Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my legislation, H.R. 1377, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act.

This important legislation strengthens American leadership in 5G and future wireless communications by bringing together key stakeholders to create a unified approach to international standards-setting.

It directs the NTIA to assist and encourage trusted U.S. companies to actively participate in global standards-setting organizations, such as 3GPP and IEEE.

These independent, business-led entities establish the technical standards that 5G operators, equipment manufacturers, software providers, and others rely on to build wireless networks.

China and other adversaries are investing heavily in 5G deployment and are actively working to shape these standards-setting processes to serve their interests. If they succeed in skewing future standards toward their own priorities, the United States risks being placed at a significant economic and strategic disadvantage.

As we did with 3G and 4G, the United States must continue leading the way on 5G. H.R. 1377 ensures a coordinated approach to counter foreign influence by protecting our national security, our economic competitiveness, and global technology leadership.

Finally, this will be my last act for now as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. It has been a wonderful, productive 8 years. I have worked on such a wide set of policies such as increasing energy independence, protecting kids online, fighting electric vehicle mandates, championing American innovators, improving nationwide connectivity, and much, much more.

My colleagues and the many staff I have worked with have made my time on the Energy and Commerce Committee great.

I see why this committee is often called the best committee on the Hill, though I am going to challenge you for that title over at the Education and the Workforce Committee.

I thank the incredible leadership of Chair Rodgers and former Chair Walden, and I wish Chair-elect Guthrie all the best.

As my last ask, I encourage all my colleagues to support this legislation.

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