Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1934) to direct the Federal Government to provide assistance and technical expertise to enhance the representation and leadership of the United States at international standards-setting bodies that set standards for equipment, systems, software, and virtually defined networks that support 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1934

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 International Leadership in 5G Act of 2021''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the United States and its allies and partners should maintain participation and leadership at international standards-setting bodies for 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure;

(2) the United States should work with its allies and partners to encourage and facilitate the development of secure supply chains and networks for 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure; and

(3) the maintenance of a high standard of security in telecommunications and cyberspace between the United States and its allies and partners is a national security interest of the United States. SEC. 3. ENHANCING REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES AT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS-SETTING BODIES.

(a) In General.--The President shall establish an interagency working group to work with allies and international partners to increase and align their engagement at multilateral international organizations, such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), that address communications networks, standards, and security, including 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications and infrastructure.

(b) Interagency Working Group.--The interagency working group described in subsection (a) shall--

(1) be chaired by the Secretary of State or a designee of the Secretary of State; and

(2) consist of the head (or designee) of the Department of Commerce and each Federal department or agency the President determines appropriate.

(c) Function.--The Secretary of State shall coordinate with the members of the interagency working group to develop and implement a strategy for diplomatic engagement with allies and partners and monitor engagement by the Government of the People's Republic of China and entities under its ownership, control, or influence at multilateral international organizations described in subsection (a).

(d) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the interagency working group shall provide to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing that includes--

(1) a strategy for diplomatic engagement with allies and partners to share security risk information and findings pertaining to equipment that supports or is used in 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure and cooperation on mitigating such risks; and

(2) a discussion of China's presence and activities at multilateral international organizations described in subsection (a) relevant to 5th and future generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure, including information on the differences in the scope and scale of China's engagement, as well as the success rate of proposals by Chinese entities adopted into standards at such organizations compared to the engagement and success rate of proposals adopted by the United States or its allies and partners, and noting any mandatory domestic Chinese standards that are adopted at such organizations.

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Ms. MANNING. 1934, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1934, the Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act.

Let me start by thanking Ranking Member McCaul, who has been an important advocate in advancing U.S. leadership in global telecoms and 5G technology. Countering China's and Russia's malign influence in this industry is critical for protecting our national security, and I thank him for his bipartisan work in furtherance of these ends.

A big part of advancing U.S. 5G leadership is ensuring that America and allied countries are in the room, at the table, and leading the charge to set next-generation technology standards.

No organization is more critical to that process than a little-known U.N. organization called the International Telecommunication Union, or ITU.

For years, China and Russia have quietly targeted the ITU as a central battleground to advance their strategic technology interests. They have sought to use the ITU to unfairly advantage their telecom companies, giving Putin and the PRC power over critical communications infrastructure worldwide.

For the past 8 years, a Chinese national has served as Secretary General of the ITU. China has used this perch to favor its own companies and make the rules of the digital road more favorable to authoritarians. The Secretary General has defended Huawei against critics and promoted the PRC's Belt and Road campaign. With the ITU as its forum, Beijing has worked to unfairly promote Chinese companies' technical standards.

Now, a pivotal election for the next ITU Secretary General is set to take place in September between a fantastic American candidate, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, and former Huawei executive and Russian deputy telecom minister, Rashid Ismailov, whom China and Russia back.

Should the United States and its allies across the world fail to win this election, the ITU's technical integrity would be endangered and authoritarian governments around the globe would be empowered. A Russian Secretary General would extend Putin's ability to exert influence in the rules-based international system for which he has shown the utmost contempt.

This bill is important because the U.S. must increase its engagement at the ITU and work with our allies and partners to counter China's and Russia's malign influence. H.R. 1934 would do just that, by forming an interagency working group to align our strategy at the ITU with our allies and monitor China's influence in the organization. It would also strengthen much-needed coordination with Congress so we can be supportive partners in this strategic competition.

We cannot be complacent about the coming election. The battle for influence playing out at the ITU is one we cannot afford to lose, and H.R. 1934 is an essential tool for advancing U.S. leadership in this powerful organization.

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Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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