[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4457 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4457

    To prohibit companies doing business in the United States from 
 amplifying propaganda originating from the Government of the People's 
               Republic of China, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 5, 2020

  Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To prohibit companies doing business in the United States from 
 amplifying propaganda originating from the Government of the People's 
               Republic of China, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Combating Chinese Propaganda Act'' 
or the ``CCP Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Propaganda.--The term ``propaganda'' means the 
        propagation of an idea or narrative, especially of a biased or 
        misleading nature that is intended to influence, promote, or 
        publicize a particular cause or point of view.
            (2) United states company.--The term ``United States 
        company'' has the meaning given such term in section 4(a) of 
        the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (34 U.S.C. 41310(a)).

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION AGAINST COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN THE UNITED 
              STATES MAKING PUBLIC STATEMENTS OR TAKING ACTIONS AT THE 
              BEHEST OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF 
              CHINA.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be 
unlawful for any United States company or foreign-owned company doing 
business in the United States from cooperating with any effort by the 
Government of the People's Republic of China to coerce such company--
            (1) to make public statements through traditional media, 
        social media, or advertising campaigns that reflect propaganda 
        pushed by the Government of the People's Republic of China;
            (2) to take other actions contrary to their fiduciary 
        interests at the behest of the Government of the People's 
        Republic of China; or
            (3) to furnish personal information regarding Chinese 
        dissidents to the Government of the People's Republic of China.
    (b) Exceptions.--The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not 
apply to compliance with standard regulatory requirements imposed by 
the Government of the People's Republic of China that are necessary to 
protect the health or safety of the general public.
    (c) Reporting Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--Any United States company or foreign-owned 
        company doing business in the United States shall report to the 
        Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce each instance 
        in which the Government of the People's Republic of China has 
        pressured such company to violate the prohibition under 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Quarterly report.--The Secretary of Commerce shall 
        submit a quarterly report to Congress that summarizes all of 
        the incidents reported under paragraph (1) during such quarter.
    (d) Penalties.--
            (1) Civil penalty.--Any United States company or foreign-
        owned company that fails to comply with the reporting 
        requirements set forth in subsection (c) shall be subject to a 
        civil penalty equal to not more than $250,000.
            (2) Criminal penalty.--If any official of a United States 
        company or foreign-owned company knowingly violates, or 
        authorizes the violation of, subsection (a)--
                    (A) the company shall be subject to a criminal 
                penalty of not more than $1,000,000 for each such 
                violation; and
                    (B) such official may be imprisoned for not more 
                than 20 years.
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