Cybersecurity Policy Report, House Bill on Automotive Security, Privacy Scheduled for Markup Tomorrow, (Aug 31, 2026)
Bipartisan legislation that would direct the Commerce Department to study whether the Chinese government’s involvement in the U.S. auto industry poses a threat to national security or personal privacy is scheduled to be marked up tomorrow by a House subcommittee.
The Automotive National and Economic Security Act (H.R. 10158, 119th Cong. (2026)) was introduced by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R., Tenn) and Debbie Dingell (D., Mich.). It’s scheduled for markup tomorrow by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s commerce, manufacturing, and trade subcommittee at 10:15 a.m. in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
“We cannot allow China to unseat American automotive manufacturing and compromise the technologies and data embedded in the vehicles Americans drive every day. The Automotive National and Economic Security Act is commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will give policymakers the information needed to understand the scope of Chinese penetration in the automotive industry, protect the data of millions of Americans, and safeguard American global competitiveness,” according to a summary of the bill.
The Commerce Department study would look at China’s presence in the U.S. auto manufacturing sector through investments and joint ventures and whether China’s access to U.S. automotive technology poses a threat to national security or drivers’ privacy, Reps. Harshbarger and Dingell said in a news release.
“China has a playbook, and we've watched them run it on critical minerals, shipbuilding, and batteries,” Rep. Harshbarger said. “As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, that strategy isn't just an economic threat, it's a national security threat and a risk to the data of every American behind the wheel. This bill gives policymakers the facts we need to understand how deep this penetration goes and to protect our automotive industry before it's too late.”
“I'm a car girl—I will always fight for our auto workers and this critical industry that is the backbone of America's economy,” Rep. Dingell said. “I am proud to help lead this bipartisan piece of legislation that will create good-paying jobs and protect our national security.”
Although the bill targets China, the study conducted by the Commerce Department would extend beyond China to other adversarial foreign nations, including Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
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