[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 186 (Monday, December 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H7157-H7159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROMOTING UNITED STATES WIRELESS LEADERSHIP ACT OF 2023
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1377) to direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce 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. 1377
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 2023''.
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.
[[Page H7158]]
(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
Ohio (Mr. Latta) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
General Leave
Mr. LATTA. 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 in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1377, the Promoting
United States Wireless Leadership Act.
For decades, the United States has led the development of next-
generation wireless technology. To maintain leadership and defend
against our foreign adversaries, we must continue to focus on
bolstering the foundational elements, like standards development, to
make sure the United States continues to lead on future technological
advancements.
As these standards are set in global, industry-led standards bodies,
we must enhance participation by U.S. companies and remain vigilant so
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 encourage participation by trusted, like-minded
partners.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration plays
a central role in these efforts as the executive branch agency with
technical expertise on wireless innovation. They have decades of
experience working with the industry and other stakeholders to develop
these technical standards globally.
I 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 legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1377, the Promoting United
States Wireless Leadership Act. This legislation is an important step
toward ensuring that the national and global bodies crafting standards
for next-generation wireless technologies, such as 6G and Wi-Fi 8,
include significant representation from trusted American companies and
those from allied countries.
H.R. 1377 accomplishes this objective by requiring the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to encourage
and facilitate the participation of trusted companies and stakeholders
in the domestic and international standards-setting bodies for wireless
technologies. The Assistant Secretary must also brief Congress within
60 days of the bill becoming law on the strategy to accomplish these
objectives.
It is crucial that American and allied interests are well-represented
at these standards-setting bodies. If the United States is not a leader
in shaping the wireless future, our adversaries will step up in the
leadership void. This includes dominating the future 6G marketplace in
a way that may undermine our values, national security, and economic
prosperity.
We cannot allow that to happen.
History has shown us that early developers and adopters of technology
define the marketplace, drive innovation, and reap the economic
benefits, and so we must lead.
Moreover, as we have seen with the recent news on the Salt Typhoon
cyberattack, foreign adversaries often see our communications networks
and devices as the entry points to disrupt our daily lives and conduct
espionage campaigns. Therefore, it is imperative that American
interests are at the table as new wireless standards are crafted,
including those that have cybersecurity and national security
implications.
I thank Representatives Dingell, Kuster, and Walberg for their
bipartisan work on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Walberg), the bill's sponsor.
Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of my legislation, H.R.
1377, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act.
This important legislation strengthens American leadership in 5G and
future wireless communications by bringing together key stakeholders to
create a unified approach to international standards-setting.
It directs the NTIA to assist and encourage trusted U.S. companies to
actively participate in global standards-setting organizations, such as
3GPP and IEEE.
These independent, business-led entities establish the technical
standards that 5G operators, equipment manufacturers, software
providers, and others rely on to build wireless networks.
China and other adversaries are investing heavily in 5G deployment
and are actively working to shape these standards-setting processes to
serve their interests. If they succeed in skewing future standards
toward their own priorities, the United States risks being placed at a
significant economic and strategic disadvantage.
As we did with 3G and 4G, the United States must continue leading the
way on 5G. H.R. 1377 ensures a coordinated approach to counter foreign
influence by protecting our national security, our economic
competitiveness, and global technology leadership.
Finally, this will be my last act for now as a member of the Energy
and Commerce Committee. It has been a wonderful, productive 8 years. I
have worked on such a wide set of policies such as increasing energy
independence, protecting kids online, fighting electric vehicle
mandates, championing American innovators, improving nationwide
connectivity, and much, much more.
My colleagues and the many staff I have worked with have made my time
on the Energy and Commerce Committee great.
I see why this committee is often called the best committee on the
Hill, though I am going to challenge you for that title over at the
Education and the Workforce Committee.
I thank the incredible leadership of Chair Rodgers and former Chair
Walden, and I wish Chair-elect Guthrie all the best.
As my last ask, I encourage all my colleagues to support this
legislation.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, first I congratulate Representative Walberg on
his new leadership position, and I thank him for his collaboration on
the committee over the years in leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the legendary
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. I hope
I am not too legendary.
I rise today, and I also want to compliment my colleague from
Michigan (Mr. Walberg), who I am proud to have worked with on this
bill. I will miss him on the Energy and Commerce Committee, but
education and labor matter in Michigan, too, so we will make sure his
voice is well represented. Maybe he will even trust me on EVs.
I rise today in support of a bill that I worked with my colleague on,
H.R.
[[Page H7159]]
1377, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act. I am very
proud to have introduced this bill along with my bipartisan co-chairs
of the 5G and Beyond Caucus.
This legislation will ensure that 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.
The policy choices of today will have lasting effects on the global
wireless technology development of tomorrow, especially as we compete
against China.
We must take concrete, proactive steps to lower barriers to entry for
U.S. companies and promote American competitiveness in this space for
each subsequent generation of these innovative technologies.
I know there are times when we don't all agree in this House, but we
have a very bipartisan agreement that the United States must be a
leader in the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies.
This bill does exactly that, and I am glad that today we are getting
this one over the finish line in a very bipartisan manner--or at least
I think we are.
I thank my colleague, Representative Tim Walberg, who I have loved
working with on 5G and hope we will continue to; Representative Kuster;
and former Representative Bill Johnson for their work on this
legislation and as co-chairs and being the leads on this.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1377.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Carter).
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in support H.R. 1377, the Promoting United
States Wireless Leadership Act of 2023.
{time} 1515
Mr. Speaker, I thank the bipartisan sponsors of this bill for working
to protect our national security and global competitiveness.
Our adversaries such as China are working diligently to gain an edge
over the U.S. when it comes to wireless technology and deployment.
Let me be clear. Economic security is national security. Again,
economic security is national security.
It is imperative that we maintain our lead in the wireless space
specifically with 5G advancement. We must continue to be at the front
line of innovation which means participating in international standard-
setting organizations.
I was proud to support this legislation when it passed committee
unanimously, and I urge my colleagues to support this act as well.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to pay my respects to Chairman Walberg
and congratulate him on his new chairmanship. I will miss sitting
beside him in Energy and Commerce. It has been a pleasure to work with
him for the last 8 years.
Mr. Speaker, I would also be remiss if I did not mention that in the
first year of this session, I had the opportunity to serve as vice
chair of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee. I thank
Chairman Latta for the wonderful job that he did and for his inclusion
of me in all of our meetings and his leadership on this great
subcommittee and on this great committee in Energy and Commerce.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, let's pass H.R. 1377, the Promoting United
States Wireless Leadership Act of 2023 and boldly lead the charge
toward 6G and beyond.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, the Communications and Technology
Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee has been very busy
this past Congress making sure that we get broadband deployed across
this country. This piece of legislation will help make sure that that
happens.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Lopez). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1377.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________