CONGRESSMAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act on July 22, including an amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., aimed at removing Chinese-owned and operated point-of-sale systems from Department of Defense facilities.
According to Cline’s office, the amendment directs the department to eliminate Chinese-owned point-of-sale technology from its facilities in an effort to safeguard sensitive personal and financial information.
“Our government agencies should never rely on technology owned or operated by companies tied to our foreign adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party,” Cline said in a statement.
He said technology linked to foreign adversaries could create vulnerabilities that threaten national security by allowing sensitive information to be collected.
Cline said inclusion of the amendment in the annual defense authorization bill represents “a commonsense step” to remove Chinese-owned point-of-sale technology from Department of Defense facilities and better protect the personal and financial data of U.S. service members.
-The Salem Times-Register
