[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 126 (Monday, July 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3646-H3647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PROMOTING UNITED STATES WIRELESS LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2021

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3003) to direct the Assistant Secretary for Communications 
and Information to take certain actions to enhance the representation 
of the United States and promote United States leadership in 
communications standards-setting bodies, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3003

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting United States 
     Wireless Leadership Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP OF UNITED STATES IN 
                   COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS-SETTING BODIES.

       (a) In General.--In order to enhance the representation of 
     the United States and promote United States leadership in 
     standards-setting bodies that set standards for 5G networks 
     and for future generations of wireless communications 
     networks, the Assistant Secretary shall, in consultation with 
     the National Institute of Standards and Technology--
       (1) equitably encourage participation by companies and a 
     wide variety of relevant stakeholders, but not including any 
     company or relevant stakeholder that the Assistant Secretary 
     has determined to be not trusted, (to the extent such 
     standards-setting bodies allow such stakeholders to 
     participate) in such standards-setting bodies; and
       (2) equitably offer technical expertise to companies and a 
     wide variety of relevant stakeholders, but not including any 
     company or relevant stakeholder that the Assistant Secretary 
     has determined to be not trusted, (to the extent such 
     standards-setting bodies allow such stakeholders to 
     participate) to facilitate such participation.
       (b) Standards-Setting Bodies.--The standards-setting bodies 
     referred to in subsection (a) include--
       (1) the International Organization for Standardization;
       (2) the voluntary standards-setting bodies that develop 
     protocols for wireless devices and other equipment, such as 
     the 3GPP and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics 
     Engineers; and
       (3) any standards-setting body accredited by the American 
     National Standards Institute or Alliance for 
     Telecommunications Industry Solutions.
       (c) Briefing.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall brief 
     the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Foreign Affairs of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committees on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation and Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate on a strategy to carry out subsection (a).
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) 3GPP.--The term ``3GPP'' means the 3rd Generation 
     Partnership Project.
       (2) 5G network.--The term ``5G network'' means a fifth-
     generation mobile network as described by 3GPP Release 15 or 
     higher.
       (3) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' 
     means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
     and Information.
       (4) Cloud computing.--The term ``cloud computing'' has the 
     meaning given the term in Special Publication 800-145 of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, entitled 
     ``The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing'', published in 
     September 2011, or any successor publication.
       (5) Communications network.--The term ``communications 
     network'' means any of the following:
       (A) A system enabling the transmission, between or among 
     points specified by the user, of information of the user's 
     choosing.
       (B) Cloud computing resources.
       (C) A network or system used to access cloud computing 
     resources.
       (6) Not trusted.--The term ``not trusted'' means, with 
     respect to a company or stakeholder, that the company or 
     stakeholder is determined by the Assistant Secretary to pose 
     a threat to the national security of the United States. In 
     making such a determination, the Assistant Secretary shall 
     rely solely on one or more of the following determinations:
       (A) A specific determination made by any executive branch 
     interagency body with appropriate national security 
     expertise, including the Federal Acquisition Security Council 
     established under section 1322(a) of title 41, United States 
     Code.
       (B) A specific determination made by the Department of 
     Commerce pursuant to Executive Order No. 13873 (84 Fed. Reg. 
     22689; relating to securing the information and 
     communications technology and services supply chain).
       (C) Whether a company or stakeholder produces or provides 
     covered telecommunications equipment or services, as defined 
     in section 889(f)(3) of the John S. McCain National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 
     132 Stat. 1918).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3003.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3003, the Promoting 
United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2021. This legislation will 
help ensure the U.S. continues to lead the world in advanced 
communications technologies and deployments. It does that by directing 
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA, 
to encourage participation by American stakeholders and standards-
setting bodies, such as the Third Generation Partnership Project, 
better known as 3GPP, and the IEEE.
  The legislation also calls on the NTIA to offer technical assistance 
to U.S. stakeholders that do elect to participate in developing 
standards for 5G networks and future generations of communication 
networks.
  Other governments around the world are engaged in the standards-
setting process for advanced telecommunications technologies, and 
discussions about 6G are already underway. This legislation will give 
our stakeholders the ability to better engage in policy choices that 
are being made today by the standards-setting bodies. These policy 
choices will have far-reaching implications for the development of 5G 
and other advanced communication technologies in the future.
  By ensuring that globally developed standards meet the needs of the 
U.S. and our partners, this bill will help the U.S. continue to 
innovate. It will also help us guard against nontrusted actors 
hijacking standards-setting processes, which is an important component 
of our continued engagement on future communications technologies.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend this bipartisan effort from 
Representatives Walberg, Dingell, Johnson, and Kuster. I also want to 
thank our colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman 
Meeks, in particular, for working with us to bring this legislation to 
the floor.
  I hope we can come together on this important issue, and I urge all 
of my colleagues to support the bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                    Washington, DC, July 19, 2021.
     Hon. Frank Pallone,
     Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chair Pallone: I am writing to you concerning, H.R. 
     3003, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 
     2021. This legislation contains provisions that fall within 
     the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
       In an effort to work cooperatively and to expedite the 
     consideration of the aforementioned bill, the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs will waive referral of H.R. 3003. This, 
     however, is not a waiver of future jurisdictional claims by 
     the Committee on Foreign

