Kinzinger reintroduces 2 bills regarding privacy, intellectual property

Legislation strives for more transparency about products from China, other nations

adam kinzinger

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, reintroduced two pieces of legislation he authored in 2020 with the goal of protecting Americans’ privacy and intellectual property by demanding greater transparency about products originating from China and Russia, among other nations.

The first piece of legislation, House Resolution 4000, the Internet Application Integrity and Disclosure Act, would require websites or people that sell or distribute apps owned by the Communist Party of China or any non-state-owned entity in China to be labeled in a clear manner, as enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

Kinzinger has been vocal about innovating and manufacturing items in the U.S., especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, during which the Chinese government threatened to withhold much-needed medications and personal protective equipment, the congressman said.

As a member of the House China Task Force, Kinzinger advocated strengthening American manufacturing and supply chain vulnerabilities, which includes getting tougher on Chinese counterfeit products and reducing reliance on the goods coming from China.

Reintroducing H.R. 4001, the Online Retailer Product Origin Disclosure Act, is another step forward on cracking down on those counterfeit operations from China-based companies that steal images and other likenesses of American-made products and use them to misrepresent a cheaper, knockoff version, Kinzinger said.

H.R. 4001 would require online retail marketplaces to obtain country of origin information from vendors and disclose that information in a clear and conspicuous manner. Doing so allows consumers to make informed buying decisions and gives both the public and private sectors additional tools to root out counterfeit goods.

“As we’ve seen over the last year, the Communist Party of China has further encroached on the American way of life, and we have to put a stop to it,” Kinzinger said in a news release. “China’s involvement in (and consolidation of) so many supply chains has evolved from an economic challenge to a grave national security threat. Strong American leadership is critically needed for our economic growth and global security. With our abundant resources and ingenuity, we must do more to foster this innovation in our technology and manufacturing while ensuring that our networks and supply chains are strong and secure.

“Requiring more transparency about the products Americans download or buy online will allow them to make informed choices and weigh the privacy or safety risks accordingly. It’s our duty to protect American innovators and consumers alike from these threats.”