South Dakota Representative Johnson Introduces Legislation Allowing States to Divest from China

South Dakota’s lone U.S. House Representative, Republican Dusty Johnson, has introduced the “PRC Accountability and Divestment Act of 2023.”

The legislation aims to permit state and local governments to divest assets, including pension funds, from China, citing concerns about investments in Chinese military and technologies.

Johnson, a member of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, emphasizes the bill’s flexibility for states to counter potential threats.

This move follows similar divestment legislation in the past, with Johnson highlighting the collaboration with Governor Kristi Noem on addressing state concerns regarding Chinese investments.

The legislation is part of a broader effort to reassess the U.S.’s economic relationship with China.