Press ReleaseNeutral2026-07-16

Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. John Moolenaar Ask SEC Chairman Paul Atkins to Block Sanctioned CCP Companies’ Access to U.S. Markets

EnvironmentForeign PolicyDefenseChina

Context

This press release from Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) was published on 2026-07-16 and titled "Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. John Moolenaar Ask SEC Chairman Paul Atkins to Block Sanctioned CCP Companies’ Access to U.S. Mark".

Full Text

Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. John Moolenaar Ask SEC Chairman Paul Atkins to Block Sanctioned CCP Companies’ Access to U.S. Markets

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins requesting the agency restrict sanctioned Chinese companies' access to U.S. capital markets to protect America's economy On June 8, 2026, the Department of War issued a revised list of Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly in the United States, as required by statute. The updated list expanded significantly from the prior year, adding 65 additional entities and representing the most comprehensive U.S. government assessment to date of companies that may support or contribute to the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army. However, certain companies identified on the Section 1260H list continue to access U.S. capital markets, allowing them to raise capital from American investors. The lawmakers wrote said, "China has long sought to take advantage of American markets seeking to enrich themselves and threaten our national security. These Chinese companies, including those on the Chinese military company blacklist, have no business trading on U.S. exchanges. We respectfully urge the Commission to consider what actions within its existing authority might appropriately address the ability of these sanctioned companies to access U.S. capital markets and raise funds that may support Communist China's political, economic, or military objectives." To address this problem, the lawmakers call on the SEC to establish clearer investor warnings, including a ticker symbol, for sanctioned companies from countries of concern, and leverage existing authority to impose temporary trading suspensions on securities issued by those companies. This letter is a continuation of Senator Scott's efforts to untangle Communist China from the U.S. economy. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, he has held multiple hearings to shed light on the national security risk Chinese involvement has in financial markets. In April 2025, the Committee held a joint hearing with the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, " Financial Aggression: How the Chinese Communist Party Exploits American Retirees and Undermines National Security ," to expose the significant threats posed by Communist China to American investments, with a focus on the urgent need for seniors to safeguard their retirement savings from the CCP's predatory practices. On Wednesday of this week, Chairman Scott hosted a hearing titled, " Behind the Label: Foreign Ownership and Control in America's Drug Supply Chain " to expose the disturbing degree to which Communist China controls the drugs in America's medicine cabinets. SCOOP: GOP lawmakers push for SEC to flag, suspend trading of Chinese military-linked stocks Read the full letter HERE or below : Dear Chairman Atkins: On June 8, 2026, the Department of War (DOW) released a revision to the statutorily required Section 1260H list of Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly in the United States.1 DOW's expansion of the 1260H list - adding 65 entities beyond last year's list - represents the most robust assessment of the threat posed by these companies to the U.S. These companies have no business trading on U.S. exchanges, and we respectfully urge the Commission to consider what actions within its existing authority might appropriately address the ability of these companies to access U.S. capital markets and raise funds that may support the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) modernization efforts. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has broad oversight jurisdiction over American national exchanges by law and regulation. Section 23(a)2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") authorizes the SEC to make such rules and regulations as necessary or appropriate to implement the Act. Section 6(b)(5)3 of the Exchange Act further provides that the rules of a national securities exchange must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally, Section 12(k) authorizes the Commission to summarily suspend trading in any security for a period not to exceed 10 business days where it determines such action is in the public interest, and necessary for the protection of investors.4 Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (as amended), the SEC can also suspend trading of securities of foreign companies that fail to meet the same regulatory and transparency standards required of U.S. companies. Accordingly, we encourage you to utilize your pre-existing authorities to initiate the following actions within 60 days of the postmarked date of this letter: 1). Initiate a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a ticker-level disclosure requirement for sanctioned issuers. We would require U.S. national securiti

View original source →

Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. John Moolenaar Ask SEC Chairman Paul Atkins to Block Sanctioned CCP Companies’ Access to U.S. Markets WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins requesting the agency restrict sanctioned Chinese companies' access to U.S. capital markets to protect America's economy On June 8, 2026, the Department of War issued a revised list of Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly in the United States, as required by statute. The updated list expanded significantly from the prior year, adding 65 additional entities and representing the most comprehensive U.S. government assessment to date of companies that may support or contribute to the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army. However, certain companies identified on the Section 1260H list continue to access U.S. capital markets, allowing them to raise capital from American investors. The lawmakers wrote said, "China has long sought to take advantage of American markets seeking to enrich themselves and threaten our national security. These Chinese companies, including those on the Chinese military company blacklist, have no business trading on U.S. exchanges. We respectfully urge the Commission to consider what actions within its existing authority might appropriately address the ability of these sanctioned companies to access U.S. capital markets and raise funds that may support Communist China's political, economic, or military objectives." To address this problem, the lawmakers call on the SEC to establish clearer investor warnings, including a ticker symbol, for sanctioned companies from countries of concern, and leverage existing authority to impose temporary trading suspensions on securities issued by those companies. This letter is a continuation of Senator Scott's efforts to untangle Communist China from the U.S. economy. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, he has held multiple hearings to shed light on the national security risk Chinese involvement has in financial markets. In April 2025, the Committee held a joint hearing with the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, " Financial Aggression: How the Chinese Communist Party Exploits American Retirees and Undermines National Security ," to expose the significant threats posed by Communist China to American investments, with a focus on the urgent need for seniors to safeguard their retirement savings from the CCP's predatory practices. On Wednesday of this week, Chairman Scott hosted a hearing titled, " Behind the Label: Foreign Ownership and Control in America's Drug Supply Chain " to expose the disturbing degree to which Communist China controls the drugs in America's medicine cabinets. SCOOP: GOP lawmakers push for SEC to flag, suspend trading of Chinese military-linked stocks Read the full letter HERE or below : Dear Chairman Atkins: On June 8, 2026, the Department of War (DOW) released a revision to the statutorily required Section 1260H list of Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly in the United States.1 DOW's expansion of the 1260H list - adding 65 entities beyond last year's list - represents the most robust assessment of the threat posed by these companies to the U.S. These companies have no business trading on U.S. exchanges, and we respectfully urge the Commission to consider what actions within its existing authority might appropriately address the ability of these companies to access U.S. capital markets and raise funds that may support the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) modernization efforts. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has broad oversight jurisdiction over American national exchanges by law and regulation. Section 23(a)2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") authorizes the SEC to make such rules and regulations as necessary or appropriate to implement the Act. Section 6(b)(5)3 of the Exchange Act further provides that the rules of a national securities exchange must be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and to protect investors and the public interest. Additionally, Section 12(k) authorizes the Commission to summarily suspend trading in any security for a period not to exceed 10 business days where it determines such action is in the public interest, and necessary for the protection of investors.4 Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (as amended), the SEC can also suspend trading of securities of foreign companies that fail to meet the same regulatory and transparency standards required of U.S. companies. Accordingly, we encourage you to utilize your pre-existing authorities to initiate the following actions within 60 days of the postmarked date of this letter: 1). Initiate a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a ticker-level disclosure requirement for sanctioned issuers. We would require U.S. national securiti