North Orlando News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Cory Mills’ (FL-07) H.R. 6306, the Embassy Construction Integrity Act, passed the House of Representatives. The legislation aims to safeguard U.S. embassies from Chinese influence by increasing due diligence when establishing new diplomatic and consular posts around the world.

The bill was introduced after it was discovered that a Chinese government-owned company was involved in the construction of a U.S. embassy in South Asia. Rep. Mills' legislation requires the State Department to identify the beneficial owners of companies involved in constructing, maintaining, and managing new diplomatic or consular posts before establishing them. This step is crucial to prevent vulnerabilities to Chinese government interference and espionage.

In a statement, Rep. Mills expressed his concerns, stating, "It is of great concern to learn that at least one American embassy was constructed with the involvement of the CCP. We cannot permit malign actors, like the Chinese Communist Party, to continue attempting to infiltrate our systems."

The bill also mandates that if any inconsistent actions are found, the Secretary of State must report it to Congress within seven days. Rep. Mills emphasized the importance of this legislation in countering the threat posed by foreign interference in embassy construction, saying, "I am honored that the House passed my legislation to counter this threat and ensure Congress is able to conduct proper oversight over embassy construction."

The Embassy Construction Integrity Act addresses clear gaps in the current risk mitigation requirements during the establishment of diplomatic or consular posts, which the Chinese government has been exploiting. By enhancing due diligence and oversight, the U.S. aims to protect its diplomatic infrastructure from external influences that could compromise national security.

The full text of the bill can be accessed for further details and provisions.