NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Budd, Baldwin, Cotton Lead Bipartisan Bill to Stop DOT from Using LiDAR Technologies China Uses to Spy on America

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today joined Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in introducing the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act. This bipartisan legislation would prohibit the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from purchasing or deploying light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technologies from malign foreign actors, including China, that could be used for military or industrial espionage.

"We must take threats from our adversaries seriously, including efforts to compromise our infrastructure," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "Emerging technologies like LiDAR collect highly sensitive information that, in the wrong hands, could jeopardize our national security. It's time for the Department of Transportation to be bound by the same security standards as the Department of Defense. I'm proud that our bipartisan Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act is a step in the right direction to protect Americans and counter our adversaries' ability to access critical data."

"U.S. military installations and homeland security operations have already been targeted by Chinese espionage," said Senator Budd. "By failing to hold DOT to the same standard as DoD, we are leaving the door wide open for China to continue using LiDAR technologies that could allow our leading adversary to map and shut down U.S. critical infrastructure without warning. That is a national security gamble we cannot afford to take. I am proud to lead my colleagues in introducing common-sense legislation to ensure our enemies, like China, find no refuge in using LiDAR technology to spy on the homeland."

"We cannot allow our adversaries like China to get their hands on Americans' sensitive data. Period," said Senator Baldwin. "I'm proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to cut off potential avenues for countries like China to surveil us and our infrastructure and keep Wisconsin families, servicemembers, and communities safe from foreign threats."

"Chinese technology collecting data on American infrastructure and Arkansans going about their daily lives poses a grave threat to our national security and homeland security," said Senator Cotton. "Our bill will secure our homes and critical infrastructure and keep our adversaries in the dark."

In recent years, LiDAR sensors have become a critical technology for automation and surveillance applications used in U.S. infrastructure, including autonomous vehicles, smart city systems, border security, and perimeter defense.

Chinese LiDAR deployed in the U.S. collects vast amounts of data on American geography and behavior, enabling Chinese military companies to acquire sensitive information and highly detailed mapping of U.S. infrastructure. In 2024, a Chinese spy ring was caught using LiDAR sensors to map Philippine and U.S. military installations and homeland security operations.

Section 164 of the FY25 NDAA prohibited the Department of Defense (DoD) from operating, procuring, or utilizing LiDAR technologies from certain foreign countries, including China. However, DOT currently has no restrictions on the purchase or use of LiDAR from China.

The Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act would prohibit the DOT from:

• Procuring LiDAR produced or provided by a covered LiDAR company.
• Contracting with entities using LiDAR from a covered LiDAR company.
• Providing loans or grants to entities using LiDAR from a covered company.

Covered LiDAR companies include:

• Any entity on the Consolidated Screening List maintained by the International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce.
• Any entity designated as a Chinese military company on the 1260H list by the Department of Defense

The Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act is endorsed by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the American Trucking Associations.

"AUVSI commends Senator Budd and cosponsors Senators Baldwin, Cotton, and Blunt Rochester for their leadership on the Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2026," said Michael Robbins, President and CEO of AUVSI. "Alongside its companion bill in the House, this legislation takes a critical step toward protecting America's transportation networks and infrastructure from adversarial risk. As LiDAR becomes increasingly central to autonomous transportation systems, securing trusted sources for this technology is essential to our national and economic security."

The full text of the bill can be found HERE.

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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.