Press Releases

Washington, DC—April 28, 2022....U.S. Representatives Steve Womack (R-AR-3) and Elaine Luria (D-VA-2) today announced they sent a letter to members of the House and Senate Conference Committee for the America COMPETES Act, urging conferees to include language from their bipartisan American Telecommunications Security Act that would prohibit American Rescue Plan Act funds from being used to purchase equipment from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE.

In November 2021, Reps. Womack and Luria introduced the American Telecommunications Security Act.

Rep. Womack said, “No company inextricably tied to the Chinese Communist Party’s espionage efforts should have access to critical U.S. networks. It’s a glaring national security threat. The America COMPETES Act Conference Committee must take every action possible to protect our technology and telecommunications infrastructure. Including language from our American Telecommunications Security Act should be a priority. No taxpayer funds should be used to purchase CCP-linked equipment.”

“We cannot continue to allow our taxpayer dollars to be used to purchase equipment from firms that are well-documented and complicit in the People’s Republic of China espionage campaign against the United States,” Rep. Luria said. “I urge the America COMPETES Act Conference Committee to include language in the final legislation that would prohibit American Rescue Plan funds from being used to purchase Chinese equipment and safeguard American technology infrastructure.” 

Rep. Luria and Rep. Womack’s letter can be found here.

In June 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Huawei and ZTE as national security threats due to their ties to the Chinese government and Chinese law requiring them to assist in espionage activities. As a result, no funds from the FCC’s Universal Fund can be used to purchase equipment from these two suppliers. 

However, the American Rescue Plan did not include language prohibiting this, allowing states and local governments to purchase telecommunications equipment that poses a national security risk. This bill ensures that state and local governments across the country purchase equipment that maintains our national security against foreign threats.

The America COMPETES Act would revitalize America’s research, innovation, and manufacturing sectors and ensure that America can outcompete any nation in the world, now and for decades to come. 

The legislation passed the House on February 4, 2022, and the Senate passed similar legislation in late March. Now, the two chambers must reconcile their differences in the conference committee.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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