Hartzler applauds signing of the Secure Equipment Act into law

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) applauded today’s signing of the Secure Equipment Act into law. This bipartisan legislation, led by House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reviewing or issuing new equipment licenses to companies on the FCC’s “Covered Equipment or Services List” that pose a national security threat.

Hartzler championed a similar effort in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019, in which her amendment prohibiting the federal government from buying certain Chinese video surveillance equipment was included. The Secure Equipment Act expands on the intent of this amendment by directing the FCC to adopt rules clarifying that it will no longer review or issue new equipment licenses to companies – such as the People’s Republic of China state-backed firms Huawei and ZTE – on the agency’s “Covered Equipment or Services List” that pose a national security threat.

“These additional safeguards in the Secure Equipment Act are good for our country in fighting back against the Chinese Communist Party’s malign influence,” Hartzler said. “I am proud to see my efforts to combat China expanded upon through this legislation to hold our top adversary in check.”

The Secure Equipment Act would prevent equipment manufactured by Chinese state-backed firms such as Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua from being further utilized and marketed in the United States. This legislation adds an extra layer of security that slams the door on entities that pose a national security risk from having a presence in the U.S. telecommunications network.