H.R. 1795

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To impose sanctions with respect to foreign telecommunications companies engaged in economic or industrial espionage against United States persons, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · March 3, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Houlahan · Committee: Committee on Foreign Affairs

Table of contents

• H.R. 1795
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Sense of Congress
  • SEC. 3. Imposition of sanctions with respect to economic or industrial espionage by foreign telecommunications companies

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Sense of Congress

• It is the sense of Congress that—
  • secure telecommunications networks, both domestically and within partner and allied nations, are important to the national security of the United States;
  • the risks posed by untrusted telecommunications vendors, particularly those based in the People’s Republic of China, to communications, data security, and the viability of networks outweigh any potential benefits; and
  • the United States Government should use the tools of economic statecraft to promote secure telecommunications networks.

SEC. 3. Imposition of sanctions with respect to economic or industrial espionage by foreign telecommunications companies

• (a) In general
  • On and after the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall exercise all of the powers granted to the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act () to the extent necessary to block and prohibit all significant transactions in property and interests in property of a foreign person described in subsection (b) if such property and interests in property are in the United States, come within the United States, or are or come within the possession or control of a United States person. 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.
• (b) Foreign persons described
  • A foreign person is described in this subsection if the President determines that the person, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act—
    • produces fifth or future generation telecommunications technology; and
    • conducts business relating to such telecommunications technology in a manner contrary to the United States’ national security interests.
• (c) Exceptions
  • (1) Exception for intelligence activities
    • Sanctions under this section shall not apply to any activity subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 () or any authorized intelligence activities of the United States. 50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.
  • (2) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian assistance
    • Sanctions under this section may not be imposed with respect to transactions or the facilitation of transactions for—
      • the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices;
      • the provision of humanitarian assistance;
      • financial transactions relating to humanitarian assistance; or
      • transporting goods or services that are necessary to carry out operations relating to humanitarian assistance.
• (d) Waiver
  • The President may waive the application of sanctions under this section with respect to a foreign person for renewable periods of not more than 90 days each if the President determines and reports to Congress that such a waiver is vital to the national security interests of the United States.
• (e) Implementation; penalties
  • (1) Implementation
    • The President may exercise the authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to the extent necessary to carry out this section.
  • (2) Penalties
    • A person that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of subsection (a) or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry out that subsection shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act () to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act described in subsection (a) of that section. 50 U.S.C. 1705
• (f) Definitions
  • In this section:
  • For the purposes of this section, in determining if transactions are significant, the President may consider the totality of the facts and circumstances, including factors similar to the factors set forth in section 561.404 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or ruling).
  • For purposes of this section, a transaction shall not be construed to include—