[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE TRANSATLANTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 8, 2020

  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

                          ____________________