Capital District Times

Today, the bipartisan Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), advanced through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill's progression during the markup session positions it for consideration on the House floor.

"I have long advocated for the FACT Act and the clear message it sends to Communist China and other foreign adversaries that House Republicans will use every tool at our disposal to stop our adversaries from infiltrating telecommunication infrastructures to surveil Americans. I will continue working to combat this malign behavior and safeguard America’s national security," said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

The FACT Act aims to enhance telecommunications transparency by mandating the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publish a list of entities with FCC authorizations, licenses, or other approvals that also have ownership ties with foreign adversarial governments, specifically China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and Cuba.

Originally introduced by Congresswoman Stefanik in October 2022 and reintroduced in February 2023, the bill received a legislative hearing in February 2024 in the House Energy and Commerce's Communications and Technology Subcommittee. It passed the House with unanimous bipartisan support, with Stefanik advocating for it on the House floor.