Cotton Introduces Bill to Ban Chinese Nationals from Handling U.S. Military Equipment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
March 12, 2026

Cotton Introduces Bill to Ban Chinese Nationals from Handling U.S. Military Equipment

Washington, DC - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to ban Communist Chinese nationals from operating trucks carrying Department of War (DoW) cargo. The Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to establish and maintain a registry for handlers cleared to transport DoW freight.

Representative Elise Stefanik (New York-21) introduced companion legislation in the House.

"Communist China continues spying on American military technology by exploiting truck drivers handling Department of War cargo. My bill will require anyone handling military freight to be properly vetted to ensure our adversaries cannot gain access to valuable information," said Senator Cotton.

"Most Americans would be shocked to learn that U.S. law does not already prohibit Communist China's military from receiving transportation contracts tied to American defense projects. This bicameral legislation closes that loophole by establishing a clear firewall between the Chinese Communist Party and Department of War contracts. American tax dollars should never benefit our greatest adversary at the expense of U.S. national security," said Representative Stefanik.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act would:

• Require trucking companies carrying Department of War (DoW) cargo to certify that they have no ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or Chinese companies that pose a threat to national security.
• Require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to establish and maintain a registry for carriers that pass extensive national security checks and are cleared to handle DoWfreight.

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