{"id":2547431,"date":"2026-01-22T05:33:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T10:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congress-finds-rare-agreement-on-chinese-espionage-threats-to-us-drivers\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T05:38:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T10:38:44","slug":"congress-finds-rare-agreement-on-chinese-espionage-threats-to-us-drivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/congress-finds-rare-agreement-on-chinese-espionage-threats-to-us-drivers\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress finds rare agreement on Chinese espionage threats to US drivers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcongress-finds-rare-agreement-on-chinese-espionage-threats-to-us-drivers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2547431&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Congressional lawmakers from both parties have coalesced around concerns that Chinese-made devices and technology in U.S. transportation systems-such as toll systems, traffic cameras, autonomous-vehicle components, and EV chargers-could enable data collection and even espionage. A House Judiciary subcommittee hearing led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew heard testimony from former cybersecurity officials and industry experts, and cited a DHS estimate that roughly 12,000 chinese-made internet-connected cameras are in U.S. use and could pose national-security risks.Republicans urged federal limits on state and local purchases of such products, incentives for domestic suppliers, and tighter procurement rules; Van Drew also supports measures to require English proficiency for commercial drivers. Democrats,including Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, agreed the threats merit scrutiny but blamed the Trump governance&#8217;s agency staffing and funding cuts and alleged conflicts of interest for weakening federal cybersecurity.Lawmakers acknowledged bipartisan agreement on the problem but warned that partisan priorities and political disputes could hinder final legislation, even as some hope to enact reforms before the current congressional term ends in January 2027.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Congress strikes rare agreement on Chinese espionage threats to US drivers<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2474012\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\">Congress <\/a>is laying the groundwork for what a key Republican hopes will foster bipartisan legislation this year to combat foreign-maligned threats facing American drivers. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Federal lawmakers have found consensus in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/china\/\">combating China&rsquo;s<\/a> ability to collect and weaponize data through <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/transportation\/\">U.S. transportation systems<\/a> like toll roads and traffic cameras, despite being in opposing lanes on the root causes and solutions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Former senior cybersecurity officials and experts on China and the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >long-haul trucking industry warned lawmakers<\/a> on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday of the sweeping Chinese ties to technology systems used in the U.S. transportation industry.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s two things I always say that inspire politicians,&rdquo; Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), who led the hearing, later told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;One of them is money. This has nothing directly to do with money. But the second thing is votes. And I think when people hear about this, they&rsquo;re going to expect their elected representatives at every level to be doing more to get this under control.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Homeland Security <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/internet-connected-cameras-made-china-spy-us-infrastructure\/story?id=118533418\">estimated last year<\/a> that there were 12,000 Chinese-made internet-connected cameras used in the United States that could be used by China to &ldquo;conduct espionage&nbsp;or disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure.&rdquo; And beyond traffic cameras and toll systems used by states and localities across the country, growing technologies like autonomous vehicles and EV chargers also pose risks.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jamie-raskin\/\">Jamie Raskin<\/a> (D-MD), the committee&rsquo;s top Democrat, deemed the topic a &ldquo;valid and meaningful subject of inquiry, and I&rsquo;d salute the chairman for this initiative.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But the ensuing rhetoric offered the latest reminder that with any policy issue in Congress, much less in an election year, passing legislation on topics that even garner bipartisan agreement is no easy task. And only a handful of lawmakers attended the Wednesday afternoon hearing held by a subcommittee, the nature and timing of which meant reduced exposure to TV cameras, reporters, and even fellow policymakers.<\/p>\n<p>Raskin and Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jasmine-crockett\/\">Jasmine Crockett<\/a> (D-TX), who is running for Senate, accused President Donald Trump and his administration of exacerbating the issue with personnel cuts and inadequate funding for cybersecurity agencies tasked with combating malicious foreign actors.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The politicization of our federal agencies has left state and private officials reluctant to trust and share information with our federal government,&rdquo; Crockett said.<\/p>\n<p>Raskin said the administration &ldquo;gutted safeguards,&rdquo; was rife with conflicts of interest from Trump&rsquo;s business ventures with Chinese ties, such as his family&rsquo;s cryptocurrency, and likened the president&rsquo;s approach to cybersecurity to &ldquo;a coach who&rsquo;s friendly with the coaches of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/digital-culling-the-end-of-silicon-valleys-golden-era\/\" title=\"Digital Culling: The End of Silicon Valley\u2019s Golden Era?\">foreign teams<\/a> and then suddenly takes his goalie off net.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure, but I have this sneaking suspicion, this intuitive feeling, the other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-democrats-obama-dilemma-they-need-a-new-leader-but-no-one-has-stepped-up-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"The Democrats\u2019 Obama dilemma: They need a new leader, but no one has stepped up - Washington Examiner\">side doesn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t like President Trump all that much,&rdquo; Van Drew quipped to his Democratic colleagues at the hearing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From l-r: Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., speaks during the House Judiciary Committee markup on Thursday, May 16, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington, and Committee ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., speaks during a hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photos\/Mark Schiefelbein\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pending detailed written policy proposals from the expert witnesses, Van Drew cited the need for federal restrictions on state and local government purchases of Chinese<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/crenshaw-america-first-means-choosing-country-over-popularity-in-the-foreign-policy-culture-war\/\" title=\"CRENSHAW: \u2018America First\u2019 Means Choosing Country Over Popularity In The Foreign Policy Culture War\">-made products<\/a>, as well as incentives to purchase from domestic manufacturers and to help close any technology gap that may exist with U.S.-made products.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;At the very least, we should be not subsidizing or incentivizing or helping in any way these Chinese countries,&rdquo; Van Drew told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>But policy priorities on both sides of the aisle could hamstring bipartisan efforts and be perceived by opponents as poison pills.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3898712\/people-helped-china-propaganda-then-became-federal-workers\/\">THEY HELPED CHINA PUSH PROPAGANDA. THEN THEY BECAME FEDS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Republicans want to codify into law a Trump executive order requiring stricter enforcement of federal regulations mandating that semi-truck drivers, known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tx-official-give-ballots-to-people-who-show-noncitizen-ids\/\" title=\"TX Official: Give Ballots To People Who Show Noncitizen IDs\">commercial driver&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s license holders, be proficient in English to comprehend road signs and communicate with law enforcement. And Democrats want more guardrails targeting Trump&rsquo;s financial conflicts of interest abroad during his remaining time in the Oval Office.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would love to see it in this session&rdquo; of Congress that ends in early January 2027, Van Drew said. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s disturbing sometimes in Congress is how difficult it is to get good things accomplished.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Congress unites on China spying risk to US drivers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2547432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-collage-9673fbisq-1769038305101.jpg?1769020483&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34489,50611,14429,64327,71638],"class_list":["post-2547431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-chinese-espionage","tag-national-security-2","tag-surveillance","tag-us-congress","tag-vehicle-cybersecurity"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-collage-9673fbisq-1769038305101.jpg?1769020483&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2547431"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2547445,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547431\/revisions\/2547445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2547432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2547431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2547431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2547431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}