On my first day as a Congressman in the US this January, I walked to my office on Capitol Hill and came across some surprising insights.
Amongst the various American newspapers available at no cost for members of Congress, I found daily editions of China Daily—essentially a propaganda outlet for the Chinese Communist Party.
This highlighted the urgent need for legislation that clearly communicates what shouldn’t be allowed. It doesn’t sell in the US.
For years, it felt like Washington was turning a blind eye while foreign adversaries quietly infiltrated the very systems that were meant to safeguard our democracy.
Thus, the bill was introduced to halt the daily unsolicited deliveries from China to our Capitol—a crucial measure against the information warfare occurring on our own grounds.
China Daily isn’t journalism; it’s the Chinese Communist Party’s voice, operating under registration as a foreign agent in the US.
By utilizing taxpayer-funded resources for this distribution, Congress was inadvertently endorsing foreign propaganda.
When concerns were raised, a Republican colleague took charge.
Brian Steele, chairman of the Wisconsin House Trustees’ Committee, along with Michigan Rep. John Mourenard, who chairs a committee focused on the Chinese Communist Party, acted quickly to ban these daily deliveries.
If any member or their staff wishes to subscribe to China Daily personally, that’s perfectly fine. But taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill.
Since then, the repercussions of their decisions have echoed beyond our borders.
Just last month, the UK Parliament decided to stop receiving unsolicited daily deliveries from China as well.
This reflects true leadership. As the US asserts itself, our allies take notice.
Why does this matter? Well, authoritarian regimes like China don’t rely solely on military might and economic control to achieve their ends.
They also wield narratives, influence operations, and propaganda to undermine democracy from within. Each piece of flashy information delivered from China to parliamentary offices was another building block in Beijing’s web of deception.
Breaking this pattern is a part of a larger strategy to shield our institutions from foreign manipulations.
What excites me the most is the potential ripple effects.
The actions taken by Congress signal that our allies are waking up to an uncomfortable truth: free societies can’t afford to let hostile countries exploit the openness of democracy against itself.
When we stand our ground, it sends a clear message—not just to Beijing, but to all oppressive regimes—that propaganda cannot find refuge in freedom.
Too often, Congress waits until a crisis escalates to act. By then, the damage is often done.
That’s why these proactive measures are so encouraging.
If we can’t keep propaganda publications out of our offices, then how can we expect to confront China’s extensive campaigns of intellectual theft, cyber attacks, and economic pressure?
From Washington to Westminster, democracy is waking up to the harsh realities of information warfare, and we must give it the attention it deserves.
Preventing China Daily from being distributed in our lawmakers’ offices shows that we can plug at least one hole in the dam and begin to protect ourselves.
This fight isn’t just about newspapers. It’s about whether a free society has the resolve to defend itself in a time when propaganda can be as harmful as missiles or drones.
What started in the US Capitol is now shaping policy discussions abroad.
This should serve as a warning to our adversaries and a rallying call to our allies: we will not be silenced or compromised.
The world keeps turning as America leads with resolve and purpose.
Abraham J. Hamade represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