[[Page H3647]]

     Affairs over this or its subject matter. The House Foreign 
     Affairs Committee has already passed through Committee its 
     own legislation on 5G issues and will continue to legislate 
     and provide oversight on diplomatic and foreign policy 
     aspects of global telecommunications issues. Additionally, I 
     ask that you support the appointment of Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs conferees during any House-Senate conference convened 
     for this legislation.
       Finally, thank you for agreeing to include a copy of our 
     exchange of letters in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of H.R. 3003.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Gregory W. Meeks,
     Chair.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                                    Washington, DC, July 19, 2021.
     Hon. Gregory W. Meeks,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Meeks: Thank you for consulting with the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce and agreeing to be 
     discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3003, the 
     ``Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2021'', 
     so that the bill may proceed expeditiously to the House 
     floor.
       I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure 
     does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of 
     your committee or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would 
     support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate 
     conference on this legislation.
       I will ensure our letters on H.R. 3003 are entered into the 
     Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. 
     I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and 
     look forward to continuing to work together as this measure 
     moves through the legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                               Frank Pallone, Jr.,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3003, the Promoting United 
States Wireless Leadership Act.
  Our communications networks are a critically important asset for 
facilitating domestic and international commerce. For decades, the U.S. 
has led the development of wireless technology with like-minded 
nations. With the deployment of the next-generation wireless technology 
5G, which is expected to skyrocket in the coming years and months, we 
must continue to focus on bolstering the foundational elements to make 
sure the United States continues to lead on future technological 
advances.
  As these standards are set in global, industry-led standards bodies, 
we must enhance participation by U.S. companies and remain vigilant 
that bad actors don't game the system for their own economic and 
national security interests.
  To keep accountability and ensure proper transparency, we must ensure 
participation by trusted like-minded partners. The National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, NTIA, plays a 
central role in these efforts as the executive branch agency with 
technical expertise on wireless innovation. It has decades of 
experience working with industry and other stakeholders to develop 
these technical standards globally. I would also like to thank the 
dedicated career staff who worked tirelessly to advance U.S. global 
wireless leadership.
  As we move into the next decade, it is critical that we continue to 
enhance participation in critical standards-setting bodies and preserve 
U.S. wireless leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 
3003, again a very important piece in our infrastructure in this 
country, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
3003, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2021.
  The policy choices of today will have lasting effects on the global 
5G technology development of tomorrow.
  This bipartisan bill, which I co-led with my fellow 5G Caucus co-
chairs, Representatives Walberg, Kuster, and Johnson, would solidify 
United States leadership in 5G technology by encouraging interagency 
coordination, technical assistance, and stakeholder participation in 
international standard setting bodies.
  We must take concrete steps to lower barriers to entry for U.S. 
companies and promote American competitiveness in this space.
  This legislation will ensure the United States remains at the 
forefront of innovation in this evolving frontier by playing a central 
role in setting international wireless standards in emerging 
technologies. This approach has dramatic ramifications for our global 
competitiveness, 5G deployment, and our national security.
  I strongly urge all my colleagues to support this important bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3003.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________