The following column was published by the Lapeer County Press on Saturday, July 26

We recently celebrated the Fourth of July — a time where we commemorate our free and prosperous nation.

Because of this awe-inspiring prosperity, including our military might and many technological advancements generated over the years through hard work and the bright minds of countless Americans, there are adversaries out there who are looking to steal our data, secure beneficial reconnaissance and undermine our state and country where they can.

Earlier this year, I voted to advance bills that combat foreign influence from countries of concern in Michigan. These plans will help safeguard our residents, security and economy from various threats.

One bill in the package prevents foreign entities of concern from collecting sensitive information by blocking prohibited apps on government devices. This is a commonsense change in a world where technology plays an ever-increasing role in communication and information can change hands easier. Some popular apps have been developed by companies based in the People’s Republic of China and have been subject to scrutiny regarding their potential ties and affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party. These ties can result in the government’s ability to mine the apps for surveillance, and we should curtail this ability where we can.

The plans also protect personal health information of Michigan residents by ensuring health care record technology is physically maintained in the U.S. or Canada. Data breaches involving sensitive information like health care records are already a huge issue and can lead to insurance fraud and identity theft. Last year, an average of 61 large healthcare data breaches were reported each month. Just a few months before we voted on these bills, nearly 1.8 million people nationwide were affected by healthcare data breaches in March alone!

If these breaches come from a hostile foreign adversary or an entity that is working closely with one, the fallout could be profound. This would be a needed safeguard to protect people’s information behind the most robust security systems in the world, instead of outsourcing it elsewhere.

In addition to communications technology and medical records, the bills confront a growing trend in Michigan and across the country by preventing entities of concern from purchasing land near military bases and other infrastructure that’s deemed critical to state or national security. They also prohibit public bodies in the state from entering into constraining agreements with foreign entities of concern and require gifts from these entities and any existing agreements to be disclosed. People have the right to know that their elected officials are working in their best interests and the best interests of a community — not the interests of a foreign government.

The bills in the package — many of which advanced through the House with broad bipartisan support — apply to all of the dangerous entities included on the federal watch list: The People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolas Maduro and the Syrian Arab Republic.

Our nation’s adversaries and their governments have consistently attempted to wrestle away influence, subvert sovereignty and assert soft power in many countries across the globe. In many ways, our adversaries are using our way of life against us. Unfortunately, our laws have been slow to adapt to potential threats these nations pose.

We must protect the values that make America, America — including private property rights, privacy of the individual and the right to travel freely. Our enemies worldwide are using these freedoms against us, collecting vital data and purchasing property.

Thomas Jefferson is credited with the quote: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” We should be mindful about this issue going forward, and these bills provide straightforward and solid deterrents.