September 21, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 163 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Pages H4606-H4607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PROMOTING SECURE 5G ACT OF 2020

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5698) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct 
the United States Executive Directors at the international financial 
institutions on United States policy regarding international financial 
institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5698

       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 Secure 5G Act of 
     2020''.

     SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY REGARDING INTERNATIONAL 
                   FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ASSISTANCE WITH RESPECT 
                   TO ADVANCED WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall instruct the 
     United States Executive Director at each international 
     financial institution (as defined in section 1701(c)(2) of 
     the International Financial Institutions Act) that it is the 
     policy of the United States to--
       (1) support assistance by the institution with respect to 
     advanced wireless technologies (such as 5th generation 
     wireless technology for digital cellular networks and related 
     technologies) only if the technologies provide appropriate 
     security for users;
       (2) proactively encourage assistance with respect to 
     infrastructure or policy reforms that facilitate the use of 
     secure advanced wireless technologies; and
       (3) cooperate, to the maximum extent practicable, with 
     member states of the institution, particularly with United 
     States allies and partners, in order to strengthen 
     international support for such technologies.
       (b) Waiver Authority.--The Secretary may waive subsection 
     (a) on a case-by-case basis, on reporting to the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate that the 
     waiver--
       (1) will allow the United States to effectively promote the 
     objectives of the policy described in subsection (a); or
       (2) is in the national interest of the United States, with 
     an explanation of the reasons therefor.
       (c) Progress Report.--The Chairman of the National Advisory 
     Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies 
     shall include in the annual report required by section 1701 
     of the International Financial Institutions Act a description 
     of progress made toward advancing the policy described in 
     subsection (a) of this section.
       (d) Sunset.--The preceding provisions of this section shall 
     have no force or effect after the earlier of--
       (1) the date that is 7 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act; or
       (2) the date that the Secretary reports to the committees 
     specified in subsection (b) that terminating the 
     effectiveness of the provisions is important to the national 
     interest of the United States, with a detailed explanation of 
     the reasons therefor.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Sherman) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Timmons) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to insert extraneous materials thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5698, the Promoting Secure 5G 
Act of 2020, which establishes that at the international financial 
institutions, known as IFIs, such as the World Bank, it will be U.S. 
policy that supports the financing for advanced wireless communication 
technologies, including next-generation 5G networks only if the 
technologies to be financed provide adequate security for users.
  Cybersecurity has been an important concern of this House, and it is 
an important concern of this country. We see that in the recent action 
taken with regard to TikTok, we see that in the steps that this House 
is taking with regard to cybersecurity, and it makes sense that our 
voice and vote at the international financial institutions be used to 
ensure that the world moves forward with secure 5G networks.
  This legislation establishes a U.S. position at the IFIs in support 
of infrastructure or policy reforms that facilitate the use of secure 
advanced wireless technologies, and it encourages U.S. cooperation with 
our allies and partners to strengthen international support for such 
secure technologies.
  I support this legislation because I think it reflects a good policy 
goal and a good example of how central international cooperation is for 
our own economic and national security goals.
  This legislation seeks to use our voice at the IFIs to counter 
China's efforts to expands its 5G influence internationally and to 
expand the use of Chinese technology with back doors and other devices 
that can be used by the Chinese Communist Party. This is especially 
important with regard to developing countries. By placing an important 
strategic U.S. policy goal within the system of the international 
financial institutions, this legislation recognizes that sustained 
international

[[Page H4607]]

