[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 63 (Monday, April 17, 2023)] [House] [Pages H1733-H1735] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-17
Chamber: HOUSE
Mr. MAST: I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1149, Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act. The Chinese Communist Party, as we all know, weaponizes every tool at its disposal, whether it is intellectualproperty, a balloon, or a social media app. That is why it is no surprise that CCP-controlled companies like Huawei pose risks to our national security and why it is important that we do not allow ourselves or our allies or partners to be duped by the seemingly low- cost, state-backed telecom companies like Huawei. It might seem cheap, but the fact is the cost is much higher than many realize. You pay by allowing the CCP to control all of your telecommunications data, which, as history has shown, it can and will use against you. China has made no bones about that. What does this bill do? It requires, number one, the State Department to conduct a risk assessment and report to Congress on the presence of any untrusted telecommunications equipment or vendors like Huawei in the networks of defense-allied countries. Number two, it requires the Government Accountability Office to report on Chinese and Russian telecom suppliers serving U.S. embassies overseas. Number three, finally, the bill tasks the State Department with identifying telecom infrastructure projects that would strengthen U.S. national security. Three worthy goals. The United States has to be a leader on this front. We need to help our allies and our partners end their dependence on problematic companies like Huawei that are in the pocket of our adversaries. It makes no sense whatsoever. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild) for her leadership on this issue and for working together on this important bill, which deserves our unanimous support, in my opinion. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.  House of Representatives,  Committee on Financial Services,  Washington, DC, March 14, 2023. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for consulting with the Committee on Financial Services regarding H.R. 1149, the Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act. I agree that the Committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that, by foregoing consideration of H.R. 1149 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar legislation as it moves forward. The Committee also reserves the right to see appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any conference with the Senate involving this or similar legislation, and we request your support for any such request. Finally, as you mentioned in your letter, I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this bill be included in your Committee's report to accompany the legislation, as well as in the Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof. Sincerely,  Patrick McHenry,  Chairman, Committee on Financial Services. ____  House of Representatives,  Committee on Foreign Affairs,  Washington, DC, March 14, 2023. Hon. Patrick McHenry, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McHenry: Thank you for consulting with the Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1149, Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act, so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. The suspension text incorporates edits you have requested to portions of the bill within your committee's jurisdiction. I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate conference on this legislation. I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 1149 into the Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman.