Stop the harmful China Initiative from returning

From 2018 until its repeal in 2022, the China Initiative sowed fear in our communities, chilled legitimate international collaborations, and resulted in multiple unjust prosecutions of scientists of Chinese descent. Now, Congress is considering reviving this broken policy by tacking it on to the annual appropriations bills.

Personalize this letter to share why you oppose reviving the China Initiative, fill out the form and send to reach your House representative and senators.

Dear [Lawmaker],

As your constituent and a member of the scientific community, I’m deeply concerned by recent efforts to reestablish policy similar to the 2018 China Initiative. I urge you to reject this bill language from Appropriations bills before passage.

Between 2018 and 2022, the China Initiative resulted in many false positives and few convictions, discouraging and stigmatizing scientists of Chinese descent. We saw a chilling of international collaboration across our field, including in many fundamental research areas that do not present concerns with national security or intellectual property theft.

While our community supports thoughtful risk-based assessments to address legitimate threats to our research enterprise, intellectual property, and national security, the China Initiative was ineffective and failed to recognize the international nature of fundamental scientific research. Reviving this poorly designed initiative will slow discovery, discourage top global talent from contributing to U.S. research efforts, and renew anti-Asian ethnic profiling.

Again, I ask that you ensure any language reviving the China Initiative is struck from Appropriations bills before passage.

Thank you and please keep me updated on this topic.

Sincerely,
______

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