For Immediate Release: May 14, 2025
Chinese government-owned and -subsidized vehicle and transit companies should not benefit from U.S. taxpayer dollars.
Washington, D.C. — A bill introduced in the Senate looks to close loopholes in a 2019 law that prohibits federal transit funds from being used to purchase transit buses and railcars from companies owned or supported by China.
The Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit (STOP) China Act (S.1711) ensures that no federal financial assistance awards granted by the U.S. Department of Transportation may be used to purchase “rolling stock” vehicles or powertrain components from companies under China’s influence. The legislation also requires that a list of these restricted entities be made public.
Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tina Smith (D-N.M.), Shelley Moore Capito (R- W. Va.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) introduced the legislation on Monday.
“Beijing’s deep subsidies and non-market practices make it impossible for U.S. transit vehicle manufacturers to win contracts when pitted against China. This is not a fair fight,” Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul said. “America’s workers are ready and eager to make the strong, secure, and state-of-the-art transit vehicles that our country needs. The STOP China Act would give them the shot they deserve.”
The STOP China Act builds upon the Transportation Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act (TIVSA), a 2019 law prohibiting certain companies with ties to the Chinese government from participating in projects funded by the Federal Transit Administration. Subsequent legislation, the Airport Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act (AIVSA), was enacted in 2024 and extends a similar restriction to airport improvement programs. However, some of the companies restricted under these laws have begun to exploit loopholes that threaten to undermine Congress’s clear intent to safeguard our critical infrastructure and supply chains from Beijing’s attempts to dominate these sectors. The Alliance for American Manufacturing strongly supported both the TIVSA and AIVSA laws and now supports efforts to make them stronger with the STOP China Act.
Paul said:
“China has long weaponized its enterprises to undermine U.S. national security and economic success. But loopholes in federal sourcing laws, such as the one that the STOP China Act aims to close, mean that U.S. taxpayers may unwittingly underwrite that mission.
“Congress must urgently enact the STOP China Act to safeguard America’s public transit systems and supply chains from foreign state-owned and -supported enterprises. Without it, foreign adversaries that Congress clearly intended to be restricted from our public infrastructure will try to circumvent U.S. law.
“America’s taxpayer dollars should not be used to support Chinese state-owned and -supported firms seeking to undermine market competition. Should we fail to make the STOP China Act law, China will seize any and all opportunities to eliminate its U.S. competition and penetrate our critical infrastructure. This is an unacceptable economic and national security risk that must be addressed.”
The STOP China Act has also garnered the support of the Steel Manufacturers Association, Securing America’s Future Energy, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United Steelworkers, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the Transport Workers Union of America, and the American Iron and Steel Institute.
Paul is available for interviews.
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