March 17, 2026
Mr. Tran (for himself, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Strickland, and Mr. Harrigan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
To direct the Director of National Intelligence to assess the national security implications of increased foreign malign influence by the Chinese Communist Party.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Combating Chinese Communist Party Influence Act
.
Sec. 2. Intelligence community assessment on foreign malign influence activities undertaken outside the United States by the Chinese Communist Party
(a) Intelligence community assessment
(1) Requirement
The Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with other heads of elements of the intelligence community, and acting through the National Intelligence Council, shall produce an intelligence community assessment that addresses foreign malign influence activities undertaken outside the United States by the Chinese Communist Party during the three-year period beginning January 1, 2023.
(2) Matters included
The assessment under paragraph (1) shall address, with respect to the period covered by the report, the following:
(A)
Foreign malign influence activities undertaken outside the United States by the Chinese Communist Party in key regions at the expense of the United States and allies of the United States.
(B)
The effect of such foreign malign influence activities by the Chinese Communist Party on United States alliances and on perceptions of the United States in key regions.
(C)
The effect of increased foreign malign influence activities undertaken outside the United States by the Chinese Communist Party.
(D)
The effect of foreign malign influence activities by the Chinese Communist Party on global and localized financial systems in key regions.
(E)
Trends in foreign malign influence activity by the Chinese Communist Party in key regions.
(F)
Any other national security implications of such increased foreign malign influence activities by the Chinese Communist Party that affect interests of the United States and allies of the United States, as determined relevant by the Director.
(b) Reports
(1) Initial report
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing the initial findings of the intelligence community assessment under subsection (a).
(2) Final report
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the intelligence community assessment under subsection (a).
(3) Form of reports
The reports under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.
(c) Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
The term appropriate congressional committees means the following:
(A)
The Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
(B)
The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party of the House of Representatives.
(2)
The term foreign malign influence has the meaning given that term in section 119C(f) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3059(f)).
(3)
The term key regions means—
(A)
the Indo-Pacific;
(B)
the African continent;
(C)
Latin America; and
(D)
Europe.