Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years and 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. YOHO. Madam Chairwoman, I stand in support of an amendment I have offered to the Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act.

I would like to thank Representative Nunes and Representative Schiff for their work on this important legislation.

My proposed amendment includes within the report on 5G technology, the threat to the national security of the United States posed by telecommunication companies that are subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign adversary; namely, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.

This will cover threats from acquisitions, importations, transfers, or use of communications technology by any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States that involved technology designed, developed or controlled by a foreign adversary.

As globalization continues to shape the world we live in, it is increasingly important that the United States prioritizes the security of our cyber networks and infrastructure. Today, China controls over 60 percent of the 5G networks in the world.

In 2012, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence deemed telecommunication companies, Huawei and ZTE national security threats. Seven years later, these companies continue to harm and undermine U.S. cybersecurity interests. Should the U.S. continue to let these companies and others like them continue to proliferate our networks, we are putting the security of our citizens at risk and our national security.

We must continue our maximum pressure campaign on these malicious companies until we can ensure that these actors do not pose threats to our national security.

I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. YOHO. Madam Chairwoman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 3494. My amendment No. 28 would require the FBI Director, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis to submit a report on domestic terrorist activity in the United States to the congressional intelligence committees.

The report will detail:

Activities conducted by domestic terrorist groups that restrict free speech using violence or intimidation;

Activities conducted by domestic terrorist groups that are a danger to human life and are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any State; and

The prevalence of any domestic terrorist group within the United States and abroad or any group that claimed to be domestic yet have ties to foreign groups like al-Qaida or other terrorist organizations.

There are abhorrent groups of people within the United States today whose reasons for existence is violence. They do not respect the rule of law or the values of America. Yes, we have the First Amendment that allows for freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, but with those freedoms, one must exercise responsibility.

They seek to inflict harm on Americans or specific groups of Americans because of their race, religion, personal beliefs, or other reasons.

We have seen this evil in recent years with the deadly attacks on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the attack on the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, and, sadly, too many more.

Moreover, we have seen violence used by groups that restrict free speech, most recently with the attack on Andy Ngo in Portland by the group Antifa.

We are the most extraordinary Nation because of our belief in and the adherence to the idea ``that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,'' with the rule of law included.

Groups that threaten these notions threaten our country and our very form of government. It is imperative that Congress be informed of domestic terrorist activities and understand the prevalence of these activities.

By keeping Congress informed of these activities, we, as legislators, may continue to ensure laws are appropriately crafted to protect all Americans and safeguard the liberties we hold dear.

I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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