cooperation is important for advancing a range of U.S. economic 
security and foreign policy interest, and I welcome that recognition.
  5G is the next generation of wireless communications networks. It may 
very well be the most extraordinary remaking of the system, controls, 
and use of the airwaves that make up today's internet since the 
internet first came into existence. 5G networks, we are told, will 
transform the way we live.
  In the global race for 5G, where the U.S. and China are among the 
main contenders, the competition is fierce, and from that frame 
certainly the core of this bill's proposal--to have the international 
financial institutions support 5G infrastructure only if it is from 
trusted vendors--makes sense. We would not want to see this kind of 
policy cause problems for the missions of the IFIs if they get further 
caught up in any rivalry between the United States and China. But if 
our money is involved in these international financial institutions, 
then it needs to be American policy that those funds be used only to 
finance secure 5G networks.
  That said, the success of such a U.S. policy at the IFIs will depend 
in large part on the state of U.S. leadership worldwide not only in 
those institutions but around the world. Let's face it. Over the last 3 
years America has squandered its role as a world leader, and we have 
stretched almost to the breaking point our alliances with our 
traditional allies.
  I look forward to working with everyone in Congress over the next few 
years to recement our international alliances and put us in a position 
so that when we speak at the international financial institutions that 
we are listened to as a world leader and not mocked as a nation that 
has one tweet one day and another tweet another day.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the passage of this legislation, and I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5798.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, when many of us think of 5G technology, we immediately 
think of our cell phones. What many of us do not think about is the 
impact 5G will have on the global economy once the technology is 
deployed.
  Fifth generation cellular technology, or 5G, will truly transform the 
way we live. It has the power to fuel self-driving autonomous vehicles, 
increase the use of artificial intelligence, replace Wi-Fi and 
broadband, and provide speeds expected to be as fast as 100 times 
greater than current 4G technology. Once widespread, 5G will touch 
nearly every aspect of our lives.
  As with any new technology, there is now a global race for 5G market 
share. In this global race to 5G, it is not just economic challenges we 
face. There are also great national security concerns from foreign bad 
actors who seek to exploit the technology. This is why the United 
States must have sound policy when it comes to financing and protecting 
wireless technologies around the world.
  My legislation before the House today, the Promoting Secure 5G Act, 
would establish a U.S. policy at all international financial 
institutions, including the IMF and World Bank. This policy would 
require all countries seeking any financing from those institutions for 
any purpose to prove their 5G network is secure.
  Securing multilateral financing for 5G technology is the first step 
in facilitating equitable competition in the global economy. This will 
eliminate backdoor vulnerabilities that private companies and other 
nations may seek to exploit. One of the biggest offenders is Huawei, a 
Chinese-based company with direct links to China's Communist Party.
  It is not just the U.S. that shares these concerns regarding the 
security of 5G technology. Recently, the U.K. reversed course and 
outright banned Huawei by 2027. France announced it will no longer 
renew licenses for Huawei. Denmark and Singapore have taken steps to 
avoid the company, and India is moving in the same direction with the 
potential of an outright ban in the near future.
  Our intelligence community has repeatedly warned of the consequences 
of handing over the world's 5G systems to Huawei and the CCP. We would 
be wise to heed their warning.
  Combating aggression from the Chinese Communist Party will take a 
whole-of-government approach, and my Promoting Secure 5G Act is a good 
first step to ensuring every nation conforms to the standards of the 
global economy when it comes to 5G technology.
  I want to thank Ranking Member McHenry and my other colleagues who 
have joined me in this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to 
ensure the secure and competitive deployment of 5G technology around 
the world, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from South Carolina for 
authoring this legislation. Also, again, I commend him for spending 
time this afternoon to pass all the legislation that is here before us.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has often looked to the international 
financial institutions to meet strategic objectives at critical 
moments, and this legislation is a good example of that.
  The World Bank and others are currently focused on helping developing 
nations deal with the coronavirus, but soon, they will return to other 
development goals. The basic principle of this legislation is important 
because it establishes not only what U.S. policy is going to be in a 
particular area, but it also directs the administration to pursue that 
policy. It provides flexibility in the implementation of that policy 
and keeps Congress informed.
  It is important to keep in mind that our ability to influence the 
direction of the IFIs, the international financial institutions, and to 
prioritize global objectives in the areas that we think are critically 
important depend in large part on the degree to which the United States 
maintains and exercises strong leadership in these international 
financial institutions and in the world writ large.
  We on the Foreign Affairs Committee have focused on the importance of 
rebuilding our relationships and rebuilding America's status and 
leadership in the world, and we will only be as effective in carrying 
out the intent of this legislation as we are in rehabilitating 
America's image.
  For U.S. policy to be effectively advanced in the international 
financial institutions, other member states at these institutions need 
to believe that the policies we pursue are not based exclusively out of 
a narrow self-interest but are policies that will help the entire world 
move forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to 
do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5698.
  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.

                          ____________________