Michigan House Moves to Curb Foreign Influence with New Legislation
The Michigan House of Representatives passed a comprehensive package of bills on Tuesday aimed at combating "hostile foreign influence," particularly from nations such as China and Russia. The eight-bill series prohibits these countries from purchasing farmland and property near military installations, while barring them from receiving state economic incentives. Public schools and universities will face restrictions on interactions with these nations, including limitations on accepting grants and requiring federal vetting for any cultural exchange programs.
The legislation was largely supported by Republicans, with State Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) emphasizing the need to protect Michigan’s residents from foreign adversaries attempting to compromise security and data integrity. He expressed concern over tactics reminiscent of past foreign intrusions now being applied in Michigan.
Two notable bills were sidelined during the vote, one aimed at preventing the usage of technology from "countries of concern," and another that would restrict state contracts with such entities. Critics, particularly from the Democratic Party’s Asian Pacific American Caucus, condemned aspects of the legislation, likening them to historical racist land laws that targeted Asian immigrants. They argued that these bills could exacerbate xenophobia and disrupt the real estate market, while also risking legal challenges for being unconstitutional.
Among the bills that garnered bipartisan support were measures requiring the maintenance of medical records within the U.S. or Canada and prohibiting the use of apps from countries of concern on government devices. Speaker Pro Tem Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) underscored the necessity of safeguarding sensitive data from foreign intrusion.
The legislation is now headed for consideration in the Democratic-majority Senate, reflecting an ongoing effort to address perceived risks from foreign influence in Michigan.
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