DES MOINES, Iowa – All four of Iowa’s U.S. Representatives voted in favor of the H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, that passed the U.S. House in a bipartisan 352 to 65 vote.
The legislation sponsored by U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., that prohibits distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services for a foreign adversary controlled application.
Under the bill, U.S. app stores and web hosting companies would be required to block access to TikTok, owned by ByteDance, Ltd., a Chinese-owned company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, deemed a national security threat. TikTok could avoid this fate if it is sold.
The bill also gives the president the power to deem any additional applications a “foreign adversary controlled application” if it is determined to be a threat to national security. U.S. law defines covered nations under this bill to be North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran.
“As a father of four, I believe that TikTok is a serious threat to our national security, our economy, and the wellbeing of our kids. We know that TikTok’s parent company – ByteDance – is largely controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which directly exposes Americans to Chinese data collection, surveillance, cyberattacks, and propaganda,” U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, said in a released statement. “This legislation will protect Americans from unlawful data collection, keep our children safe from Chinese influence, and prevent other adversaries like North Korea, Iran, and Russia from using apps to spy on Americans and steal personal information. I proudly support this effort to protect our kids and stop China’s mission to destabilize our country.”
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, criticized TikTok’s response to the bill.
“The day after we introduced our bill, TikTok went into panic mode. They lied to their users saying Congress was going to ‘ban’ TikTok, and prompted young kids to call their representatives,” she said in a House floor speech. “TikTok’s gross stunt proved our point. What if, on election day, TikTok sent out an alert saying our elections were canceled? We must act. Today, we are sending a message to the CCP that we are going to deflate the 140 million spy balloons they’ve installed on American phones. We are going to to protect our kids, our national security, and our cybersecurity.”
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn on X (formerly Twitter) explained why he voted for the bill.
“As a former counterintelligence officer, I’ve seen firsthand how the Chinese Communist Party exploits data to manipulate our country’s young people. Today I voted to enhance our national security by limiting China’s influence on our youth and American minds,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, also voted in support of the bill, but at time of publication, has not offered a public statement.
The bill heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration where its passage is uncertain.
Read the legislation below:
BILLS-118hr7521rh
