Washington, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta (R-OH), Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (R-KY) released the following statement on France’s decision to phase out equipment by Chinese telecommunications provider Huawei from its networks.
“The decision by France to phase out Huawei from its networks is welcome news. We look forward to working with our allies on our other shared security goals.
“China will do whatever it takes to dominate the world’s economy and suppress human rights. Freedom-loving nations must work together to protect our communications networks from foreign infiltration, secure our supply chains, and ensure leadership in emerging and wireless technologies. We are committed to working with our allies who share our values and interests to demonstrate to our adversaries that there will be consequences for intellectual property theft and other bad behaviors," the committee leaders said.
Background:
* In March 2020, President Trump signed into law the bipartisan Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (H.R. 4998) to help secure America’s telecommunications supply chain by helping small and rural providers rip and replace suspect equipment. The bill was introduced by Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Brett Guthrie (R-KY).
* In April 2020, Energy and Commerce Committee Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), introduced the bipartisan Utilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecommunications Act of 2020 to promote and speed up the deployment of 5G networks in the U.S.
* In June 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE as national security threats.
* Earlier this month, Reps. Walden, Latta, Rodgers and Guthrie also applauded the United Kingdom’s decision to ban Huawei from its networks.
