WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined three of his colleagues in introducing legislation (S.5122) to ban members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from obtaining B-1 and B-2 visas for vacation and non-official government business in the United States. The CCP is responsible for trillions of dollars of intellectual property theft each year. To curb growing foreign influence and crime and discourage other Chinese nationals from joining the CCP, the bill would bar all 93 million CCP members from entering the country using nonimmigrant B-1 and B-2 visas.
“Year after year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) steals intellectual property worth trillions of dollars from companies around the world,” said Senator Tuberville.“This blatant theft should not be tolerated in the United States. We must do everything we can to stop harmful foreign interference in our society and economy, including banning members of the CCP from obtaining B-1 and B-2 nonimmigrant visas. China’s increasingly hostile role on the world stage and willingness to orchestrate cyber and intellectual crime has made them our top adversary. It makes no sense to allow those who would harm the United States to lawfully enter our country for any reason.”
Chinese nationals would be eligible for other visa categories, including diplomatic, student, athlete, artist, exchange visitor, intra-company, physician, and investor.
Senator Tuberville is an original cosponsor of the legislation, introduced by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), along with U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Rick Scott (R-FL).
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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