U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today joined Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to prohibit the Department of Transportation from using LiDAR technologies produced by Chinese companies known to engage in espionage.
Introduce bipartisan legislation to prohibit the Department of Transportation from using LiDAR technologies produced by Chinese companies known to engage in espionage.
Occurrences
U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today joined Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in introducing the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to prohibit the Department of Transportation (DOT) from procuring or utilizing LiDAR technologies produced by Chinese companies known to engage in espionage.
Evidence
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today joined Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in introducing the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to prohibit the Department of Transportation (DOT) from procuring or utilizing LiDAR technologies produced by Chinese companies known to engage in espionage.
Section 164 of the FY25 NDAA prohibited the Department of Defense (DoD) from operating, procuring, or utilizing LiDAR technologies from certain foreign countries, including China. However, DOT currently has no restrictions on the purchase or use of LiDAR from China. Specifically, the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act would prohibit the DOT from: Procuring LiDAR produced or provided by a covered LiDAR company. Contracting with entities using LiDAR from a covered LiDAR company. Providing loans or grants to entities using LiDAR from a covered company. Covered LiDAR companies include: Any entity on the Consolidated Screening List maintained by the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce. Any entity designated as a Chinese military company on the 1260H list by the Department of Defense. In addition to Senators Baldwin and Budd, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).
Assessments
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester fulfilled the campaign promise by co-introducing the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act, a bipartisan bill prohibiting the Department of Transportation from using LiDAR technologies produced by Chinese companies known to engage in espionage. The bill specifically targets the outlined technologies and involves sponsors from both parties, satisfying both the content and bipartisan elements of the promise.
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester co-introduced and cosponsored bipartisan legislation—the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act—to prohibit the Department of Transportation from procuring or utilizing LiDAR technologies produced by Chinese companies known to engage in espionage. Multiple sources verify her direct legislative involvement in the introduction of this bill, fulfilling the promise to introduce such bipartisan legislation during the same term.