Republican leaders commend House passage of bipartisan Secure Equipment Act

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and House E&C Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH) on Wednesday applauded U.S. House of Representatives passage of the bipartisan Secure Equipment Act of 2021.

Rep. Scalise in June sponsored H.R. 3919 with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reviewing or issuing new equipment licenses to companies on its Covered Equipment or Services List that pose a national security threat. The U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 20 voted 420-4 to approve H.R. 3919, which now heads to the U.S. Senate, where the same-named companion bill, S. 1790, is under committee consideration.

“It was good to see both parties come together to strengthen America’s security against Chinese cyberattacks when the House overwhelmingly passed the Secure Equipment Act that I wrote with Rep. Anna Eshoo,” Rep. Scalise said following the House vote.

If enacted, H.R. 3919 “will prevent China from infiltrating America’s telecommunications networks and threatening the safety and national security of the American people when sending data across the internet,” added Rep. Scalise. “By prohibiting the FCC from issuing any equipment licenses to companies identified as a threat to our national security, this bill prevents compromised Chinese equipment from threatening America’s networks.”

The congressman added that H.R. 3919 sends a strong signal to the Chinese Communist Party that America remains committed to securing its networks and protecting the privacy and safety of its citizens. 

“I’m proud to have worked with Rep. Eshoo in writing this important bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to its passage in the Senate as this bill moves one step closer to becoming law,” said Rep. Scalise. 

Rep. McMorris Rodgers and Rep. Latta issued a joint statement on Wednesday praising House approval of H.R. 3919 and several other telecom-related bills.  

“Next-generation wireless technologies are going to shape our economy, our country, and the world in the coming decades,” the House Energy and Commerce Committee members said. “This committee has a rich history of bipartisanship and we are grateful for the leadership of our colleagues on these solutions that will improve the security, reliability and competitiveness of American wireless networks, promote Open RAN compatible technologies, and advance 6G development.”

“By securing our wireless networks, we will fuel American innovation and entrepreneurship, prevent countries like China from leading in advanced technologies, and connect millions of Americans across the country,” said Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Latta.