119-HR-4802 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary — H.R. 4802 (119th): Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act of 2025

Headline Summary: Blocks the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from buying, funding, or contracting with entities that use certain foreign-made LiDAR sensors, starting June 30, 2026, with narrow exceptions.

What It Does:

• Stops DOT from purchasing LiDAR technology from companies or countries designated as “covered” under federal law, and from contracting with entities that would use such gear on a DOT-funded project.
• Bars DOT loans and grants from being spent to buy or use these restricted LiDAR systems.
• Allows a case‑by‑case waiver if the Transportation Secretary certifies to Congress at least 15 days in advance that it’s in the national interest.
• Carves out exceptions for vehicle‑safety testing, research, evaluation, analysis, or training.
• Takes effect for obligations, expenditures, and contracts on or after June 30, 2026.
• Uses definitions already set in federal law for “covered foreign country,” “covered LiDAR company,” and “covered LiDAR technology.”

Who’s For It:

• Sponsors: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R‑SD) with original cosponsors Rep. Julia Brownley (D‑CA), Rep. John Moolenaar (R‑MI), and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D‑IL) — indicating bipartisan backing.
• Supporter rationale (in general terms): reduce security risks from adversary‑linked sensors in U.S. transportation systems, and nudge supply chains toward trusted vendors.

Who’s Against It:

• No formal opposition statements are listed in the bill text. Potential concerns typically raised about similar restrictions include: higher costs from fewer suppliers, delays swapping out existing equipment, and uncertainty over which products are covered without clear public lists.
• Some stakeholders may argue the waiver process is slow or the definitions are too broad, potentially capturing benign research or commercial uses; others may say the exceptions are too narrow for innovation and testing needs.

What’s Next:

• Status as of December 2, 2025: Introduced July 29, 2025; referred to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee the same day; sent to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on December 1, 2025.
• Next steps typically include potential hearings and a “markup” in subcommittee/committee. If approved, it could move to a full House vote; then the Senate would consider its own version before any final compromise and a possible presidential signature.