Carr Applauds Final Passage of Secure Equipment Act by U.S. Senate Bipartisan Legislation to Close “Huawei Loophole” Now Headed to President’s Desk WASHINGTON, DC, October 28, 2021—Today, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr applauded Senate passage of the Secure Equipment Act of 2021. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation, introduced by Senators Marco Rubio and Ed Markey and Republican Whip Steve Scalise and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo in the House, would strengthen national security by requiring the FCC to update its equipment authorization process to protect against threats posed by entities on the Covered List. Last week, the House passed this legislation 420-4. Today, the Senate passed this legislation by unanimous consent, advancing it to the President’s desk. “I applaud Senator Rubio and Senator Markey as well as Republican Whip Scalise and Congresswoman Eshoo for their leadership and work to secure America’s communications networks. Their work in the Senate and House to secure passage of this legislation, which is now headed to the President’s desk for his signature, will help to ensure that insecure gear from companies like Huawei and ZTE can no longer be inserted into America’s communications networks. We have already determined that this gear poses an unacceptable risk to our national security, so closing what I have called the ‘Huawei loophole’ is an appropriate action for us to take. I commend the efforts by these members, who have consistently championed policies that strengthen our national security and protect America’s communications networks.” In March, Carr called on the FCC to close the “Huawei Loophole,” and the Commission launched a proceeding to seek comment on the idea in June. ### Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr Media Contact: Greg Watson (202) 418-0658 or greg.watson@fcc.gov