East Michigan News

Chairman John Moolenaar, Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Representative Darin LaHood have introduced the Advanced AI Security Readiness Act. This legislation aims to empower the National Security Agency (NSA), establish cybersecurity standards, and protect American innovation from foreign threats.

Legislative efforts continue to advance the Chip Security Act after a Wall Street Journal report highlighted how Chinese firms evade U.S. export controls by outsourcing AI compute to Southeast Asia and smuggling data and equipment back into China.

In response to reports that Chinese firms are contributing to Iran’s drone program, calls have been made for the Treasury Department to investigate and sanction companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that enable Tehran’s military buildup. This is part of a broader effort to expose and disrupt China's support for terrorism.

Chairman Moolenaar expressed concerns about America’s vulnerability to foreign attacks. China Committee Member Rep. Nathaniel Moran revealed how a Chinese firm exploited a loophole in trade enforcement rulings from the Biden era, urging Congress to pass the PREVAIL Act to prevent future intellectual property theft by the CCP.

There are also concerns about the CCP's attempt to build an embassy compound atop sensitive financial infrastructure in London, prompting calls for U.S. and U.K. authorities to reassess and potentially block any projects compromising national security.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings for Jacob Helberg as Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment, and Paul Kapur as Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs. Both will work on issues related to competing with adversaries like China.

Commerce officials testified that Huawei is restricted from producing more than 200,000 advanced AI chips in 2025. Within 24 hours of an agreement forcing the CCP to release critical minerals, it was reported that they used leverage to collect sensitive U.S. intellectual property.

Jeff M. Smith and Bryan Burack argue for modernizing export controls on AI chips and cloud access to prevent exploitation by China while benefiting allies with American technology.

House Select Committee on China member Young Kim discussed strengthening U.S.–ASEAN ties through economic cooperation, maritime security, and diplomatic coordination as alternatives to China's influence in Southeast Asia.

Bill Huizenga emphasized securing increased enforcement funding for the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) which would tighten export controls on advanced chips and AI tools, aiming to block CCP access to critical technologies.

Chengxuan HAN was arrested for making false statements and smuggling biological materials into the U.S., linked with her work at a University of Michigan laboratory. There are also reports suggesting individuals tied to the CCP working in U.S. universities could access critical infrastructure like energy grids and telecom systems.