Introduction of the Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduct the bipartisan Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act. I am grateful to my colleague Adam Kinzinger of Illinois for his partnership in co-leading this critically needed piece of legislation.

The United States and our allies face down increased threats from global actors like a rising China and belligerent Russia that seek to export their malign influence and undermine democratic institutions.

China seeks to compromise allied critical telecommunications infrastructure by using statelinked companies like Huawei and ZTE to unfairly induce our allies to procure insecure fifth generation telecommunications equipment and services.

Bipartisan current and former U.S. officials and civil society members have recognized the threat of malign influence over critical telecommunications networks. 50 networks will serve as the backbone of artificial intelligence platforms with immense national security and domestic economic implications. Secure telecommunications are also critical for military interoperability with our European allies at a time when NATO coordination is needed now more than ever.

Given these critical national security needs, the United States must provide our allies alternatives to Chinese financing and provide increased diplomatic support to our allies to ensure secure telecommunications lines.

This legislation would authorize the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to provide financing for cross-border 5G telecommunications infrastructure development to our allies. This financing is key to remove risky and threatening equipment and replace it with secure equipment. The legislation seeks to increase resilience in countries in the region whose infrastructure deficit from the Soviet-era makes them especially vulnerable to malign Chinese influence, including among nations in the Three Seas Initiative.

Additionally, this bill directs the Secretary of State and other relevant agency heads to prioritize diplomacy and project support with European allies and partners to develop 5G markets that are inclusive, transparent, economically viable, socially sustainable, and compliant with international law. Finally, this legislation ensures the United States is leading with our European allies to develop international 5G standards that favor democratic institutions, not further authoritarianism spread by China and Russia.

Following unanimous House passage of H. Res. 672 supporting the Three Seas Initiative and the enactment of the bipartisan European Energy Security and Diversification Act, this bill is the next critically needed step for Congress to secure our transatlantic allies and partners from malign influence.

I urge all my colleagues to support this critical legislation

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