U.S. Congressman Mike Gallagher, the key proponent behind the recently introduced Biosecure Act aimed at China-based gene sequencing and Contract Research Organization (CRO) firms, stunned observers with his unexpected resignation from the House of Representatives at the end of last week. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gallagher announced that his resignation would take effect on April 19, 2024.
As chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Gallagher was instrumental in introducing the Biosecure Act, which, if enacted, would implement a swift ban on U.S. federal funding—including potentially Medicaid resources—allocated to four specified Chinese life sciences companies: BGI Group (BGI), MGI, Complete Genomics, and WuXi AppTec.
The abrupt nature of Gallagher’s resignation was interpreted by the stock market as a potentially favorable development for the companies targeted by the bill, raising speculation that the legislation might be delayed or modified. On the day of the announcement, shares of WuXi AppTec and its subsidiary WuXi Bio surged over 5%, despite experiencing declines of more than 50% in value throughout the year. The Biosecurity Act, which received approval from a Senate committee earlier this month, still requires passage by both chambers of Congress and the president’s signature to become law.
In a related development, John Moolenaar, a representative from Michigan, has been appointed to succeed Gallagher. Moolenaar has a history of taking a tough stance on China-related issues, including a bipartisan visit to Taiwan earlier this year and the introduction of legislation aimed at preventing Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Gotion from accessing U.S. tax funds. His website states a commitment to healthcare issues, emphasizing the need for funding to combat the opioid crisis, and he has previously criticized China for its failure to regulate chemicals used in fentanyl production.- Flcube.com
