Guest Author
As Americans, we naturally see charitable organizations as dedicated forces for good, committed to uplifting our communities. Unfortunately, adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) see something entirely different: an opportunity to exploit our goodwill as a vector for influence and manipulation.
Senate Bill 700, sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow, addresses this vulnerability head-on — and it’s precisely the type of common-sense measure we at Common Sense America wholeheartedly support.
(Ed. Note — SB 700, also known as the “Florida Farm Bill,” is championed by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.)
The Florida Senate will vote on this important bill this week, which will then be sent to the House of Representatives for review.
In my work advocating for sensible policies to protect America’s national security and economic independence, one thing is clear: China is aggressively working to weaken the U.S. at every level — not just through military might or cyberattacks but through strategic infiltration of local institutions.
This is not speculation; it’s reality.
The Director of National Intelligence recently warned explicitly that the CCP is “redoubling its efforts to build influence at the state and local level to shift U.S. policy in China’s favor,” taking advantage of the fact that local governments and community organizations often lack the resources to vet the sources and intentions behind the support they receive.
This kind of foreign influence is a strategic threat, especially when hidden within our charitable institutions.
SB 700 smartly prohibits charitable organizations from soliciting or accepting contributions from foreign sources identified as threats to our security. Moreover, it creates the Honest Services Registry, requiring charities to disclose their foreign funding sources.
This is precisely the common-sense transparency measure that ensures Floridians can support causes confidently, knowing their contributions aren’t inadvertently advancing foreign interests hostile to America.
Common Sense America firmly believes that safeguarding our national security and local autonomy requires clear, practical measures that eliminate opportunities for foreign adversaries to exploit our open and trusting society. SB 700 represents precisely this approach — it isn’t about limiting charity; it’s about protecting the integrity of Florida’s communities and institutions.
As I regularly emphasize in testimony across the nation, proactive transparency measures such as Florida’s Honest Services Registry aren’t optional; they’re essential. Ensuring our institutions, especially those dedicated to public trust and benevolence, remain free from foreign interference is simply common sense.
I commend Truenow’s leadership on SB 700 and urge all Floridians to support this critical legislation. It’s time we protect our state — and our country — from threats cleverly disguised as charity.
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Steve Crim is the Executive Director of Common Sense America, an advocacy group dedicated to promoting common-sense policy solutions that protect national security and economic resilience.
