Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4802
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T19:45:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025" (H.R. 4802) aims to protect U.S. transportation infrastructure by restricting the use of certain foreign-made light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology—remote sensing systems that use lasers to measure distances, often for mapping or autonomous vehicles—from countries or companies considered national security risks.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Relies on terms from the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, including "covered foreign country" (likely adversarial nations like China), "covered LiDAR company" (firms from those countries posing security threats), "covered LiDAR technology" (specific risky tech), and "LiDAR" (the technology itself). "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of Transportation.
- Procurement and Contracting Bans:
- The Secretary cannot procure, obtain, or use covered LiDAR technology, tech from covered companies, or tech from covered foreign countries.
- No contracts, extensions, or renewals can be made with entities using such technology unless they certify to the Secretary that it won't be used in contract performance.
- Waiver Process: The Secretary can issue case-by-case waivers if they certify in writing that the activity is in the U.S. national interest, notifying Senate and House committees at least 15 days in advance.
- Restrictions on Funding: Loans or grants from the Department of Transportation (DOT) cannot fund the procurement, obtaining, or use of prohibited LiDAR technology.
- Applicability and Exceptions:
- Takes effect for obligations, expenditures, or contracts on or after June 30, 2026.
- Does not apply to vehicle safety standard exemptions, motor carrier regulation waivers, or actions for testing, research, evaluation, analysis, or training related to vehicle safety.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new federal restrictions specifically targeting foreign LiDAR technology in transportation procurement and funding, building on prior national defense laws but extending prohibitions to DOT activities. It adds certification requirements for contractors and congressional oversight via waiver notifications, which were not previously mandated for this technology sector.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The DOT will face administrative burdens in verifying certifications, processing waivers, and ensuring compliance, potentially delaying contracts or grants.
- Citizens: Could enhance transportation safety and security by reducing reliance on potentially vulnerable foreign tech, but might increase costs for infrastructure projects, indirectly affecting taxpayers and users of roads, vehicles, or public transit.
- International Relations: May heighten tensions with covered foreign countries by limiting their tech exports to U.S. transportation, signaling a broader U.S. push for supply chain security and reducing economic ties with adversaries.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Transportation (DOT): Directly responsible for enforcement, waivers, and compliance in contracts and funding.
- Transportation Contractors and Grantees: Private entities, including tech firms and infrastructure developers, must certify against using prohibited LiDAR or risk losing federal business.
- Covered Foreign Countries and Companies: Likely includes entities from nations like China; their LiDAR exports to U.S. transportation will be blocked, impacting their market access.
- Congressional Committees: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure gain oversight through waiver reviews.
- U.S. Tech and Automotive Industries: Domestic LiDAR providers may benefit from reduced foreign competition, while importers or users of foreign tech face transition challenges.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens national security through procurement controls but includes built-in exceptions and waivers to balance restrictions with practical needs, avoiding overly broad bans that could face legal challenges under trade or contract law.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I) to condition federal funds on security criteria, without directly infringing on free trade rights.
- Political: Reflects bipartisan concerns over foreign tech threats (introduced by members from both parties), potentially advancing U.S. infrastructure resilience amid geopolitical rivalries, but could spark debates on protectionism versus innovation in emerging tech like autonomous vehicles.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]
Cosponsors (17)
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (4 pages)