East Michigan News

State Representative Bill G. Schuette announced that the Michigan House has advanced a series of bills aimed at preventing foreign influence in government operations. Schuette's own proposal, House Bill 4240, passed with bipartisan support and seeks to prohibit public bodies from entering into binding agreements with foreign entities of concern. The bill also mandates the disclosure of gifts and existing agreements with such entities.

“These bills position our state as a leader in working to uphold national interests and security,” said Schuette. Drawing on his experience as an Intelligence Officer with the Defense Department, he emphasized the need for vigilance against adversaries like China, Iran, and North Korea who seek to undermine sovereignty.

Schuette expressed concern over tactics used by these nations being applied within Michigan, stating, “Unfortunately, our laws have been slow to adapt to the potential threats these nations pose. We should expect our public officials to be vigilant about the influence hostile governments can have.”

The legislative package includes measures to block prohibited apps on government devices to prevent sensitive information collection by foreign entities. It also aims to ensure public economic incentives are not granted to such entities and requires health care record technology be maintained in the U.S. or Canada for safeguarding personal health information.

Additional provisions aim to protect Michiganders' safety by restricting land purchases and surveillance activities near military bases by concerning entities. The legislation targets countries on the federal watch list: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela under Nicolas Maduro's regime, and Syria.

House Bills 4233-35 and 4238-42 now proceed to the Senate for further consideration.