[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 76 (Thursday, May 4, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DEFEND OUR NETWORKS

  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, over a decade ago, when President Obama 
was in office and Apple's iPad was just hitting the market, our 
intelligence agencies began to notice a disturbing pattern. Chinese-
made communications equipment was multiplying across our country, 
placed on top of cell towers throughout the Midwest.
  Equipment made by Chinese State-backed companies like Huawei and ZTE 
spread across my own home State of Nebraska, as well as nearby Colorado 
and Montana.
  Curiously, these technologies were clustering near critical military 
locations in midwestern States. Nebraska is home to sensitive areas, 
like Offutt Air Force Base and a number of nuclear missile silos.
  Well, the FBI looked into it. And they discovered that at least one 
Chinese company--Huawei--was regularly selling its equipment to rural 
providers at cheap prices that appeared unprofitable. But once 
installed, the equipment would be located right next to American 
military assets.
  The Chinese Communist Party is actively seeking ways to disrupt 
Department of Defense communications. And that is why we cannot allow 
communications equipment made in China next door to our military sites.
  This is just one example of the pervasive threat Chinese-made 
equipment in our communications networks poses to our national 
security.
  We know that the Chinese Communist Party intends to exploit these 
vulnerabilities for all kinds of activities, including espionage.
  That is why, in 2020, the Federal Communications Commission banned 
the use of its funds to expand or maintain networks containing any 
Huawei or ZTE equipment. Since then, the Commission banned all 
equipment authorizations for several Chinese tech firms that pose 
threats to national security--blocking their imports and sale.
  We also passed a law in Congress approving $1.9 billion to secure our 
communications infrastructure--to rip out the Chinese network gear and 
replace it with secure equipment.
  It has been years, but not all of this dangerous Chinese gear has 
been replaced. Approximately 24,000 pieces of Chinese-made equipment 
remain in 8,400 different locations across our country. Nearly all of 
the 85 companies approved by the FCC are still waiting for that Federal 
reimbursement money, because they aren't able to pay to replace the 
technologies without help.
  The FCC's program is facing a budget shortfall of $3.08 billion. The 
sum of money that we first approved based on initial estimates is not 
going to cut it.
  That financial uncertainty means smaller, regional carriers--after 
being mandated by the Federal Government to rip out the equipment--
won't receive the money they need to replace that high-risk Chinese 
technology.
  I have heard from rural carriers that this basically leaves them with 
two options: one, go out of business; or, two, to never replace the 
equipment after they remove it, and, instead, that would reduce the 
size of their wireless networks.
  Either option would be devastating for communities, especially 
communities in rural areas. We need more, not less, connectivity. And 
we need more, not fewer, jobs.
  That is not just true in Nebraska but across this country.
  Think about it. If these carriers go out of business or they reduce 
coverage, that is going to leave thousands of residents without 
wireless services--services that are essential for work, emergencies, 
and life in the 20th century. And people traveling through these vast 
areas of our country, they often won't have any services either.
  Addressing this funding shortfall is urgent. The FCC has a July 15 
deadline by which reimbursement requests are due. If Congress doesn't 
act quickly to fix this issue before that July deadline, there won't be 
enough funds to cover costs. This would impact communities in 49--49--
States, plus our United States territories.
  Without action now, we face incomplete removal of high-risk Chinese 
equipment from U.S. networks--wasting the money that Congress has 
already passed.
  I have introduced the Defend Our Networks Act to remedy this problem. 
Protecting our national security is vital, and it is also vital that we 
ensure the government's response to protect our security does not put 
smaller companies out of business.
  The Defend Our Networks Act does both. It would allocate $3.08 
billion of unobligated COVID-19 emergency relief funds to the rip and 
replace program. That is only 3 percent of the unobligated emergency 
funds.
  I introduced this bill with my colleague Senator Hickenlooper because 
securing our communications infrastructure, it is a national, it is a 
bipartisan, issue. The FCC commissioners, including Chairwoman 
Rosenworcel, have come out in strong support, demonstrating the 
importance of getting this done. Just a week ago, I had the opportunity 
to question Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo about this big problem 
that we have, and she agreed that we must address it immediately.
  Over the coming weeks, I expect that we will continue to gain more 
bipartisan momentum. And I will continue to push for the swift passage 
of the Defend Our Networks Act, even as standalone legislation.
  Spy balloons and secret police stations have recently reminded us of 
the Chinese Communist Party's sly and underhanded espionage tactics. If 
we cannot completely remove risky Chinese telecommunications equipment, 
how can the American people expect us to defend them from the threats 
that China poses?
  We did the right thing when we passed the Secure and Trusted 
Communication Networks Act to establish the rip and replace program. 
Now, let's do the right thing again by completing the funding so that 
we can follow through on what we said we would do.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Booker). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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