Defend Our Networks Act

Bill: 118-s-1245
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Introduced: 2023-04-20
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft

Computers and information technology

Executive agency funding and structure

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Latest action: action_date: 2023-04-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-04-20
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Defend Our Networks Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires certain unobligated funds that were provided to address COVID-19 to be transferred to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for carrying out the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program. (Under the program, the FCC reimburses certain providers of advanced communications services for reasonable expenses incurred in the removal, replacement, and disposal of communications equipment and services produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation.)</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1245 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 20, 2023 Mrs. Fischer (for herself and Mr. Hickenlooper ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To transfer unobligated balances made available for COVID–19 emergency response and relief to the Federal Communications Commission to enable the Commission to carry out the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Defend Our Networks Act . 2. Transfer of certain unobligated balances; funding of program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission; Program The terms Commission and Program have the meanings given those terms in section 9 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 ( 47 U.S.C. 1608 ). (2) Covered accounts The term covered accounts means amounts made available under— (A) the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 ( Public Law 116–123 ; 134 Stat. 146); (B) the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( Public Law 116–127 ; 134 Stat. 178); (C) the CARES Act ( Public Law 116–136 ; 134 Stat. 281); (D) the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ( Public Law 116–139 ; 134 Stat. 620); (E) division M or N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 ); (F) the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 ; 135 Stat. 4); or (G) an amendment made by a provision of law described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (F). (b) Funding (1) In general Of the unobligated balances, as of the date of enactment of this Act, of the covered accounts, $3,080,000,000 shall be transferred not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act to the Commission to carry out the Program. (2) Pro rata transfer Unobligated balances shall be transferred under paragraph (1) on a pro rata basis. (3) Use and availability of funds Amounts transferred under paragraph (1) shall— (A) be merged with other appropriations for the Program; (B) be subject to the same conditions and limitations as the other appropriations for the Program; and (C) remain available until expended. (4) Technical and conforming amendment Section 4(k) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 ( 47 U.S.C. 1603(k) ) is amended by striking $1,900,000,000 and inserting $4,980,000,000 .