Reps. Eshoo, Gallagher, Krishnamoorthi Raise Concern about Chinese Genomic Sequencing Services

Washington, D.C.- Representatives Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, Mike Gallagher (WI-8), Chair of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sent a letter to Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) President David Skorton to highlight the grave threat to national security, privacy and economic security posed by genomic sequencing services from companies with ties to the People's Republic of China (PRC). In the letter, the Members urged AAMC to encourage its membersto institute additional security procedures to safeguard patient data without delay andto monitor the progress of bipartisan, bicameral legislation titled the BIOSECURE Act (H.R. 7085/S. 3558) which prohibits federal contracts with biotechnology providers connected to foreign adversaries. The members wrote, "U.S. officials have long cautioned that companies with ties to the PRC pose privacy and security threats to Americans. The PRC's national security law requires all Chinese organizations to "support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts." Under this law, any entity owned by or affiliated with Chinese companies could be compelled by the Chinese government to provide data on Americans."

The members continued, "Any of AAMC's members with third-party genomic sequencing contracts could be at risk of losing access to patient data or inadvertently sharing patient data with a foreign adversary. AAMC should also encourage its members to institute additional security procedures to safeguard patient data now, including redoubling cybersecurity protocols to protect against cyberattacks."

AAMC represents accredited medical schools in the U.S. and Canada, as well as teaching hospitals and health systems, Veterans' Affairs medical centers, academic societies, full-time faculty members, resident physicians and medical students. As the leading voice for the medical community, AAMC has a critical role to play in ensuring patient data is safe and protected for decades to come.

You can read the full letter here.

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