Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott has reintroduced the No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist Chinese COVID Tests Act, a bill aimed at preventing the use of federal funds to purchase at-home COVID-19 tests that are imported from or manufactured in Communist China. The bill has gained support from Senators Roger Marshall, Josh Hawley, and Mike Braun, as well as Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.

In a letter sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra last month, Senator Scott and Congresswoman Harshbarger urged the Biden administration to cease using federal funds to purchase COVID-19 tests from companies or subsidiaries of companies based in Communist China. The HHS had previously announced a $600 million purchase of COVID-19 tests, naming 12 companies as recipients. However, investigations revealed that some of these companies have foreign ownership, including one Chinese company potentially influenced by the Chinese Communist Party.

Expressing his concerns, Senator Rick Scott stated, "There is absolutely no reason that this administration should be buying COVID tests made in Communist China instead of working with American manufacturers to support domestic production." He emphasized the need to prioritize American-made products and criticized the Biden administration for funding the Communist Chinese economy rather than supporting the American economy.

Congresswoman Harshbarger echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of investing in American jobs and manufacturing. She remarked, "The Biden administration's COVID-19 policies continue to fail our country, years after the pandemic has ended." She emphasized the duty of the government to support American companies and criticized the administration for empowering adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party.

The No Taxpayer Dollars for Communist Chinese COVID Tests Act had been introduced in the previous Congress as well. However, Senator Scott's request for unanimous consent to pass the bill was blocked by Senate Democrats.

The reintroduction of this bill reflects the ongoing concerns over the use of federal funds to purchase COVID-19 tests from Communist China. Senator Scott and his colleagues aim to protect American taxpayers, promote domestic manufacturing, and put an end to what they perceive as the Biden administration's policy of favoring China over American interests.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-rick-scott-reintroduces-bill-to-stop-biden-admin-purchase-of-chinese-made-covid-tests-at-taxpayer-expense