WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced the Stop China’s IP Theft Act to ban visas into the United States for Chinese government officials, active duty members of the Chinese military, and senior members of the Chinese Community Party and their family members.

“China has a long history of stealing intellectual property,” said Congresswoman Lesko following the introduction of the bill. “It is my hope that by curtailing entry of key Chinese officials and their families into the United States, we can send a message to China and the Chinese Communist Party that we will no longer tolerate the theft of American intellectual property.”

The bill prohibits the issuance of visas to senior officials in the Chinese Communist Party, including the Politburo, the Central Committee, and each delegate to the 19^th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party; the spouses and children of these senior officials; members of the cabinet of the government of the People’s Republic of China; and active duty members of the People’s Liberation Army of China until the Director of National Intelligence certifies to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate that the government of the People’s Republic of China has ceased sponsoring, funding, facilitating, and actively working to support efforts to infringe on the intellectual property rights of citizens and companies of the United States.

Lesko was joined by original cosponsors Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Jody Hice (GA-10), Scott Perry (PA-10), Greg Steube (FL-17), Denver Riggleman (VA-05), and Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) in introducing this legislation.

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