It seemed like a no-brainer to prevent billions of dollars in semiconductor chip subsidies from flowing into countries with an adversarial relationship with America, like Communist China.

Schumer Strips Anti-China Security Provision From Major Semiconductor Bill

Republican senators balk at $250 billion CHIPS Act over China concerns

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) removed an anti-China security measure from a bill that invests billions of dollars in the U.S. technology sector, a move Republicans say would allow China to benefit from the spending bill and could kneecap the legislation.

At issue are provisions written by Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio) that bar U.S. companies from manufacturing products in China, such as semiconductors, that were developed using federally funded research. Myriad government and private investigations conclude that the Chinese government routinely steals trade secrets from U.S. companies, government agencies, and universities.

The reason Schumer removed Portman's anti-China provision is unclear. Some say he caved to lobbying efforts from various interest groups and the White House. The Senate last year passed a version of Portman's measure with bipartisan support, but the House never put it up for a vote.

"Spending that level of taxpayer dollars without meaningful safeguards to ensure they don’t end up in Beijing’s hands—either through Chinese Communist Party espionage, corporate malfeasance, or inept bureaucrats—would be a colossal mistake."

Exactly why Portman's measure was removed is a matter of ongoing debate on Capitol Hill. One office blamed Rep. Frank Lucas (R., Okla.), the ranking member on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Another office said the decision to remove the guardrail provision was entirely Schumer's and couldn't be stopped by Republicans.

Guardrail provisions such as the ones in Portman's bill are unpopular with universities with large research departments, as well as some corporations. Universities object for ideological reasons, namely the belief that their research should be enjoyed by everyone around the world. Universities in the last several weeks have been lobbying Republican members including Lucas particularly hard, Republican sources told the Free Beacon. <Source>

Bottom line...

This is what you get when you can't trust the nation's premier law enforcement agencies to do their jobs, especially when Congress Members and select staff are exempt from inclusive background checks.

Not to mention the Democrats leaving Diane Feinstein and Eric Swalwell in place on intelligence committees after prolonged contact with Communist Chinese spies.

It may appear racist, but it is time to protect ourselves from an openly aggressive nuclear power that threatens to shoot down the Speaker of the House's aircraft if she visits Taiwan accompanied by U.S. fighter jets.

We are so screwed.

-- steve