[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.
____________________