U.S. Congressman Opposes Legislation on Biotech Companies

By Karen Freifeld

(Reuters) – An influential Democratic U.S. congressman, Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, announced on Friday his intention to vote against a bill aimed at restricting business with certain Chinese biotech firms, including WuXi Biologics and BGI, citing national security concerns.

As the ranking member on the House Rules Committee, McGovern is attempting to rally support among his colleagues to oppose the legislation, expressing frustration over the lack of clarity on how companies were selected for inclusion. He highlighted that WuXi Biologics is constructing a facility within his district.

The Biosecure Act is slated for a House vote on Monday, with proponents arguing that it is vital for protecting Americans’ health data and pharmaceutical supply chains from potential foreign threats.

Despite being a critic of China’s human rights record, McGovern described the proposed legislation as fundamentally flawed, stating, “Companies providing sensitive information to the Chinese government is a real and important issue. But the bottom line is, this is a lousy bill.”

The bill will be voted on under conditions that restrict debate, prohibit amendments, and require a two-thirds majority for approval. Supporters label biotech companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party as significant national security risks, highlighting the implications of their operations.

In addition to WuXi Biologics and BGI, the legislation flags WuXi AppTec, MGI, and Complete Genomics as companies of concern. All mentioned entities assert they do not pose security threats and should not be included in the legislation.

For the bill to be enacted, it must receive approval from both the House and Senate before President Joe Biden’s potential signature.