30-04-2025
Rep. Bresnahan legislation would bar pro-CCP firms from partnering with federal agencies
Apr. 29—WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. on Tuesday said it's "absurd" to see consulting firms contracting with both the Chinese Communist Party and U.S. federal agencies at the same time.
"We need to be doing everything in our power to safeguard our national security and prohibit the CCP from inserting itself where it doesn't belong," said Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township. "I am proud to bring the Time to Choose Act to the House and demand consultants stop double-dipping and make a decision, America or Communist China."
Bresnahan introduced H.R. 2989 — the Time to Choose Act — legislation to prevent federal agencies from contracting with consulting firms that provide services to the Chinese Communist Party or its affiliates.
The legislation was first introduced by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri in the 117th Congress and was reintroduced this Congress by Hawley and U.S. Senators Gary Peters, of Michigan; and Rick Scott, of Florida.
Bresnahan said the Time to Choose Act would:
—Prohibit federal agencies from contracting with consulting firms that hold a contract with the People's Republic of China and other foreign adversaries.
—Impose penalties on consulting firms that intentionally hide or misrepresent contracts with the PRC and other foreign adversaries, including:
— Terminating affected federal contracts.
— Debarring relevant firms from future work with the federal government.
— Requiring relevant firms to pay damages equivalent to three times the amount spent by the U.S. government on the contracts.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
