Bill Would Also Target China’s Money Laundering and Predatory Trade Practices
WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), John Fetterman (D-PA), and James Lankford (R-OK) in introducing the SHIELD Against CCP Act, which would create a dedicated working group at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“Fentanyl has devastated communities across Arizona for too long, and we need to use every tool available to stop the flow of this deadly drug into our country,” said Senator Gallego. “This bipartisan bill will help DHS understand how the Chinese Communist Party is exploiting our border and fueling fentanyl trafficking, so we can close those gaps and keep our communities safe.”
“The Arizona Narcotic Officers Association appreciates Senator Gallego’s commitment to fighting Arizona’s growing fentanyl crisis,” said Jim Molesa, Board Advisor for the Arizona Narcotic Officers Association. “His new bill will support efforts to dismantle the networks fueling this crisis and address the CCP’s role in the fentanyl supply chain, and we commend his leadership on this issue.”
The SHIELD Against CCP Act would establish a working group within the DHS to help counter threats posed by the CCP and make Arizonans safer by enabling DHS to better understand how the CCP is exploiting vulnerabilities at Arizona’s southern border.
The working group would:
- Examine, assess, and report on efforts by DHS to counter terrorist, cybersecurity, border and port security, and transportation security threats posed to the U.S. by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including:— Exploitation of the U.S. immigration system through identify theft, visa processes, unlawful border crossings, human smuggling, and human trafficking— Predatory economic and trade practices, including trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods, use of forced labor, customs fraud, and IP theft— Direct or indirect support of Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) trafficking fentanyl, illicit drug precursors, and other controlled substances through the US border, international mail shipments, or express consignment operations — Support for illicit financial activity by Chinese Money Laundering Organizations
- Review information gathered by federal, state, and local law enforcement relating to threats, and disseminate such information to relevant authorities
- Submit an annual report on its activities to the Homeland Security, Finance, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, and Banking Committees.
The bill would also require DHS to research technologies that improve their ability to detect and respond to threats from the CCP.
The legislation is also endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), National Border Patrol Council, National Fusion Center Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, National Narcotics Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, and National HIDTA Director’s Association (NHDA).
Companion legislation, led by Congressmen Dale Strong (AL-05) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03), overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives 409-4 in March.
5/9/25