[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5647-S5648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



               Unanimous Consent Request--S. Con. Res. 10

  Mr. GARDNER. Madam President, several months ago, members of the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee had the opportunity to sit down with 
the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to talk about a number of concerns 
around the globe, including our concerns about Huawei and ZTE and the 
fact that Huawei and ZTE pose serious threats to the national security 
of the United States and its allies.
  At the time, there had been a lot of discussion about what was 
happening in Europe and other places around the globe and about whether 
Huawei would be allowed to participate in our allies' networks and what 
that could mean for U.S. national security and our ability to continue 
to engage in national security conversations, intelligence operations, 
sharing of information, and the like.
  In that conversation, Secretary Pompeo said--and this was the entire 
group of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, both Republican and 
Democratic Members--in that conversation, Secretary Pompeo said that 
what would help would be to let Congress's voice be heard when it comes 
to Huawei and ZTE and that we should send a strong message to our 
allies that our concern with Huawei and ZTE is not a Republican issue, 
it is not a Democratic issue, it is not just a one-term-of-Congress 
concern, but it is an ongoing concern that we have with the security of 
our systems, our information, the lack of security and the 
vulnerability that Huawei and ZTE networks and equipment pose to the 
United States; that we send a message to our allies in a bipartisan, 
bicameral fashion that if they go forward and allow Huawei or ZTE to 
have access to their critical infrastructure networks, then that is 
going to pose problems for the United States; that we may have to tell 
them: Look, this kind of action could have consequences; that perhaps 
we don't share as much information with them as we otherwise would, or 
it could mean that certain facilities we were going to build together 
won't be built but all because of our concern over Huawei and ZTE.
  I want to thank my colleagues, Senators Coons, Markey, Cruz, and 
Rubio, who have joined me in cosponsoring this resolution.
  I want to thank Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Cardin for working 
with my office to get this resolution condemning and making a very 
strong statement against the actions of Huawei and ZTE back in July.
  Again, Huawei and ZTE pose a serious threat to the United States and 
our allies around the globe. This resolution makes clear many of the 
longstanding and bipartisan efforts we have made together to warn about 
the threats these companies pose to our critical telecommunications 
infrastructure. It further makes clear that the United States should 
reiterate to countries choosing to incorporate Huawei or ZTE into their 
new telecommunications infrastructure that the United State will seek 
to limit the risks posed to our government and military from use of 
such compromised networks.
  This is an issue that shouldn't be bound by partisanship; it ought to 
cut across the Members of this Chamber who agree on condemning the 
actions of Huawei and ZTE and standing up for our national security. 
That is why I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 136, S. Con. Res. 10. I further 
ask that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; the 
concurrent resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the Gardner amendment 
at the desk to the preamble be considered and agreed to; the committee-
reported amendment to the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; the 
preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or 
debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
  Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, Huawei presents a very real threat to the 
security of every American, both individually and collectively. I have 
long been concerned that the Trump administration was going to let 
Huawei off the hook in order to get a politically useful trade deal. As 
the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, which has 
jurisdiction over trade matters, that concerns me greatly. In addition, 
I am concerned that the resolution being offered does not go far enough 
to protect America's national security and hold the Trump 
administration accountable.
  Tomorrow there will be another bipartisan measure offered that, in my 
view, will better address the concerns I have just mentioned, and 
therefore I must object this afternoon.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Colorado.
  Mr. GARDNER. Madam President, tomorrow I plan to vote for the motion 
to instruct, which is in regard to language within the Defense 
Authorization Act that talks about the importance of protecting our 
national security interests against Huawei and ZTE. But when we are 
objecting to resolutions that are bipartisan because of motions to 
instruct that have no binding nature, I am concerned that perhaps we 
are not doing enough work to

[[Page S5648]]

find those bipartisan solutions in this Chamber.
  So I hope, as I come back to this floor again to consider S. Con. 
Res. 10, to warn our allies that if they use Huawei or ZTE, there will 
be repercussions.
  The resolution itself is bipartisan. I hope we can come together as a 
Senate and recognize that motions to instruct are fine, but actual 
messages, condemnation, and understanding of our allies that actions 
will be taken are important.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.