U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) have introduced legislation that will codify the U.S. Department of Commerce’s ability to protect U.S. information and communications technology supply chains.
The bill, the ICTS Supply Chain Security Act, would codify the department’s Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services within the Bureau of Industry and Security, as well as establish a Senate-confirmed Assistance Secretary to lead it. The bill would protect the country’s information and communications technology supply chains from foreign adversary threats by also creating a clear prohibition on covered transactions involving foreign adversary technology, as well as include guardrails to protect free speech and open-source software.
“Americans should not have to worry that China or Russia can use the technology in our cars, phones, or networks against us,” Scott, the chair of the Senate Banking Committee, said. “President Trump was right to confront this threat. Our bill gives the Commerce Department the tools to keep dangerous foreign technology out of our supply chains while protecting free speech and stopping government overreach.”
The bill comes after a Senate Banking Committee hearing on AI where testimony centered on how America must secure the infrastructure powering the AI race. The lawmakers said their bill would give the Commerce Department clear, durable authority to keep foreign adversary technology out of critical systems, hardware and supply chains supporting the country’s AI future.
The legislation would also limit covered countries of concern to China, including Hong Kong and Macau, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba; require congressional reporting; provide enforcement authority and penalties for violations; preserve free speech protections for informational material; protect public access to open-source software; and ensure the ICTS process does not displace national security review processes.