Duval Times

On February 27, 2025, Senators Rick Scott and Josh Hawley reintroduced a bill aimed at restricting federal agencies from engaging with consulting firms that also work with the Chinese government or its affiliates. The legislation, known as the Time to Choose Act, would require these firms to choose between supporting U.S. interests or forfeiting government contracts. This initiative seeks to address concerns about national security and economic competition posed by China's global ambitions.

Senator Rick Scott stated, "Any firm who wants to help, support or represent Communist China’s best interests clearly is choosing to work against America’s best interests and choosing to forfeit access to federal tax dollars. It’s a clear conflict of interest." He emphasized that the bill demands a choice between supporting the United States or the Chinese regime.

Senator Josh Hawley criticized companies benefiting from government contracts while allegedly compromising national security. He remarked, "For too long, these companies have basked in the financial security of government contracts while actively undermining our own national security."

Senator Gary Peters highlighted bipartisan support for the measure, stating that it aims to protect both national security and America's competitive edge globally. "The Chinese Communist Party is actively working to undermine our country at every turn," he said.

The Time to Choose Act proposes several measures: prohibiting federal agency contracts with firms holding agreements with foreign adversaries like China; imposing penalties on firms misrepresenting such relationships; terminating relevant federal contracts; debarring firms from future federal work; and requiring damages payment equivalent to three times what was spent by the U.S. government on those contracts.