Legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) would ban members of the Chinese Communist Party from entering the United States using B-1 and B-2 visas.

The bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), would ensure no member of China’s communist regime can travel to the United States for vacation and non-official government business. The party holds a membership of approximately 93 million, according to Tuberville’s office.

In offering the legislation, the senators cite the party’s responsibility in stealing trillions of dollars of intellectual property annually. If enacted, the senators hope that the bill would discourage Chinese nationals from becoming members of the party.

In a statement released Monday, Tuberville declared that the Communist Party’s rogue actions “should not be tolerated.”

“Year after year, the Chinese Communist Party steals intellectual property worth trillions of dollars from companies around the world,” said Tuberville. “This blatant theft should not be tolerated in the United States. We must do everything we can to stop harmful foreign interference in our society and economy, including banning members of the CCP from obtaining B-1 and B-2 nonimmigrant visas.

“China’s increasingly hostile role on the world stage and willingness to orchestrate cyber and intellectual crime has made them our top adversary. It makes no sense to allow those who would harm the United States to lawfully enter our country for any reason.”

Tuberville joins U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in being an original co-sponsor to Rubio’s legislation.

Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL