Cutting Biotech Ties to China Gains Steam on Security Issue (1)

Congressional support for cutting federal funds to biotechnology companies controlled by “foreign adversaries” is gaining steam as a national security matter, backers say.

The Biosecure Act (H.R. 8333) was approved by the House Oversight Committee 40-1 Wednesday. The bill would ban five Chinese companies—BGI Group, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi Biologics Cayman Inc., and WuXi Apptec—from receiving federal contracts and cut funding to bio-pharmaceutical interests that use equipment or services other companies deemed “companies of concern.”

Backers in the House and Senate say they’re eyeing passage this year, possibly on the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual must-pass defense ...