House advances Secure Equipment Act

House Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) applauded their U.S. House of Representatives colleagues for advancing the Secure Equipment Act.

The measure prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reviewing or issuing new equipment licenses to companies on the agency’s Covered Equipment or Services List posing a national security threat.

Per lawmakers, the bill prevents equipment manufactured by Chinese state-backed firms, including Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua, from being utilized and marketed domestically. Security halting entities pose a national security threat risk from having a presence in the nation’s telecommunications network.

“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,” Scalise said. “The Secure Equipment Act 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.”

Scalise said the legislation, which now will be considered for Senate approval, sends a signal to the Chinese Communist Party that America is committed to securing its networks and protecting citizen privacy and safety.

“I’ve fought for over a decade to address vulnerabilities in our telecommunications infrastructure that directly impact our national security,” Eshoo said. “Equipment made by Huawei and ZTE, companies linked to the Chinese government, increase the vulnerabilities of our telecommunication systems and put the U.S. at risk. I’m so pleased that the House passed bipartisan, bicameral legislation that Rep. Scalise and I co-authored to prohibit the FCC from issuing licenses for any telecommunications equipment made by Huawei or ZTE.”