Press Releases
Congressman Alford Leads Bicameral Letter on CCP Manufacturing Plant in Johnson County, Kansas
Washington,
February 2, 2024
Washington, DC – Earlier today, as first reported by Daily Caller, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) led a bicameral letter to Secretaries Yellen and Austin regarding a manufacturing facility being constructed in Johnson County, Kansas. Cnano Technologies, the company responsible for the construction, has reportedly been linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Senator Eric Schmitt (MO) and Congressman Jake LaTurner (KS-02) are co-leads on this effort.
The letter was also signed by:
Congressman Alford issued the following statement:
“The construction of a manufacturing facility by Cnano Technologies, a company connected to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in Johnson County, Kansas is deeply concerning. The CCP’s brazen aggressions around the globe cannot be tolerated.
We deserve to know what knowledge Secretaries Yellen and Austin have of this construction, any information about the company’s connection to the Communist regime, and what is being done to halt this project.
A facility of this magnitude with such proximity to several military installations must be stopped. We look forward to swift response from Administration officials.”
Senator Eric Schmitt added:
“It is imperative we protect our critical military infrastructure from Chinese Communist Party espionage and allowing a CCP entity to set up shop in the backyard of military installations like Whiteman AFB, Fort Leavenworth, and the Kansas City National Security Campus is completely unacceptable.”
Congressman Jake LaTurner said:
"Cnano USA is a wolf in sheep's clothing and a clear threat to America's national and economic security," said Rep. LaTurner. "Allowing the CCP to set up shop in Johnson County and infiltrate our supply chains and critical military installations is unacceptable. The Biden administration must take action to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from expanding its foothold in Kansas and other states across the country."
Senator Marshall had the following to say:
“The CCP will exploit any avenue to better position its espionage efforts against the United States, we’ve seen it time and time again. We must take severe caution when it comes to any company coming to Kansas with potential ties to the CCP,” Senator Marshall said. “We’ve called for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to review Cnano and are fighting for a CFIUS review that would also help reveal red flags about this company. I’m optimistic these investigations will uncover any information Kansans and elected officials need to understand and address any potential national security threat right here in our backyard.”
Congressman Leutkemeyer added: “Chinese nationals have breached U.S. military bases as many as 100 times in recent years, secretly reporting our security practices back to the Chinese government. Over that same period, companies and individuals with direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party have been buying American farmland near military bases which not only threatens our national security but also hands our ability to control our own food supply to foreign governments. It would be both irresponsible and unacceptable for the Secretary of Treasury to ignore the latest CCP-linked land purchase. My colleagues and I vehemently urge her to grant CFIUS jurisdiction to review the transaction.”
Congressman Sam Graves said:
“Under no circumstances should a company so closely tied to the Chinese Communist Party be allowed unfettered access to a facility so close to critical national security assets in the Midwest. CFIUS needs to take a close look at this and ensure they are reviewing similar foreign investments in the area going forward.”
Congressman Burlison said:
“The ties between Cnano USA and the Chinese Communist Party are undeniable and demand immediate action and investigation by CFIUS to assess the national security threat of this planned facility.
A rapid response from the Biden Administration is crucial to safeguard our critical military assets and curb the risk of our adversary, China, obtaining new information about us.“
Media inquiries for Rep. Alford should be directed to Austin Higginbotham at Austin.Higginbotham@mail.house.gov. |