Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would further limit federal purchases of Chinese-owned or operated vehicles in transportation infrastructure.
The Airport Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act would close a loophole in the Airport Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act (TIVSA) which was signed into law in 2020.
TIVSA prevents transit agencies from using federal funds to purchase rail cars or buses manufactured by Chinese state-owned, controlled, or subsidized companies. Under the law, Chinese companies can still sell to federal agencies outside the Federal Transit Authority’s jurisdiction.
The Airport Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act prohibits the Federal Aviation Administration from using federal funds to purchase rail cars or buses manufactured by Chinese companies. It also removes China from TIVSA’s minority investor exemption.
U.S. Reps. Angie Craig (D-MN), John Garamendi (D-CA), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) introduced the bill.
“We must ensure that U.S. tax dollars are being invested in American businesses, technology, and workers,” Swalwell said. “Chinese bus OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) allow China specialized access and a position of leverage over global supply chains, technology flows, and, ultimately, data, which presents a risk to U.S. national security.”
The bill has the support of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Alliance for American Manufacturing.