House Passes Secure 5G and Beyond Act, Sending It to Trump

The House passed the Senate-cleared Secure 5G and Beyond Act Wednesday by unanimous consent, as expected (see 2003040056). S-893 would require the president to develop a strategy for ensuring the security of 5G networks and infrastructure (see 1903270065). S-893 heads to President Donald Trump, who’s expected to sign it. House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., hailed House passage. “It is long past time that the Trump Administration prepare our networks for the 5G future” and “this bill will force the Administration to do exactly that and ensure federal agencies work together on a comprehensive plan,” Pallone and Doyle said. It’s the “latest in a series passed by the House that will help keep the American people safe and secure America’s wireless future. We urge the President to sign it quickly.” The Senate passed the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act last week. HR-4998 would allocate at least $1 billion to help U.S. communications providers remove from their networks Chinese equipment determined to threaten national security (see 2002270070).