Mills' Embassy Construction Integrity Act Clears House, Heads to Senate

US Representative Cory Mills’ (R-FL) Embassy Construction Integrity Act was recently approved by the House of Representatives. 

The legislation would prohibit the US from leasing or purchasing properties owned by Chinese firms when such property is to be subsequently used for consular or diplomatic purposes. 

Additionally, the act prevents the US from contracting Chinese companies for constructing American diplomatic or consular buildings.

Representative Mills lauded the House’s passage of his act.

“This legislation will counter the looming threat the Chinese Communist Party poses,” stated Mills. 

Mills continued, emphasizing the US “cannot permit malign actors, like the Chinese Communist Party, to continue attempting to infiltrate our systems. 

The act was introduced after reports emerged that a Chinese government-owned firm participated in the construction of a US embassy in South Asia. 

According to Mills, the proposed law will require the State Department to increase due diligence when establishing new international posts to prevent intelligence vulnerabilities. 

Lately, American conservative lawmakers have increased attempts to curb US public investment into China. 

Last month, Senator Rick Scott (R-Fl) introduced a bill that would reveal the amount of US Federal funds that are annually invested into China. 

Each fiscal year, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) submits a report to Congress outlining the White House’s yearly budget for executing its different policy initiatives.

If Senator Scott’s bill passes, the OMB’s report would include federal funds directly or indirectly invested or made available to Chinese entities or individuals. 

According to the US Government Accountability Office, the U.S. provided at least $48 million to Chinese research institutions from 2017 to 2021. USAID reported an additional $10 million in economic support from the US to China in 2023. 

“When it comes to countries that are our enemies, like Communist China, there needs to be complete transparency and oversight with ANY resources going their way,” stated Scott.