[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 Huawei

  Madam President, on another matter, Huawei, according to public 
reports, the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 
Russell Vought, is pushing a 2-year delay--a 2-year delay--in the 
implementation of key portions of a law intended to protect U.S. 
agencies and government contractors from Chinese telecom technology, 
chiefly Huawei.
  This is deeply concerning for two reasons. First, from a national 
security standpoint, the FBI, CIA, and other members of the 
intelligence community have testified that the technology from Chinese 
telecom companies, such as Huawei and ZTE, present a national security 
risk, potentially allowing China to build backdoors into our networks, 
enabling their cyber theft and cyber espionage for which they are, 
unfortunately, well known. That is why Congress banned U.S. Government 
agencies and contractors from using this technology--because they are 
our highest valued targets. We have been encouraging our European 
allies to do the same.
  Why on Earth, then, is the Acting Director of OMB, Russell Vought, 
asking for a 2-year delay in these rules? We passed the law more than a 
year ago. President Trump has signed it, and our agencies and 
contractors have had time to make sure their technology doesn't come 
from Huawei.
  There is simply no reason, in my mind, for such a lengthy delay. It 
would only extend a window of opportunity for what is already a dire 
threat to our national security.
  The second reason this news concerns me so is that it is about the 
Trump administration's broader approach to China. Across many issues in 
the Trump administration, it sometimes feels as though the right hand 
doesn't know what the left hand is doing. A few weeks ago, the 
administration issued an Executive order largely banning U.S. companies 
from selling equipment to Huawei, an action I praised. But then the 
Commerce Department abruptly delayed that decision by 3 months. Now we 
have this additional request from OMB to soft-pedal a different set of 
restrictions on Huawei.
  China needs to understand that the United States is serious when it 
comes to our trade relationship. We must have a consistent policy 
implemented with rigor. This idea of reciprocity, of barring China's 
companies from doing business here until they let our biggest companies 
do business there, is an important part of our overall effort to 
increase pressure on China to agree to meaningful economic reforms.
  I am very troubled by the OMB's request, and I plan on strenuously 
opposing the approval of the delay here in Congress.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order of 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.