Promoting Secure 5G Act of 2020
Floor Speech
Mr. Speaker, when many of us think of 5G technology, we immediately think of our cell phones. What many of us do not think about is the impact 5G will have on the global economy once the technology is deployed.
Fifth generation cellular technology, or 5G, will truly transform the way we live. It has the power to fuel self-driving autonomous vehicles, increase the use of artificial intelligence, replace Wi-Fi and broadband, and provide speeds expected to be as fast as 100 times greater than current 4G technology. Once widespread, 5G will touch nearly every aspect of our lives.
As with any new technology, there is now a global race for 5G market share. In this global race to 5G, it is not just economic challenges we face. There are also great national security concerns from foreign bad actors who seek to exploit the technology. This is why the United States must have sound policy when it comes to financing and protecting wireless technologies around the world.
My legislation before the House today, the Promoting Secure 5G Act, would establish a U.S. policy at all international financial institutions, including the IMF and World Bank. This policy would require all countries seeking any financing from those institutions for any purpose to prove their 5G network is secure.
Securing multilateral financing for 5G technology is the first step in facilitating equitable competition in the global economy. This will eliminate backdoor vulnerabilities that private companies and other nations may seek to exploit. One of the biggest offenders is Huawei, a Chinese-based company with direct links to China's Communist Party.
It is not just the U.S. that shares these concerns regarding the security of 5G technology. Recently, the U.K. reversed course and outright banned Huawei by 2027. France announced it will no longer renew licenses for Huawei. Denmark and Singapore have taken steps to avoid the company, and India is moving in the same direction with the potential of an outright ban in the near future.
Our intelligence community has repeatedly warned of the consequences of handing over the world's 5G systems to Huawei and the CCP. We would be wise to heed their warning.
Combating aggression from the Chinese Communist Party will take a whole-of-government approach, and my Promoting Secure 5G Act is a good first step to ensuring every nation conforms to the standards of the global economy when it comes to 5G technology.
I want to thank Ranking Member McHenry and my other colleagues who have joined me in this effort.
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Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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