Representative Collin Duel

R

District 31

Hi, I'm Collin Duel and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 31st District.

representative

Leadership

Assistant Majority Floor Leader

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

Jan 31, 2025
Recent Posts

Duel Files Divestment Act to Protect National Security

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, has filed a bill that would require state pensions and state university endowment funds to divest from foreign adversary nations. House Bill 1561 would create the “Foreign Adversary Divestment Act of 2025.” "This is a matter of national security, ensuring Oklahoma public investment dollars are not put at risk in countries of concern," Duel said. "This also will assure we are not funding the development of military technologies and surveillance tools of our adversaries." Duel, a decorated Army Ranger who served the nation during four combat deployments to Afghanistan, said he understands well what constitutes a national security risk. He said this measure will protect Oklahomans and their savings and investments, and in a broader sense, the interests of the United States of America. Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore, is co-authoring the bill. "As we continually seek to protect the retirement benefits of our state's pensioners, this bill adds the additional layer of security from foreign interests that might seek to do them immeasurable financial harm," Lepak said. Under the provisions of the bill, all state and local managed funds would be prohibited from holding investments in any foreign adversary, as well as any state-owned enterprise of a foreign adversary, or any company or other entity domiciled within, owned or controlled by a foreign adversary. All state-managed funds would be required to immediately in good faith begin divestment of any holdings prohibited in this act, with total divestment achieved by Jan. 1, 2028, or two years after the effective date of this act, whichever is earliest. Total divestment would mean reducing the value of prohibited investments to no more than five-hundredths of one percent of the market value of all assets under management by a state or locally managed fund. The act would require the state treasurer to develop a notification system to identify foreign adversaries or countries of particular concern. Entities subject to the provision of the act would have six months from the effective date to identify all companies affected. HB1561 will be eligible for consideration in the upcoming legislative session, which starts Feb. 3. If enacted, the act would become effective Nov. 1. 

Oct 11, 2024
Recent Posts

Duel Examines State-Level Responses to Foreign Adversary Influence

Rep. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, recently led an interim study examining the Oklahoma Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) and the Oklahoma Foreign Adversary Divestment Act (FADA). IS24-060 was held before the House State Powers Committee. The interim studies' purpose was to analyze the effectiveness of current federal and state laws in addressing foreign adversary activities within Oklahoma, focusing on the Foreign Agent Registration Act of 2025 and the Foreign Adversary Divestment Act. Alex Gray, Chief Executive Officer of American Global Strategies LLC and former Chief of Staff to the National Security Council, opened the interim study, stating that America's adversaries are actively seeking to bring conflict to U.S. soil. "The Chinese Communist Party views our states and localities as less prepared to resist Chinese Communist Party aggression than the U.S. at the federal level," Gray said. "So, taking these steps now to harden ourselves at the state and local level is a critical part of deterring a future conflict." Frances Hui, policy and advocacy coordinator at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, who was the first Hong Kong activist to secure asylum in the United States, spoke about personal accounts as a target of transnational repression carried out by Beijing.    "I always find it important to remind Americans and people living in democracies: freedom is not free," Hui said. "It's something that requires fighting for and continuously defending." Matthew du Mee, Partner at Fusion Law, provided an overview of FARA, which is intended to protect U.S. national security by requiring enhanced transparency into the activities of organizations operating in the U.S. on behalf of foreign adversaries. The study highlighted three main issues with FARA: lobbyists, commercial activity, and academic research are often exempt. As a result, adversary espionage and influence campaigns can operate relatively unhindered across the U.S. through these loopholes. Organizations such as TikTok, the drone manufacturer DJI, and others with ties to China have been allowed to operate without FARA registration despite being recognized as foreign-controlled entities. Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor, wrapped up the section on FARA, providing future considerations at the state level that would differ from the federal level. Lucci's considerations included adversary national application, removing academic, commercial, and lobbying loopholes, looking back at accountability, and a state proposal with civil-only penalties. Duel then had Lucci provide a brief overview of FADA. FADA's purpose is to divest assets in the People's Republic of China to maintain compliance with fiduciary duty. "There are moral, national security reasons, but I think that the closing argument on holding Chinese assets is really fiduciary at this point," Lucci said. "The fiduciary argument, I believe, would be to get out now." Investments in Chinese assets have long carried moral risks; for example, pension dollars have funded human rights abuses and China's military buildup. Indiana, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Texas and other states have divested some or all their PRC assets. Sweden also recently divested its public pensions from China. "This is really an accelerating trend that we're seeing with the state, the federal government, and American allies," Lucci said. Other speakers include Dr. Jacqueline, founder and CEO of Long-Term Strategy Group and Ambassador Kelley Currie, Founder of Kilo Alpha Strategies, and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Commission on Women's Rights. Duel thanked everyone for attending and presenting at the interim study. "All the information provided is extremely valuable," Duel said. "I look forward to seeing what we can do as the state of Oklahoma in order to help prepare ourselves for a threat from the CCP. "

May 6, 2024
Recent Posts

Reps. Duel and Burns Announce Oklahoma Memorial Trail Ruck-Off

Reps. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, and Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, invite all Oklahomans to attend the second annual Oklahoma Memorial Trail Ruck-Off in Guthrie, Oklahoma, on Saturday, May 18, 2024.  The event aims to raise awareness about veteran issues, support military recruitment efforts and promote the newly created Oklahoma Military Trails. "I encourage everyone to join us on May 18 in Guthrie, whether you're walking or attending the closing ceremony," Duel said. "Your presence will help us honor and raise awareness for our veterans. I want to thank the City of Guthrie, Guthrie Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs for their partnership in organizing this event."  This year's ruck-off is named in honor of Pvt Oscar J. Upham, a U.S. Marine who earned the Medal of Honor during the Boxer Rebellion. Pvt. Upham passed away at the age of 77 in Guthrie, Oklahoma. "Members of the Legislative Veteran's Caucus and several departments in Oklahoma have been working on this project for a while now," Burns said. "We are thrilled to host it once again and excited to expand it to other regions of the state."  The march will begin at 7:00 a.m. Participants can choose between a four-mile or a twelve-mile route, with or without a 35-pound ruck. The closing ceremony is scheduled for noon at the WPA Armory, located at 724 E. Logan Ave., Guthrie, Oklahoma.  To register for the march, visit  https://calendly.com/cloverleafprecision/ruck-off-2024/