Cotton, Gallagher Bow Anti-Huawei Defending America's 5G Future Act

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., led the Tuesday filing of the Defending America's 5G Future Act in a bid to bar the Trump administration from lifting the Bureau of Industry and Security's addition of Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei to its export entity blacklist without congressional approval. The measure would also allow Congress to disallow any presidential administration from issuing waivers to any U.S.-based company doing business with Huawei. The bill's filing comes amid congressional ire over Trump's willingness to relax restrictions on Huawei as part of trade talks with China (see 1907020060). “Huawei isn’t a normal business partner for American companies, it’s a front for the Chinese Communist Party,” Cotton said in a news release. “American companies shouldn’t be in the business of selling our enemies the tools they’ll use to spy on Americans.” Five senators are co-sponsors -- Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Mitt Romney, R-Utah; Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; and Mark Warner, D-Va. The House version has three co-sponsors -- House GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz.; and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif. The House last week approved its version of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (HR-2500), which includes several amendments on Huawei and fellow Chinese telecom equipment makers (see 1907120040). One of the amendments, sought by Gallagher, would impose conditions for the Commerce Department to lift Bureau of Industry and Security addition of Huawei to its entity list (see 1906190054). The Senate passed its 2020 NDAA version (S-1790) in June without language from any of the three proposed anti-Huawei amendments (see 1906270051).