New York, NY (September 12, 2024) – Committee of 100, a nonprofit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today issued the following statement strongly condemning the passage of two bills (H.R. 1398, H.R. 9456) that look to reinstate the now-defunct China Initiative and add more restrictions to the current Alien Land Laws.
We are concerned that the U.S. House of Representatives decision to dub this week as ‘China Week’ may lead to increased racial profiling and animosity towards Chinese Americans instead of working on efforts to fund our government, support veterans, and address infrastructure needs. We have particular issue with these two bills that continue to drive misleading and dangerous narratives.
The China Initiative was a failed program that fueled racial animosity, xenophobia, and suspicion towards the AAPI community and Chinese Americans in particular. Reimplementing this program would send shockwaves of fear across the AAPI community. That program not only destroyed lives and careers but also undermined our academic community and stifled America’s ability to remain a leader in scientific innovation.
The second bill of adding the secretary of agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) dangerously echoes the discriminatory alien land laws of America’s past, treating immigrants and refugees from countries like China, Iran, and Russia as national security threats. Contributions by immigrants play a vital role in U.S. economy and its competitiveness. Unnecessary and overzealous restrictions only add to the challenges faced by immigrants looking to live in and contribute to American society.
Both of these bills legitimize harmful and xenophobic narratives about immigrants, creating conditions that fuel anti-Asian violence.
We strongly urge the U.S. Senate not to move any of these harmful bills forward. We call upon Chinese Americans, the Asian American community and all individuals that have felt oppressed to call on their local elected officials and explain the harm these bills would cause.
Additionally, we welcome the opportunity to work with Congressional leaders to recognize, address, and prevent future harms to the AAPI community and continue the dialogue towards a shared vision of a better, more secure and inclusive America.
About Committee of 100
Committee of 100 is a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts focused on public policy engagement, civic engagement, and philanthropy. For over 30 years, Committee of 100 has served as a preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and constructive relations between the United States and Greater China. Visit https://www.committee100.org.
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Contacts:
Charles Zinkowski
Sr. Director of Marketing & Communications
czinkowski@committee100.org
Sam Jones
PR & Social Media Manager
sjones@committee100.org
