Forbes Introduces SPIES Act to Increase Protections Against Foreign Espionage
Congressional Desk
October 11, 2007
Washington, D.C. – Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today he has introduced legislation with House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (TX-21) and Reps. Howard Coble (NC-06), Elton Gallegly (CA-24), and Frank Wolf (VA-10) to better protect the United States from espionage. The Supporting Prosecutions of International Espionage Schemes Act of 2007 (SPIES Act) will update existing laws to give the United States better tools to combat foreign espionage.
The United States is the top target of virtually every foreign espionage service in the world. We have seen increased evidence that countries such as China, Russia, and Iran are gaining privileged information about the United States, which has tremendously detrimental effects,” Forbes said. “We cannot sit by and let foreign nations continue to steal national security information, intellectual capital, or advanced technologies without consequences.”
The SPIES Act would reform existing espionage laws to address outdated statutes, as well as increase criminal penalties for espionage crimes. Additionally, the legislation would expand the coverage of espionage laws to cover terrorist organizations, not only foreign nations. The bill would also increase penalties for violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Administration Act and would improve the coordination among the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, State and Commerce on the enforcement of export controls. The U.S. maintains export controls on sensitive dual-use goods and technologies – items that have both civilian and military applications. Exports are controlled for national security, foreign policy, or supply purposes.
The United States government has detected increased incidences of spying from countries like China in recent years. China’s intelligence activities have aggressively acquired U.S. advanced technology, often before it is fully developed here, by using a sophisticated network of low-profile civilians, academics and students embedded in U.S. society. This is in contrast to the tactics of most other spy operations that rely on professionally trained spies and has garnered China the designation of the United States “number one threat” by the Attorney General of the United States.
It is estimated that there are between 2,000-3,000 Chinese front companies operating in the U.S. designed to gather secret or proprietary information, and the Director of National Intelligence testified on September 18, 2007 before the House Judiciary Committee that China and Russia’s foreign intelligence services are approaching Cold War levels.
Foreign countries are continuing to develop new techniques to steal U.S. intelligence, such as cyber-attacks, business acquisitions, circumvention of export controls and academic research to garner information,” Forbes said. “The SPIES Act will provide the United States the tools necessary to thwart emerging and ever-evolving espionage threats.”
Congressman Randy Forbes is a Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and Founder and Co-Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus.
The United States is the top target of virtually every foreign espionage service in the world. We have seen increased evidence that countries such as China, Russia, and Iran are gaining privileged information about the United States, which has tremendously detrimental effects,” Forbes said. “We cannot sit by and let foreign nations continue to steal national security information, intellectual capital, or advanced technologies without consequences.”
The SPIES Act would reform existing espionage laws to address outdated statutes, as well as increase criminal penalties for espionage crimes. Additionally, the legislation would expand the coverage of espionage laws to cover terrorist organizations, not only foreign nations. The bill would also increase penalties for violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Administration Act and would improve the coordination among the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, State and Commerce on the enforcement of export controls. The U.S. maintains export controls on sensitive dual-use goods and technologies – items that have both civilian and military applications. Exports are controlled for national security, foreign policy, or supply purposes.
The United States government has detected increased incidences of spying from countries like China in recent years. China’s intelligence activities have aggressively acquired U.S. advanced technology, often before it is fully developed here, by using a sophisticated network of low-profile civilians, academics and students embedded in U.S. society. This is in contrast to the tactics of most other spy operations that rely on professionally trained spies and has garnered China the designation of the United States “number one threat” by the Attorney General of the United States.
It is estimated that there are between 2,000-3,000 Chinese front companies operating in the U.S. designed to gather secret or proprietary information, and the Director of National Intelligence testified on September 18, 2007 before the House Judiciary Committee that China and Russia’s foreign intelligence services are approaching Cold War levels.
Foreign countries are continuing to develop new techniques to steal U.S. intelligence, such as cyber-attacks, business acquisitions, circumvention of export controls and academic research to garner information,” Forbes said. “The SPIES Act will provide the United States the tools necessary to thwart emerging and ever-evolving espionage threats.”
Congressman Randy Forbes is a Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and Founder and Co-Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus.
Print
Email
