By Karen Freifeld
(Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill that aims to restrict business with China's WuXi AppTec, BGI and several other biotech companies on national security grounds.
It was the first floor vote for the Biosecure Act, which would prohibit federal contracts with targeted firms and those that do business with them.
Supporters argue the measure is necessary to protect Americans' personal health and genetic information as well as U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains.
The bill passed by 306 to 81, easily topping the two-thirds majority necessary under the process.