Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill requires motor carriers transporting Department of Defense cargo to certify they have no ownership ties, control, or significant business relationships with Chinese military companies or other designated foreign adversaries. The legislation applies to all trucking contractors, subcontractors, and owner-operators involved in Defense Department freight transportation and requires them to maintain certification records for five years. It also establishes a new "Secure Defense Freight Carrier Registry" that motor carriers must join to bid on or perform Defense Department trucking contracts, with eligibility requirements including valid operating authority, enhanced national security vetting, and personnel screening comparable to Transportation Worker Identification programs. The Department of Defense has one year from enactment to establish the registry and implement associated regulations, with a one-year transition period before the registry becomes mandatory for all Defense Department freight contracts. Carriers that knowingly submit false certifications face suspension, debarment from Defense contracting, and civil penalties.
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