Assessment of Trans-Atlantic Submarine Fiber Optic Cable

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1737, a bill requiring the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, to assess the value, cost, and feasibility of a transatlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and to submit a report to Congress with its findings.

The bill also directs NTIA to report to Congress on the current state of telecommunications connecting the U.S. Virgin Islands and the United States, including an assessment of the lifespan and security of telecommunications infrastructure linking the two.

This legislation will provide Congress with vital information on the strength and resiliency of communications infrastructure in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It will also help us determine whether American interests can be served by connecting the U.S. and the African Continent with undersea cable infrastructure by way of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This bill is an important step to enhance American communications security and competitiveness around the world.

In recent years, Mr. Speaker, the United States and many allies have recognized the threat posed by untrusted Chinese telecommunications equipment to our national security. Thanks to the work of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Congress, we have taken steps to remove suspect equipment and software from American communications networks to protect against sabotage and undue influence by our adversaries.

Much of this work has been done on a bipartisan basis. One noteworthy example is the legislation Congress passed to force the divestment of TikTok from ownership by companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which passed overwhelmingly with hundreds of Democratic and Republican votes.

That is why I was frustrated to learn last week that President Trump again unlawfully granted TikTok an extension, allowing China to infiltrate American networks for another 90 days. President Trump's disregard for the law is well known at this point, but I was more disappointed that none of my Republican colleagues had the courage to call on the President to enforce the law.

Trump's stall tactics are allowing China to continue to collect massive amounts of information on Americans. There are American companies that want to buy TikTok. It is long past time for Trump to get this done.

There is also still work to be done because network security does not end at the water's edge. For decades, China and other adversaries have spent considerable time and money to deploy suspect telecommunications equipment and infrastructure across the African Continent. The assessment required in this bill is an important step to understand the cost of securing the connection between the United States and our African allies and how best to ensure a critical global communications channel is protected from the prying eyes of our adversaries.

I thank Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands for her leadership on this bill, and I thank Representative Fulcher, as well, for this effort.

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Mr. PALLONE. Plaskett).

Mr. Speaker, obviously, from what you are hearing from the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), this is an important bill in terms of not only the Virgin Islands but strengthening our links, communications, and economy with Africa, as well.

For all those reasons, I urge that we support the bill.

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