China biotech crackdown divides House Dems

The China biotech crackdown cleared a major milestone last night when it passed the House — but it no longer has quite the bipartisan gloss that it had at the committee level, Peter reports.

Why it matters: The Democratic divide that was apparent during the vote could complicate the Biosecure Act's prospects in the Senate, even though it still has plenty of momentum.

Driving the news: The measure to cut off certain Chinese biotech companies from U.S. government funding got a big vote, 306-81, but that is a far cry from the 40-1 tally coming out of the House Oversight Committee.

• 79 Democrats voted against the measure on the floor.
• Rep. Jim McGovern, an influential Democrat and ranking member of the Rules Committee, led the opposition, arguing the bill singled out the companies without due process.
• House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also voted no. Without his support, it is harder to get the bill into a must-pass vehicle like the National Defense Authorization Act.

What they're saying: GOP sponsor Rep. Brad Wenstrup did not sound eager to make changes to address McGovern's concerns in an interview with Axios.

• Asked if he thinks there is a need to make changes, Wenstrup said of McGovern: "He does."
• "We're all willing to listen, but the bottom line is I felt the good work of the bipartisan select subcommittee on China was insulted," Wenstrup told Peter.

• McGovern said on the House floor on Monday that he is open to getting to yes, but wants to make sure there is a "thorough investigation" before companies are placed on the list where they are cut off from U.S. government funding.

What's next: There was strong support for companion legislation in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. But despite an 11-1 vote to advance that bill, Ranking Member Rand Paul raised similar concerns about singling out companies.

• Wenstrup said he hopes members of the Senate Intelligence Committee can help make the case to move the bill, and not necessarily as part of a must-pass package.