Congressman Pat Harrigan of North Carolina’s 10th District announced on Mar. 18 that he is co-leading the Combating Chinese Communist Party Influence Act, a bill aimed at directing the Director of National Intelligence to produce a comprehensive assessment of foreign malign influence by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The legislation seeks to address concerns about the extent and impact of CCP activities around the world. Supporters say understanding these efforts is crucial for U.S. national security and for maintaining strong alliances.
Harrigan said, “The Chinese Communist Party is waging a quiet war on American influence and most people have no idea how far it has reached. From the Indo-Pacific to Latin America to Europe and Africa, the CCP has been systematically working to undermine our alliances, manipulate financial systems, and erode confidence in the United States around the world.” He added, “The Combating Chinese Communist Party Influence Act forces our intelligence community to pull back the curtain, producing a comprehensive assessment of every avenue of CCP malign influence so Congress can finally act with the full picture in front of us. Proud to co-lead this bill because the first step to winning this fight is understanding exactly what we are up against.”
The proposed legislation requires an assessment from 2023 through 2026 covering regions such as the Indo-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. The report will focus on how CCP actions affect U.S. alliances, global financial systems, and international perceptions of American leadership. Both an initial and final report would be submitted to Congress if enacted.
According to Ballotpedia, in 2024 Harrigan won re-election by defeating Ralph R. Scott, Jr., receiving 57.5% of votes compared to Scott’s 38.2%.
The bill now moves forward for committee consideration. Harrigan said he will continue efforts “to ensure the United States confronts CCP aggression with clarity, strength, and a full understanding of the threat landscape.”
