion and espionage on U.S. college campuses through the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) and Chinese-language centers called Confucius Institutes. The United Front has also funded a number of think tanks in Washington D.C., and co-opted business leaders to squash criticism of China. Despite this information, there are currently over a hundred United Front organizations that openly operate in the United States.

Cotton, Banks: Biden Administration rule discriminates against faith-based foster organizations

Cotton, Banks introduce the Countering Chinese Political Warfare Act