Authored the Airport Infrastructure Resources (AIR) Security Act to prohibit federal airport improvement funds from being used to purchase passenger boarding bridges from companies that have violated the IP rights and threaten U.S. national security.
Support prohibiting federal airport improvement funds from being used to buy passenger boarding bridges from companies that violate intellectual property rights and threaten U.S. national security.
Occurrences
Evidence
Section 711 prohibits Airport Improvement Program project grants from being used for covered contracts with listed entities; covered contracts include passenger boarding bridge infrastructure or equipment.
The required list covers airport passenger boarding infrastructure or equipment manufacturers tied to the People's Republic of China or determined by a federal court to have misappropriated U.S. intellectual property or trade secrets.
The Senate recorded H.R. 3935 as passed 88-4 on May 9, 2024; John Cornyn (R-TX) voted Yea.
Congress.gov records that H.R. 3935 passed the Senate 88-4, passed final House action, was signed, and became Public Law No. 118-63 on May 16, 2024.
Assessments
The promised federal restriction was enacted in Section 711 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which prohibits Airport Improvement Program funds from being used for covered passenger boarding bridge contracts involving listed entities tied to PRC national-security concerns or federal-court findings of U.S. intellectual property or trade secret misappropriation. H.R. 3935 became Public Law 118-63 on May 16, 2024, during Cornyn's 2021-2027 Senate term, and Cornyn voted yea on final Senate passage. This matches the core promised policy and timing.