Macon Reporter

Illinois State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) wants to see lawmakers in the Prairie State take similar action against China as it has in the past against Russia.

Niemerg expressed his view in a February 5 Facebook post, which was a day after U.S. officials confirmed a Chinese spy balloon had been shot down off the coast of South Carolina.

"It’s time we do the same to China," Niemerg wrote in the post.

Niemerg attached a screenshot of an article published by the Council of State Governments to his Facebook post. That piece focused on a state law that requires pensions and other investment funds to stay away from Russian banks and companies. According to the Council of State Governments, House Bill 1293 also required that "state colleges and universities must disclose endowments and donations provided by Russian companies. A new state-level task force will work to close loopholes in state law and practices that individuals, including Russian oligarchs, can exploit to launder money via purchases of high-end real estate. Another task force will explore policies to protect Illinois elections from possible Russian or other foreign interference." A handful of other states took similar measures against Russia, especially following the invasion of Ukraine last year. 

House Bill 1293 became a Public Act on December 21, 2022. It was originally filed in February 2021 by Speaker of the House Emanuel Chris Welch (D-Hillside) and was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) the same day it became a public act. 

Niemerg was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2020. He now represents the 102nd District. According to his website, Niemerg is a member of the Farm Bureau and has been active in community theatre. He's also a senior claims adjuster with more than a decade of experience working for Country Financial.