WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, legislation from U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, passed the Senate Commerce Committee with unanimous bipartisan support. The legislation will ban Chinese cars from the United States.
The legislation is designed to defend the American auto industry against the increasing threat of Chinese-manufactured vehicles. By cutting off Chinese vehicles, software, and critical hardware at every stage, from the factory floor to the dealership parking lot, the bill ensures that data collected on U.S. roads cannot be funneled back to the Chinese government.
The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 has drawn broad support from across the American auto industry and national security community – with statements of support from labor unions, the car companies, and auto industry trade groups.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF THE CONNECTED VEHICLE SECURITY ACT OF 2026:
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI):
“Chinese connected vehicles pose a serious threat to American jobs and Americans’ safety. I am proud to have worked with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to take a step forward in our fight to prevent China from collecting our data and help keep Wisconsin workers and families safe.”
“Today’s action by the Senate Commerce Committee marks an important step toward protecting American manufacturing and preserving the American Dream. The UAW applauds every member of the committee who voted to advance a strong version of the bill, and we thank the bill’s sponsors, Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin, for their leadership.
“The committee recognized that America needs an auto industry that invests in American workers—not one that rewards dependence on China, whose industrial strategy has leveraged Western brands to expand its market influence while advancing a business model built on low wages and weak labor standards. As the legislation continues to advance, we reiterate our opposition to carve-outs for all multinational corporations. No company should get special treatment. If they want to benefit from policies that strengthen American manufacturing, they should meet the same standards as everyone else.
“This legislation will help ensure that the next generation of auto investment creates good union jobs, strengthens communities, reinforces America’s manufacturing base, and keeps the future of auto production here in the United States.”
“Thousands of USW members are directly dependent on a healthy U.S. auto industry. Manufacturers and state-linked investors from foreign entities of concern must not be allowed to gain access to the U.S. market through minority ownership stakes, joint ventures, and supply relationships with U.S. manufacturers. Millions of jobs, a resilient supply chain, and our economy are at stake. For these reasons, we strongly support the Act’s clear guardrails on investment policies that restrict domestic firms from allowing foreign entities of concern to gain a foothold in the ownership and direction of companies within the U.S. auto supply chain. The bill’s equity thresholds, which limit FEOC ownership beyond 15 percent for vehicle manufacturers and 25 percent for suppliers, are key for holding all multinational corporations accountable and for protecting the U.S economy.”
General Motors:
“General Motors applauds the efforts of Senator Moreno (R-OH) and Slotkin (D-MI) in securing strong bipartisan support and passage of S. 4429, the Connected Vehicle Security Act, via voice vote out of the Senate Commerce Committee. GM supports policies that protect and strengthen American manufacturing and the global competitiveness of U.S. automakers, and we remain committed to long-term investments in our domestic workforce, facilities, and technology, and we look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders throughout the process. As we have said many times, we can compete with anyone in the world when we are given a level playing field.”
Machinists:
“The IAM represents thousands of highly trained automotive technicians across the country who are responsible for helping ensure the safety and reliability of the vehicles on America’s roads. Fulfilling that responsibility is becoming more complex as connected vehicle technologies introduce potential national security risks, particularly when critical components are linked to nations of concern such as China.
“…we strongly support the bill’s clear guardrails on investment policies that restrict domestic firms from allowing foreign entities of concern to gain a foothold in the ownership and direction of companies within the U.S. auto supply chain. The bill’s equity thresholds, which limit Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) ownership beyond 15% for vehicle manufacturers and 25% for suppliers, are key for holding all multinational corporations accountable and for protecting the U.S economy.”
American Iron and Steel Institute:
“When U.S. automakers compete on a fair and secure basis, American steelmakers thrive alongside them. Unfortunately, they don’t compete on a level playing field as Chinese state-subsidized vehicles, produced outside the bounds of fair trade and with serious national security implications, threaten to undermine the entire domestic supply chain. This bipartisan legislation takes an important step toward ensuring that the future of American mobility is built with American steel.”
Statement from MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association:
“The Connected Vehicles Security Act of 2026 (CVSA), as adopted by the Senate Commerce committee, strikes an important balance that addresses key national security concerns associated with today’s technology-enabled vehicles while also ensuring that vehicle suppliers can comply with the requirements. MEMA appreciates the leadership of Senators Moreno and Slotkin on this legislation, and we look forward to working with them on the CVSA as it continues to move through the legislative process.”
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