Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for yielding. Our foreign adversaries have been using information technology and telecommunications equipment to infiltrate and exploit the systems of Federal agencies. Congress has worked to address this threat by passing numerous bills to prohibit Federal agencies from purchasing or using technology from sources of concern. This includes legislation to prohibit Federal agencies from using telecommunications and video surveillance equipment provided by certain Chinese companies, legislation to prohibit Federal agencies from procuring electronic products or services that include semiconductors produced by certain Chinese companies, and legislation to prohibit Federal agencies from buying or using drones manufactured or assembled by certain Chinese companies. In addition to these outright prohibitions, Congress has already previously established the Federal Acquisition Security Council, or the FASC. The FASC has the authority to recommend that agencies exclude certain sources from Federal procurement processes or remove certain technologies from Federal information systems. However, Congress must have a more active role in directing the FASC to consider the exclusion and removal of certain sources of concern from Federal systems. This bill, the FASC Improvement Act, authorizes the FASC to issue binding removal and exclusion orders when directed by Congress.…”