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• Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bill I am introducing today. It is quite simple in that it would require the Director of Central Intelligence and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to jointly prepare an annual report on the intelligence activities of the People's Republic of China--and most specifically, those which are directed against or affect the interests of the United States.

• Some of the news reports on the fundraising scandal suggest that the People's Republic of China has apparently decided to take a more aggressive approach toward influencing American politics. This is occurring at all levels of our political system through the use of legitimate means such as lobbying as well as covert influence operations. At the same time, the Chinese are also relying heavily on the success of their economic espionage efforts to make their economy more competitive with ours. We also have concerns, that I think most Americans share, with the increasing buildup of the Chinese military operations and capabilities, and the potential that that poses a threat to our national security interests in the Pacific rim region.

• A China specialist at the Department of Defense, summarized the growing threat posed by China's intelligence agencies by saying:

The Ministry of State Security is an aggressive intelligence service which is coming of age in the international arena. The combination of a relatively stagnant economy and an increasingly competitive global economic environment will force China to rely more heavily on the illegal acquisition of high technology modernization--Arms production and sales are increasingly being used to gain hard currency and expand global political influence. The MSS will be required to produce intelligence to support this assertive role in the global, commercial and political environments--Western democracies such as the U.S. must adjust the focus of their clandestine intelligence and counter-intelligence operations if they are to meet the MSS's forward posture effectively.

• The annual report would document significant developments involving China's Ministry of State Security, the Military Intelligence Department of the People's Liberation Army, and other Chinese intelligence entities operating against the United States. The report is specifically intended to cover trends in the following areas: first, political, military, and economic espionage by Chinese intelligence services; second, intelligence activities designed to gain political influence, including activities undertaken or coordinated by the United Front Works Department of the Chinese Communist Party; third, efforts to gain direct or indirect influence through commercial or noncommercial intermediaries subject to control by the People's Republic of China, including enterprises controlled by the People's Liberation Army; and fourth, disinformation and press manipulation by the Government of the People's Republic of China against the United States.

• Various agencies from the intelligence and law enforcement communities will be tasked to provide input on Chinese intelligence activities within the United States and elsewhere. Some of the agencies being asked to contribute to the annual report will include the following: Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of State, and the Department of the Treasury.

• The classified version of the annual report will be provided to both the House and Senate. An unclassified version will be prepared so that the American public can be provided with a general summary of the nature of the Chinese intelligence threat to the United States.

• Mr. Speaker, this bill is very crucial yet very simple. It is not one that requires anything more than a gathering of information for us, but I think it is critical information for us. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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