Senate committee to advance bill restricting Chinese biotechs

Enacting legislation that would prohibit U.S. government contracting with Chinese biotech companies remains a high priority for Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), a spokesperson for Peters told BioCentury Thursday. The bill targets companies that manufacture gene sequencing equipment and provide biotech services.

Peters, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, recessed a markup Wednesday without taking a vote on S. 3558, a bill that would restrict the ability of the U.S. government to procure equipment or services from Chinese biotech companies. Peters intends to reconvene the markup hearing and to advance the bill, the spokesperson said. The committee has not scheduled the markup hearing. ...