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H.R. 4998 116th Congress House

Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019

Official title: To prohibit certain Federal subsidies from being used to purchase communications equipment or services posing national security risks, to provide for the estab… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To prohibit certain Federal subsidies from being used to purchase communications equipment or services posing national security risks, to provide for the establishment of a reimbursement program for the replacement of communications equipment or services posing such risks, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 8, 2019 Introduced by: Frank Pallone, Jr. Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdvanced technology and technological innovations
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AsiaChinaComputer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightConsumer affairsFederal Communications Commission (FCC)Foreign and international corporationsGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesGovernment studies and investigationsTechnology assessmentTelephone and wireless communication
 Everywhere this bill has been 23 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 12, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-124.
Mar 12, 2020
Signed by President.
Mar 3, 2020
Presented to President.
Feb 27, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
Feb 27, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Feb 27, 2020
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S1236)
Dec 17, 2019
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Dec 16, 2019
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 16, 2019
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H10282-10285)
Dec 16, 2019
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Dec 16, 2019
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H10282-10285)
Dec 16, 2019
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4998.
Dec 16, 2019
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10282-10286)
Dec 16, 2019
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 281.
Dec 16, 2019
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-352.
Dec 16, 2019
Mr. Doyle, Michael F. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 20, 2019
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Nov 20, 2019
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 14, 2019
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
Nov 14, 2019
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 12, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Nov 8, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Nov 8, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 12, 2020

Became Public Law No: 116-124.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019

This bill establishes (1) a mechanism to prevent communications equipment or services that pose a national security risk from entering U.S. networks, and (2) a program to remove any such equipment or services currently used in U.S. networks.

Specifically, the bill prohibits the use of certain federal funds to obtain communications equipment or services from a company that poses a national security risk to U.S. communications networks. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must publish and maintain a list of such equipment or services.

Each communications provider must submit an annual report to the FCC regarding whether it has purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise obtained any prohibited equipment and, if so, provide a detailed justification for such action.

The bill also establishes the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program to supply small communications providers (i.e., providers with 2 million or fewer customers) with funds to offset the cost of removing prohibited equipment or services from their networks and replacing it with more secure communications equipment or services.

In addition, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration must establish a program to share information regarding supply chain security risks with trusted communications providers and suppliers.

 Related & companion bills 3
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4998: Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4998/
MLA
"H.R. 4998: Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4998/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4998, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4998/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4998: Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4998/)
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