Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today joined a bipartisan group of 12 senators in introducingthe Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act. The bill would comprehensively address the ongoing threat posed by technology from foreign adversaries by empowering the U.S. Department of Commerce to review, prevent, and mitigate information communications and technology transactions that pose undue risk to our national security. U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) led the introduction of the bill. 

“There are a host of dangerous technology platforms – including TikTok – that can be manipulated by China and other foreign adversaries to threaten U.S. national security and abuse Americans’ personal data. I’m proud to join Senator Warner in introducing bipartisan legislation that would put an end to disjointed interagency responses and strengthen the federal government’s ability to counter these digital threats,” said Sen. Fischer.

Background:

The RESTRICT Act establishes a risk-based process, tailored to the rapidly changing technology and threat environment, by directing the U.S. Department of Commerce to identify and mitigate foreign threats to information and communications technology products and services.

In addition to Sens. Fischer, Warner, and Thune, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah).

The Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act would:

  • Require the Secretary of Commerce to establish procedures to identify, deter, disrupt, prevent, prohibit, and mitigate transactions involving information and communications technology products in which any foreign adversary has any interest and poses undue or unacceptable risk to national security;
  • Prioritize evaluation of information communications and technology products used in critical infrastructure, integral to telecommunications products, or pertaining to a range of defined emerging, foundational, and disruptive technologies with serious national security implications;
  • Ensure comprehensive actions to address risks of untrusted foreign information communications and technology products by requiring the Secretary to take up consideration of concerning activity identified by other government entities:
  • Educate the public and business community about the threat by requiring the Secretary of Commerce to coordinate with the Director of National Intelligence to provide declassified information on how transactions denied or otherwise mitigated posed undue or unacceptable risk.

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