REP. JIM BANKS INTRODUCES TRUTH IN TESTIMONY RULE

Press Release

Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) proposed a new rule in the House of Representatives that would strengthen the "Truth in Testimony" form required for nongovernment witnesses under House rules, requiring maximum transparency, so that Congress and the American public understand exactly how foreign agendas may be influencing the public policy discussion that takes place before House committees. The new rule would mandate anyone appearing before Congress disclose whether they receive any foreign funding before providing any testimony. Read more via Axios HERE.

The U.S. China Security and Economic Commission has noted that a number of Washington D.C. think tanks and universities have received funding from the United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). One study has found at least $174 million in foreign funding to D.C. think tanks from 2014-2018 alone. Last year, the State Department, under former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's leadership, required all think tanks speaking before the State Department to disclose foreign funding.

The rule proposal has 40 original cosponsors, including RSC National Security and Foreign Affairs Task Force Chairman Rep. Joe Wilson.

"Congress works best when all the cards are face up on the table. The Truth in Testimony rule has a long conservative tradition going back to Speaker Gingrich, and its past time we expose malign foreign influence and take the masks off individuals who testify before Congress while taking money from foreign countries. I urge my colleagues to pass this rule as soon as possible," said Rep. Jim Banks.

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