Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act of 2019
Floor Speech
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Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3763) to direct the Secretary of State to provide assistance and technical expertise to enhance the representation and leadership of the United States at international standards-setting bodies that set standards for 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3763
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States and its allies and partners should maintain participation and leadership at international standards-setting bodies for 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure;
(2) the United States should work with its allies and partners to encourage and facilitate the development of secure supply chains and networks for 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure; and
(3) the maintenance of a high standard of security in telecommunications and cyberspace between the United States and its allies and partners is a national security interest of the United States. SEC. 3. ENHANCING REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP OF UNITED STATES AT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS-SETTING BODIES.
(a) In General.--The President shall establish an interagency working group to provide assistance and technical expertise to enhance the representation and leadership of the United States at international standards-setting bodies that set standards for equipment, systems, software, and virtually-defined networks that support 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure, such as the International Telecommunication Union and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project. The President shall also work with allies and partners, as well as the private sector, to increase productive engagement.
(b) Interagency Working Group.--The interagency working group described in subsection (a) shall--
(1) be chaired by the Secretary of State or a designee of the Secretary of State; and
(2) consist of the head (or designee) of each Federal department or agency the President determines appropriate.
(c) Briefing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and subsequently thereafter as provided in paragraph (2), the interagency working group described in subsection (a) shall provide to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a briefing that shall include--
(A) a strategy to promote United States leadership at international standards-setting bodies for equipment, systems, software, and virtually-defined networks relevant to 5th and future generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure, taking into account the different processes followed by the various international standard- setting bodies;
(B) a strategy for diplomatic engagement with allies and partners to share security risk information and findings pertaining to equipment that supports or is used in 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure and cooperation on mitigating such risks;
(C) a discussion of China's presence and activities at international standards-setting bodies relevant to 5th and future generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure, including information on the differences in the scope and scale of China's engagement at such bodies compared to engagement by the United States or its allies and partners and the security risks raised by Chinese proposals in such standards-setting bodies; and
(D) a strategy for engagement with private sector communications and information service providers, equipment developers, academia, federally funded research and development centers, and other private-sector stakeholders to propose and develop secure standards for equipment, systems, software, and virtually-defined networks that support 5th and future generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure.
(2) Subsequent briefings.--Upon request by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, or as determined appropriate by the chair of the interagency working group described in subsection (a), the interagency working group shall provide to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate an updated briefing including the matters described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1).
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Ms. TITUS. 3763.
Mr. Speaker, let me start by thanking our ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. McCaul of Texas, for his hard work on the bills that we are considering.
Mr. Speaker, in the years ahead, 5G will revolutionize the way we use technology. From transportation to healthcare to entertainment, the way people interact with wireless internet devices will change dramatically. As it does, there will be massive economic benefits, but only if we are able to take advantage of them. There will also be risks as people become more dependent on wireless communications and generate even more data about themselves and how they live their lives.
Mr. Speaker, 5G will bring with it substantial national security, cybersecurity, and privacy challenges. Massive networks in the United States and allied countries could become vulnerable to spying eyes and cyberattacks. That is why there is near universal agreement on both sides of the aisle that American leadership will be essential as we transition to 5G technology, both to seize on the opportunities and guard against the risks.
We have four bills on the floor today that address the future expansion of 5G telecommunications systems across the United States and around the world. These bills will protect American consumers, strengthen our national security and that of our allies, and help make sure the United States is taking all the steps necessary to pave the way for a 5G future that enhances our lives, brings us closer together, and protects against anyone who wants to exploit this technology for harm.
The bill before us, the Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act, will help chart that path forward. This legislation requires the development of a strategy to promote American leadership at international standards-setting bodies for 5G. It directs our agencies across the government to assess security risks posed by China's engagement in this area, and it increases cooperation between the U.S. and its allies and partners in identifying and countering those risks.
It is an important start in what will be a massive undertaking for our government and our private sector. I am pleased to support it.
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Ms. TITUS.
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