II 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4457 

To prohibit companies doing business in the United States from amplifying 

propaganda originating from the Government of the People’s Republic 

of China, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 5, 2020 

Mr. KENNEDY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

A BILL 

To prohibit companies doing business in the United States 

from amplifying propaganda originating from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combating Chinese 

5 Propaganda Act’’ or the ‘‘CCP Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 4457 IS

1 (1) PROPAGANDA.—The term ‘‘propaganda’’ 

2 means the propagation of an idea or narrative, espe3 cially of a biased or misleading nature that is in4 tended to influence, promote, or publicize a par5 ticular cause or point of view. 

6 (2) UNITED STATES COMPANY.—The term 

7 ‘‘United States company’’ has the meaning given 

8 such term in section 4(a) of the Defend Trade Se9 crets Act of 2016 (34 U.S.C. 41310(a)). 

10 SEC. 3. PROHIBITION AGAINST COMPANIES DOING BUSI11 NESS IN THE UNITED STATES MAKING PUB12 LIC STATEMENTS OR TAKING ACTIONS AT 

13 THE BEHEST OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

14 PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

16 (b), it shall be unlawful for any United States company 

17 or foreign-owned company doing business in the United 

18 States from cooperating with any effort by the Govern19 ment of the People’s Republic of China to coerce such 

20 company— 

21 (1) to make public statements through tradi22 tional media, social media, or advertising campaigns 

23 that reflect propaganda pushed by the Government 

24 of the People’s Republic of China; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 4457 IS

1 (2) to take other actions contrary to their fidu2 ciary interests at the behest of the Government of 

3 the People’s Republic of China; or 

4 (3) to furnish personal information regarding 

5 Chinese dissidents to the Government of the People’s 

6 Republic of China. 

7 (b) EXCEPTIONS.—The prohibition under subsection 

8 (a) shall not apply to compliance with standard regulatory 

9 requirements imposed by the Government of the People’s 

10 Republic of China that are necessary to protect the health 

11 or safety of the general public. 

12 (c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Any United States company 

14 or foreign-owned company doing business in the 

15 United States shall report to the Secretary of State 

16 and the Secretary of Commerce each instance in 

17 which the Government of the People’s Republic of 

18 China has pressured such company to violate the 

19 prohibition under subsection (a). 

20 (2) QUARTERLY REPORT.—The Secretary of 

21 Commerce shall submit a quarterly report to Con22 gress that summarizes all of the incidents reported 

23 under paragraph (1) during such quarter. 

24 (d) PENALTIES.— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 4457 IS

1 (1) CIVIL PENALTY.—Any United States com2 pany or foreign-owned company that fails to comply 

3 with the reporting requirements set forth in sub4 section (c) shall be subject to a civil penalty equal 

5 to not more than $250,000. 

6 (2) CRIMINAL PENALTY.—If any official of a 

7 United States company or foreign-owned company 

8 knowingly violates, or authorizes the violation of, 

9 subsection (a)— 

10 (A) the company shall be subject to a 

11 criminal penalty of not more than $1,000,000 

12 for each such violation; and 

13 (B) such official may be imprisoned for not 

14 more than 20 years. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS