Bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) that prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reviewing or issuing new equipment licenses to companies posing a national security threat became law on Nov. 11.
“Yesterday’s bill signing proves that Congress can still work together across the aisle to enact vital legislation to protect the privacy and security of American citizens,” Rep. Scalise said on Friday.
President Joe Biden signed into law the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, H.R. 3919, to prevent equipment manufactured by Chinese state-backed firms such as Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua from being further utilized and marketed in the United States.
Rep. Scalise and U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced H.R. 3919 in June. The U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 20 voted 420-4 to approve H.R. 3919, while the U.S. Senate passed the bill on Oct. 28 by unanimous consent. H.R. 3919 is related to the same-named S. 1790, introduced in May by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA).
“I was proud to work with Rep. Eshoo and Senators Rubio and Markey to get the Secure Equipment Act through the House and Senate to prevent Chinese companies identified as national security threats from gaining access to the private data of American families,” said Rep. Scalise. “With this bill being signed into law, we have sent a strong signal to the Chinese Communist Party that America is committed to protecting our telecommunications networks and the data security of our nation.”
The bill requires the FCC to establish rules stating that it will no longer review or approve any authorization application for equipment that is on the list of covered communications equipment or services, which are those that the FCC determines pose an unacceptable risk to national security or the security and safety of U.S. persons, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“I commend my colleague, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, on his efforts, which will protect Americans while strengthening U.S. innovation and leadership in next generation telecommunications technologies,” said U.S. House Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).
The congresswoman added that the Secure Equipment Act is a major step toward securing America’s telecommunications infrastructure.
“Telecommunications technology from companies like China state-backed Huawei and ZTE pose a significant national security threat to our networks,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said on Nov. 12. “This bipartisan legislation… will prevent the use of equipment from companies that pose a security threat to our networks.”
FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel also commended the signing of the Secure Equipment Act of 2021 into law, saying the bill “mirrors our efforts to update the Federal Communications Commission’s equipment authorization procedures.”