Senate bill would bar tax dollars from funding Chinese buses, rail cars

U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have introduced the Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit China Act (STOP) to prevent the U.S. government from buying Chinese buses and rail cars.

If passed, the bill would protect domestic transit supply chains from malign Chinese influence by preventing any U.S. Department of Transportation funds from being awarded for the purchase of Chinese government transit buses or rail cars, according to a press release issued by Baldwin's office.

“When we invest American taxpayer dollars, we should be supporting our made-in-America economy and American workers, not opening our checkbook to adversaries like China,” said Baldwin.

Congress already passed the Transportation Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act, which prohibits companies with ties to China’s government from receiving taxpayer-funded contracts from the Federal Transit Administration to build U.S. rail cars and buses. 

However, China has taken advantage of other government funds in the law to continue competing for transit business in the United States, according to Baldwin and Cornyn. The STOP China Act would prevent any appropriated funds to the USDOT from being awarded to grantees for the purchase of Chinese government transit buses.

It would also require the United States Trade Representative , in consultation with the U.S. Attorney General, to produce a list of prohibited entities headquartered or affiliated with China.

The legislation is endorsed by Alliance for American Manufacturing, Steel Manufacturers Association, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Steelworkers, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and Transport Workers Union of America.