American military base retailers would exclude 4 hostile nations under proposal

Physical storefronts on American military installations owned or controlled by China, Russia, Iran or North Korea will be banned if a North Carolina congressman’s proposal becomes law.

U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., also wants to terminate existing contracts with companies untruthful about foreign ownership; require national security review of on-base retailers with foreign ties; and be sure future retail agreements on military bases have transparency and oversight.

“Right now,” Harrigan said in a release, “a company owned by the Chinese Communist Party is operating over 80 stores on American military bases. These stores are in a position to collect personal data from our troops, operate with almost no oversight, and answer directly to a hostile foreign government. That’s not just reckless, it’s a national security threat. My bill closes the loopholes and kicks these companies off our bases for good.”

Citing example, Harrigan said national supplement retailer GNC is “100% owned by China’s state-run Harbin Pharmaceutical Group.” Its deals are exempt from federal contracting standards and ownership disclosures, he said.

Harrigan’s proposal, also known as House Resolution 2551, stems in part from recent moves on the federal and state levels to insulate military installations from foreign adversaries that might buy adjacent land.