U.S. House Tackles China Threat, Fraud, and Regulatory Costs in Multiple Hearings

The U.S. House of Representatives held multiple hearings on April 1, 2025, addressing various national security and economic issues. The House Science Committee discussed NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, focusing on the growing threat of China and strategies to maintain American leadership in space, with some likening the situation to a new Sputnik moment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held a hearing on the use of drones, highlighting their role in enhancing operational efficiency and reducing manpower needs. Concerns were raised about the reliance on drones manufactured by adversarial nations like China, prompting discussions on securing U.S. drone manufacturing. The Financial Services Committee's National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions Subcommittee convened to discuss tools and techniques to combat fraud. The hearing emphasized the importance of safety and soundness in financial markets and the need for law enforcement to have effective tools to fight fraud, especially in light of the $5.7 billion lost to investment fraud in 2024. Additionally, the House Small Business Committee addressed the impact of regulatory burdens on small businesses. Representatives highlighted the challenges posed by overregulation under the Biden administration, which resulted in $1.8 trillion in new compliance costs and over 350 million hours in paperwork. They praised efforts by the Trump administration to reverse these policies, which they claim have stifled business growth, including stopping over $180 billion in proposed regulations. Representative Finstad introduced the Prove It Act to give small businesses a voice in regulatory processes.